CSpotlight: Developing for Underprivileged Communities
How did you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose to study computer science specifically at the University of Minnesota?
I’ve always wanted to study abroad in the United States. The reason why I chose the University of Minnesota specifically, was because of a career fair at my school. They were the only university that offered scholarships at the time and I was very fortunate to have received this scholarship. I’m very glad that I chose to study here and I have had great experiences so far. I seek for a place that offers high quality higher education and the UMN seems to be the best fit for this!
Congratulations on receiving the CSE Tran Scholarship! How has the scholarship helped you academically?
For any college student, one of the biggest worries is finances. It is incredibly difficult for colleges like the UMN to navigate how you’re going to find a way to study, live, and enjoy yourself with the limited amount of funds you have. The scholarship allows me to focus more intensely on my work and what makes me better as a student, employer, and a person in general. While the scholarship is helpful, the sole purpose of it is to allow me the freedom to be at a university without worrying about how I am going to be able to meet the next tuition requirements.
How did you become interested in computer science? How are you planning to incorporate science into social justice?
I recognize the importance of technology and how it is very critical for the future. I thought it would be a very good endeavor to pick up. I am personally a big believer in hard work and determination over passion, so if I put in my hard work, I will succeed in anything. Originally, it was actually either going to be computer science or mechanical engineering for me so I’ve always been very driven by science and technology. I decided on computer science since I recognize the requirement of developers for the future!
My ultimate goal is to use computer science to make people’s lives much easier in every shape and form. Ideally, I want to work at an organization that believes in using computer science to help underprivileged people. An example would be providing broadband access to local communities in Africa and Asia that lack access to the internet.
Tell us more about your internship with Country Financial. What kind of projects did you work on?
Some of the projects that I have previously worked on involve creating platforms to host documentations for test files on the internet somewhere. I was somehow able to leverage that and create a power app from that. I also had to leverage the company’s agile methodology and use their API to generate customized reports on a daily basis. I was able to use Python and Javascript to generate Excel reports.
A current project that I’m working on involves an upgrade. The company is currently upgrading their Business Process Management (BPM), which is basically a work scheduling application. I am currently in the process of upgrading this application to make it a little more user-friendly and to incorporate a lot more features. I tried my best to help out in every area possible, whether it be making test plans or developing the front-end of the application.
How did you decide to become part of Hackathon? How did you enjoy the experience?
It was a great experience, though a little disheartening in a sense because there were all of these brilliant hackers from California who were just amazing at what they did. It really puts you into the perspective of the kind of people who are coming into the field of software development. However, it is also very encouraging knowing that at some point you might be working along with these people, who you can really learn a lot from. The experience also gave me a wide array of skills and opened a vast field of opportunities, exposing me to the different technologies available. It was just a very valuable experience overall!
What advice do you have for incoming computer science students?
My biggest advice would be to learn the fundamentals. I notice that a lot of times when I get a project, I tend to jump right into trying to solve the project without really understanding anything. The entire point of computer science is not to teach you how to solve the projects that you are given in class but to prepare you to solve any future projects. One of my biggest mistakes was to not understand contents being taught and jump directly onto solving a problem. The best way to solve a problem is to analyze how much of the overall content you are able to understand. Take your time to understand the concepts.
My second advice is to never give up. Computer science can be a very frustrating subject in a sense that if you can’t figure something out, sometimes it’s simply that you cannot figure it out. Take a break and do something fun to take your mind off it. It will get easier over time if you allow yourself the time to relax!
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on continuing working with Country Financial as an application developer, possibly on the same team that I have been working with. I do aim to work with a smaller team at a larger company since I feel like larger companies often can create much larger impacts. Moreover, I enjoy the community that the setting of a smaller team can provide for me. In the long run, I hope to open my own software consulting firm or a company that focuses on technical challenges and using software to improve people’s lives.