How did I get here? This is a question I often ask myself when developing plans for the future. I go back to the beginning and try to remember what did and did not work throughout my journey. Just like everyone else my path began when I was in grade school. As a kid I always enjoyed a good problem. Whether it was figuring out how to optimally trade candy with my cousins on Halloween or doing my multiplication tables in math class, it was all the same. As I got older, I still was fascinated by problems and decided to study a subject that had no short of them, Mathematics. I enjoyed the challenge and satisfaction that came with solving new puzzles, so math felt like the right place for me. However, I knew this type of education came with a steep price tag and I wanted to continue to learn. So, I found a way
At the end of high school, I learned about the Air National Guard and the benefits it provides college students. My decision to pursue this spawned out of more than just financial need though. My dream job as a little kid was to be in the military and I knew that the training and discipline would be invaluable later in my life. So, I enlisted and went to bootcamp directly after school but I needed to select a job. I knew that computers and technology was (and still is) the future, so I joined the cyber/communications shop on my base and learned about networks, hardware, software, infrastructure, security, etc. I spent some time working on base and soaked up as much knowledge and experience as I could from my supervisors before heading to university.
During my studies I decided to take an introductory computer science class because I finally felt like I knew a little bit about computers and thought I might be able to take on this new challenge. That class is where I found my passion for computer science and developing software. I realized that there was an entire world of problems that needed solving and I had the tools needed to solve them. I took more courses and learned about data structures, algorithms, networks/graph-theory, ect. Finally, I saw a way that I could take my problem solving skills out to the real world and develop products that make a difference in people’s lives.
I added computer science as my second major and during the upcoming summer I worked as a junior software developer at EDC, a local company that makes parking management software for cities and universities throughout the US and Canada. I learned so much from EDC that I decided to continue my internship during my senior year at Syracuse University. Just like on base, I am soaking up as much knowledge and experience as I can from my coworkers and supervisors. With patience, persistence, and a little bit of pressure , I am solving problems and developing software that make people's lives easier.