My name is Calista Dominitz, I live in the Seattle area, and I am in my final quarter at OSU in the post-bacc program! My first real introduction to coding was when I took a computer science class in high school that I absolutely loved. I enjoyed being given a task and figuring out the best way to find the solution and think through different problems. However, at the time, my goal in life was to become a pediatrician, so my first degree was a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology at Brandeis University. After college and working in the healthcare industry for some time, I realized that at the end of the day I didn’t actually want to be a doctor, I mainly wanted to identify issues and find solutions. In the back of my mind I always knew that I thoroughly enjoyed coding and that it would allow me to help people but through a different avenue than medicine. At this point, I decided to apply for the program and quit my job.
While taking classes online, I have utilized the flexibility to also do some travel. I have done some smaller domestic trips with friends, but my main goal was international travel. This year I have gone to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City with my friend, traveled throughout Eastern Europe on my own, and gone to Australia with my family. I loved getting to try new foods and seeing new cultures. While I still plan to travel more in the future, my next goal is to find a job in the tech industry. I have enjoyed all the classes that I have taken at OSU, which does not help my narrowing down of jobs, but it does mean that I am willing and eager to learn in any role! I tend to lean towards projects that deal with how user interaction and thinking through how to meet the possible needs and present the product in a way that is efficient but also comprehensive. However, I am also interested in projects that deal with data and analysis. Even though I no longer want to be a doctor, I still one day hope to help solve problems in healthcare in general, especially from an accessibility standpoint. Given this, I hope to eventually find a job that exists where healthcare and technology intersect. I am extremely excited for this class and the opportunity to work with others to create a meaningful project that will showcase our talents!
Some pictures from my travels!
