Meet Surya Narayanan – B.S. International Affairs and Modern Languages (Chinese), East Asian Studies Minor, Class of 2019

Hometown - Duluth, Georgia

Why did you choose to come to Tech?

The biggest reason is the city of Atlanta. It is a growing global city with numerous opportunities, both for professional development and personal discovery. I knew I would have a good college experience with Atlanta's thriving arts and food scenes, but just as importantly, I knew Atlanta's increasing importance as a global hub would be relevant to my professional goals. Georgia Tech is also the best STEM school in the Southeast, and I knew that even while studying a social science like international affairs, I would have the chance to develop my technical skills further, including in fields such as computer science.

What is your favorite aspect of Atlanta?

The food scene — you can get food from just about any part of the world somewhere in Atlanta.

What do you enjoy about your major?

I chose my major largely for the opportunity to travel around the world, but also because I've always felt driven toward public service, debate, and the idea that I could somehow contribute to change in the world. I see East Asia as one of the most important regions of the world in today's geopolitical climate, so I wanted to keep it as my regional focus while also extending my studies to South and Southeast Asia.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation, I hope to either attend graduate school or join the U.S. Foreign Service. I've had the opportunity to work with the Foreign Service for two summers now and I'm preparing for a third. Getting to work with the State Department in China and in Washington, D.C., has made me realize how much of an impact public service can really have on people.

Read more about students from other majors here.