Prior to studying computer science and searching for a career as a software engineer, I had a previous life in the environmental field. I’ve always felt a deep connection with nature. My passion for outdoor recreation grew into an interest in natural resource conservation, which ultimately blossomed into an academic pursuit in environmental science.
So why the abrupt change in career fields? Well, technology has always been a driving force in how I have collected/analyzed data within the environmental field. How we collected information related to endangered bird populations, mapped geographic changes over time, and helped stakeholders visualize where funds would be spent were all examples of how we leveraged technology as environmental scientists. It seemed clear that taking advantage of learning new technological skills would help advance my career and open doors moving forward.
I still remember the conversations I had with my mom and my girlfriend about making this career change. It’s fun to reminisce about how nervous I was about making the change, yet how supportive my friends and family were. Knowing what I know now about this journey I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions I have ever had!
