CSpotlight: Creating Communities in Computer Science

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in computer science specifically at the University of Minnesota?

Computer science was initially a pragmatic choice because I wanted to do something in science and engineering, but didn’t really know what. I took a programming class or two in high school and was pretty good at it, so I thought computer science might be the choice for me. I was hesitant about this choice for the first year or so because it took time for me to really get fascinated by computer science. I’m at the point now where I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. 

I made the decision to go to the University of Minnesota when I was in sixth grade, because it was the one college I knew anything about. My dad went to the University of Minnesota, and my hometown is about 30 minutes from the city. I applied to two schools, and when I got into UMN, I stopped thinking about any other option. 

How did you become interested in computer science? What are your specific interests within the field?

When I took CSCI 2021: Machine Architecture and Organization, I started to have a lot of fun with my classes instead of just doing the work. Seeing how everything works at a low level was very appealing. I don’t want to do low-level work in the future, but it was one of those peek-behind-the-curtain moments that was really cool. It made me feel more interested in stuff in front of the curtain as well. 

Within computer science, I’m interested in the medical technologies field. I think it’s something with a very clear, positive effect. We all have our talents or things we’re inclined to do, and I believe we should try to figure out how we can relate those skills and talents to having a positive effect on the greater community and world. One of my skills is computer science, and I want to find a way I can have the maximum positive impact with it. I think that positive effects can come through the medical technology industry. 

Tell us more about your internship experiences.

This summer I interned at Ameriprise Financial. I did cloud architecture and engineering for them. I wrote a lot of Python to interact with Amazon Web Services and was tasked with making dashboards to analyze costs and usage of Amazon Web Services. I also did a lot of data analysis. I view the connections I made and the people I met there as the biggest takeaway from my internship. 

Congratulations on earning the Maximillian Lando Scholarship! How will this scholarship impact your academic and extracurricular work?

I view scholarships as a gift that allows you to get a bit of time back. One of the biggest limiting factors for what I’m capable of doing in college has been time limitations. There are so many things to do, both in terms of academics, extracurriculars, and professional development, but there are only 24 hours in a day and seven days a week. Part of this is having to work to pay for education and things like housing. A scholarship is the gift of time. It allows me to spend less time working and more time doing things like research, homework, or personal projects. 

Are you involved in any student groups? What inspired you to get involved? 

I’m currently the treasurer for Code the Gap, a volunteer student group that teaches programming to K-12 students. I’m also a part of the foreign policy club. We get together every week and have a presentation and discussion on a foreign policy topic. 

I’m also the president and founder of Beacon Social Club. It is a social organization that hosts multiple weekly events during the semester intended to bring people together. I’m a very people-centric person, so I like to try to help people make friends, meet new people, and find community.

What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community at the University?

My passion lies in education, which is something I’ve discovered since coming to college. I’m going into my sixth semester as a teaching assistant for the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. It’s the most fun I’ve had with a job. I want to contribute to the educational experience for other computer science students in a variety of ways, not just through labs and office hours. For example, this summer I’ve spent a lot of time developing CSCI 1933: Introduction to Algorithms and Data Structures by creating a bunch of new assignments that are intended to improve the students’ asynchronous learning experience.

What advice do you have for incoming computer science students?

My biggest piece of advice is to never shy away from building personal connections. In my view, people are the most important thing in life, and that applies to academia as well. It is very difficult to motivate yourself to do it alone, but if you have friends within the department and in your classes that you can work with while you’re studying for an exam or something, that makes everything a lot easier. It builds a community within the department among your peers. 

What are your plans after graduation?

I’m doing the Department of Computer Science and Engineering’s integrated master’s program, so after I finish my bachelor's this spring, I’ll do my master's here at the University of Minnesota. My current plan after receiving my master's is to spend a few years in industry to develop a perspective on how things really work within companies and in computer science. After a few years in industry, I want to teach. I specifically want to teach foundational computer science concepts, because that’s what I’ve enjoyed teaching the most.