Hi! My name is Kristin Eberman and you can read more about me here.
Why I chose to go into Computer Science
My journey in Computer Science began over 15 years ago when I first took an introductory course during freshman year of my first undergraduate degree. While it fascinated me, I was more drawn to social sciences and intercultural studies at the time so instead pursued a BA in Sociology followed by an MA in International Education. Fast forward to over a decade later – in which I had a very rewarding and fulfilling career in the field of study abroad and educational travel – to when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. My professional industry was heavily impacted and I went from working 3 very busy part-time jobs to barely working one position for less than 10 hours a week. Like many people, this was a time for me to reflect and reshift my focus on something new while we waited for the world to open back up.
I remembered how much I loved my initial Computer Science course from many years ago and started doing online, self-taught introductory courses in coding. The excitement of successfully writing and running my own code was immensely satisfying from day one. This has since led me to complete an associate’s degree in Computing and Software Development at a nearby community college, followed by my current enrollment in OSU’s postbaccalaureate CS degree.
From a technical side, I know becoming a software developer will be fulfilling on a day-to-day basis where I can exercise my problem solving brain, continuously be challenged and always learning, as well as work with teams on exciting projects. While I am open to what the future brings, I am most interested in pursuing a career in tech that incorporates some larger social, environmental and/or educational purpose. I am looking forward to this career path knowing that tech is relevant to every industry and can play a crucial role in tackling any number of problems facing the world if done ethically and thoughtfully.
Why I chose the projects I did & what makes them interesting to me
Due to my passion and desire to incorporate a higher purpose and benefit to society in my career, the projects I am most drawn to for this course and chose on the survey are ones that have a focus on environmental issues (climate change and recycling), health (fitness app), animal issues (pet adoption), and travel planning (which can result in greater cross-cultural understanding around the world). I know I will be much more motivated working on a project that I feel passionate about and believe has a greater good attached to it that will truly benefit people’s lives and/or our world as a whole.
What I hope to learn from my project and the course
I am excited to work on a larger scale project from start to finish in a team environment. I feel this experience will more accurately reflect what the “real world” is like working in the field. My main goal for this project and course is to create a polished final product that I am proud to share with my peers and professors. I currently do not have too many portfolio pieces to show future employers and think this project (whatever it ultimately ends up being) will be a great addition to my resume. I also hope to have an enjoyable team experience, learn new technologies and techniques, and have fun along the way!
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