Balancing coding, gaming, and three mischievous cats—welcome to my world! I’m Cat, a senior in the Computer Science program at Oregon State University, studying through their eCampus. My partner and I moved to Salem about four months ago, and we’re slowly settling into life in this rainy, yet cozy, city.
When I’m not busy with school, I’m hanging out with my three cats—Meatball Sandwich, Maggie, and Cider—or indulging in my love for gaming and all things tech. If you had told me as a kid that I’d be writing code and blogs about software development, I probably would have laughed it off. But here I am in my thirties, making my second attempt at college and balancing the world of ones and zeroes with everything else life throws my way.
So, how did I end up here? I guess you could say coding is in my DNA. My dad is a software developer, and as soon as I could read, he was already trying to teach me how to code. Back then, I had a million other things I’d rather do than sit at a computer and tell it what to do. But after a failed attempt at a Social Work degree and a decade of figuring out what I truly wanted, his enthusiasm eventually rubbed off on me. From tinkering with my first “Hello, World!” program to diving into more complex projects during quarantine, the thrill of creating something from nothing stuck with me. Now, here I am, about to embark on my capstone project, which feels like the final boss battle of this academic journey.
As I prepare for this challenge, I’ll be honest—I don’t yet know what my project will be or who my teammates are. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, especially with my ever-present imposter syndrome whispering that I should stick to petting my cats instead of writing code. On top of that, this year will include job hunting and preparing for the future, which adds its own layer of pressure. But nerves aside, I can’t help but feel a spark of excitement. I’m eager to dive into new technologies, soak up knowledge from my team and mentor, and build something truly awesome. And hey, if I get a chance to play around with some AI along the way? That would be the ultimate win! So, I hope you’ll come along for the ride. Whether it’s sharing the triumphs, the setbacks, or those little victories, I’m looking forward to having you with me on this journey. Let’s see where this adventure takes us!