After completing high school, Heshini and Oshini started out on their higher education journey together and both applied to study a bachelor’s programme at HAW Hamburg starting in March 2024. Oshini was offered a place in the information engineering programme. Heshini wasn’t so fortunate, as places are limited. But she tried again the next semester and this time she was lucky. ‘We have always been passionate about mathematics, a love that developed during our school years while studying and solving problems. And this naturally led us to pursue engineering studies. Information Engineering, appealed to us as it combines theoretical knowledge and practical application, and we believe this will prepare us to confidently step into the professional world after we graduate. We chose to study in Germany because of its globally recognized reputation for engineering excellence. Our decision to join HAW Hamburg was further cemented by its excellent reputation for fostering diversity and providing a supportive environment for international students.’
For both sisters the semester apart wasn’t easy, and Oshini had to organise her first semester in a foreign country on her own. ‘To be honest, living without my sister was really hard at first. The thought of being apart for the first time felt overwhelming, but I soon realized that there were both positives and challenges to our separation. If we had stayed in the same city, our experiences and knowledge might have been more limited. However, being in different places exposed us to diverse environments, people, and perspectives. Every day, we shared our experiences with each other, essentially doubling what we learned and lived through. On a personal level, I grew into a much more independent person. I had to do my own laundry, go grocery shopping, and even cook for myself—things I had never done alone before. But despite this growth, I deeply missed my “partner in crime”. I missed our arguments, our laughter, and simply having her by my side as she has been since the day we were born.’
