I apologize for the clickbait, but it seemed to funny to pass up. Yes I’ve been to a class before, and yes I’ve been to Oregon State University (OSU) before, but never have I taken a class at the actual OSU campus! My journey to OSU is a winding path that started off in rainy Eugene, made a pit stop along the way in a brewery, and ended in front of a monitor applying for this program. Hope you enjoy the ride!
Before becoming a Beaver with Oregon State, I was originally just a Duck at the University of Oregon (UO) from 2013 – 2017. (I guess I’m a platypus now?) During my time at the UO I ended up getting a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies with a focus on Japanese history. Accompanying my BA, I minored in Mathematics and 日本語. While my main focuses’ didn’t include that much Computer Science, I took a few Computer Science classes along the way that would inevitably be the first sign of the road that I might end up here. Although I still had a few more years until I started this OSU program, the next big chunk of my life was spent in the company of former Beavers.
Following graduation at the UO I wasn’t too sure what kinds of jobs to apply for. Eventually I began to work at a brewery in Oregon, where I started as a bar back, then server, then eventually a brewer with a couple of recipes online! It was here that I met quite a few former Beavers who would always find a way to mention that OSU is better than UO (always in a lighthearted way of course). During my time as a brewer, I went to the OSU campus for the first time in order to take a test through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling https://www.ibd.org.uk/ (not sure how to do hyperlinks but hopefully I figure it out later!). Here was my first experience walking through campus at OSU, never thinking that I might one day be an alum myself.
I eventually started to do some computer work for the brewery which reignited my passion for spreadsheets and automating stuff. I had to refresh my memory with the material I learned in my Computer Science classes but eventually it came back to me. This refresh also reignited the interest I had in Python which then brought me to doing a Data Analytics bootcamp.
Following the Data Analytics program, I was once again on the hunt for jobs since leaving the brewery, however I found that my resume wasn’t sparking enough. To supplement my Math minor and newly completed Data Analytics certificate I thought it would be a good idea to get a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. So now, almost two years since I first started I am now on my final term of this post bacc Computer Science program! I still find it funny that the only time I’ve been to OSU is not computer science related, but I suppose taking classes online is more popular nowadays than anyone would’ve thought. It has been quite the journey to get to OSU and even more of a journey through these courses.
-Scott
