So for this week I thought I would provide an insight into my thoughts as I get closer and closer to graduation.
My Past
I came into this program in the Fall Semester of 2021. Hopeful to change my career to one that satisfies my desire for growth! Previously, I worked as an animal care technician. I’ve been trying to get a job at a public aquarium from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. No dice, and so I moved to the Columbia River Gorge to work with the USFWS raising Chinook Salmon. I’m passionate about conservation, and I’ve been lucky enough to work for organizations whose primary focus is conservation. However, I felt like I could do more. Both in my current position and in my career. Animal care is not something that really utilized my entire Biology knowledge-set. And many Biology careers did not encompass my passions.
Before I started my life as an animal care technician I was passionate about keeping aquatic animals in aquaria. To the point where I would like to set up self-sustaining systems, thinking through heat and flow automation with software. After working several years and exhausting myself I stopped taking care of animals myself, but I kept up with technology and software for fun. Considering this retrospective, I knew I should focus my career efforts towards technology. I have always been the “tech” savvy friend, co-worker, family member. And so now, here I am. In my last semester of a Computer Science degree.
My Present Thoughts
Wow, did I go through this degree fast. Less than two years ago I started learning Computer Science with barely an introductory C programming class under my belt. My technological prowess was setting up linux distros on Raspberry Pi’s. Now, I feel confident in learning any programmin language in front of me. Now, I can produce meaningful and creative programs that automate my own life. And now, I want to be a software developer. Uh-oh. I did not plan on this at all. And now it terrifies me, because I feel so far behind others. I went through the program so fast, so I can get back to making an income and supporting myself. But I didn’t go through the internships. And now it feels like a full-time job is locked behind internships. However, I won’t let this stop me.
Internships, in Biology I went through several. Unpaid and overworked. That’s what I saw internships as. Great experience, but keyword “unpaid.” Computer Science, different story. Very well paid. If I could do this again I would extend my experience and go through several internships. However, I did not feel ready after taking CS 162 to take on an internship. And now here I am about to graduate, unable to apply for most.
My Hopeful Future
Despite the lack of internships, I do have a game plan post-graduation. I do not have a job lined up, but I will apply, apply, apply until I get one. In the meantime I will “grind” leetcode and try and get in touch with an open-source project where I can help make a difference! I have been exhausted every single semester taking the number of courses I have along with a part-time job. However, I feel that post graduation I will be able to expand creatively, and this creativity will no doubt lead to a job. Just look at PNW Native and University of Washington alum Eric Barone. Developer, Designer, Creator of the game Stardew Valley. Basically a project to learn C# turned into a massive success. I don’t plan on creating any massive successes, but I do know that following my passions will indeed lead to future success. So here goes!
That’s one small step,
Robert Behring
