Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador

“By stepping outside your comfort zone to do something peculiar, you confirm that you can do more than you’ve done. Move out!”

-Israelmore Ayivor

On August, 2020 I conducted my first ever workshop as Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador! 2 weeks of preparation, 200 hours of nervousness, and the final workshop was something worth everything.

It all started when I first read Sonal Kushwaha’s blog on, “Microsoft Student Partner”, and desperately wanted to apply for it. For all those who don’t know let me tell you, Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador (MLSA) was formerly known as Microsoft Student Partner (MSP).

Ever since then I am pretty excited to share my entire journey and experience being a MLSA! So, Let’s jump right in!

Where it all began ?

It was during the end of may when I decided to apply for MLSA, and I got started with the application. They take in ambassadors quarterly, that is, every four months and I had plenty of time to finish my application for the next cohort that is the August cohort.

The application is very basic to begin with. It has certain layers where you will be asked to enter all your details, academic and personal. The main part of the application that decides your entry to the cohort is the part where you need to answer three questions and one of them at least has to be a video recorded answer.

My answers were nothing fancy. They were pretty basic straight forward answers and I had sent just a video and two written answers. As a matter of fact, I was so scared to make the video, and at a point I thought of not submitting the application just because ‘a video answer’ was compulsory, but after infinite trials, I finally fixed on one and sent it!

The journey after is undoubtedly wonderful, full of learning and experiences all over.

The perks of being here

The best thing about being here is the community that you get in touch with. There are thousands of MLSAs all over the world, right there to be with you as a guide as well as a friend to be on the journey together.

There are three levels to this program Alpha, Beta and Gold, and the perks keeps on adding as you advance to each further level.

As you get selected for the program, you get a student ambassador id and unlock access to a bunch of learning material and premium apps provided by Microsoft, then you need to finish a learning path from the learning paths they offer and then you get promoted to an Alpha MLSA.

ALPHA

• You get a monthly 150 USD worth Azure credits.
• You get a Visual Studio Code enterprise subscription.
• You get free vouchers to Microsoft certified exams.

After this you need to host and conduct another event for other students in your community to get promoted to a beta.

BETA

• You will definitely get all the Alpha benefits.
• You are going to get swags and even support from them.
• You get mentorship and access to Ambassador Summit.

To earn a gold badge you need to go above and beyond just serving your local community.

GOLD

• Along with the ALPHA and BETA benefits you get access to special events and speaking engagements
• You get leadership opportunities and chance to participate in pilot programs.
• You can get Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Mentorship and a chance to get invited for this program.

How is the experience ?

The experience in here is quite wonderful. I got access to a lot of material that makes my self learning much more easier and effective. Ever since I have joined I engaged myself in various learning paths and modules that enhanced my learning and provided me a guided path towards my goal.

Next, I got an opportunity, a platform to spread what I learn. Let’s begin with that.

Me along with two other MLSAs Sonal Kushwaha and Pranathi Kodicherla, we conducted our first ever workshop as Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors. It was a Python workshop and happened over a span of two days. And after a constant effort of more than two weeks and loads of nervousness we pulled it off quite successfully.

For me it was a very new and a different kind of experience to address to so many people from different regions and be able to be of some help to them. Having Camera Shyness, I was super nervous and there were moments where I felt I cannot take it any further. But, at the end with all the determination and will to do I completed the workshop successfully.

What next ?

My purpose for writing this blog is to solely reach out to maximum people who are nervous just like me. The initial step might need a little push from within but what comes out as a result is totally worth it!