A Reflection of my Student Experience at UC
Throughout my time so far at the University of Cincinnati I have learned a lot about myself - my interests, my strengths, my weaknesses, and my future. Despite having a very successful high school experience, the very thought of going to a large university was terrifying. I didn't know what to expect, and I knew that it would be a culture shock going from a graduating class of 76 to a graduating class of thousands of students. Now, being nearly three years into my college journey, I have adapted to this new and exciting educational environment. I've been able to learn so many things in the areas I am interested in and have been able to interact with many others who share those same interests. By getting involved in extracurricular activities, I have matured socially and as a leader. Perhaps most notably, I have been provided opportunities to experience what it is like to hold a career in my area of interest with no strings attached. I was incredibly surprised by how fulfilling my co-op experiences have been so far, as I did not expect them to be that way when I started pursuing a degree in CS. Even after one co-op rotation, I felt a sense of great relief knowing that I "picked the right major for me." The people I worked with and the software I worked on were incredible and made me feel like I belonged there. (This is in stark contrast to how I initially thought it would be as a Freshmen - boring, scary, and difficult.) I hope that my experiences at UC can motivate others, regardless of their past experiences, to pursue higher education and chase after their dreams.
Pursuing Passion
One of the hallmarks of higher education is being able to select classes and extracurriculars that accurately describe your specific interests. My high school never offered higher-level math or computer science courses - in fact, it had none of the latter. There were probably only 3 total clubs available to join as well. So UC was a huge breath of fresh air when it came to the courses I could choose from. Even as a Freshman, I was happy to see so many courses that drilled down into subjects in which I have never had any formal education. I was also no stranger to the plethora of clubs and organizations I now had access to. I quickly joined ACM@UC, Dungeons and Bearcats, and a campus ministry group. I felt as though the only limitation on what clubs I joined was how much free-time I had between my academic workload. My advice to anyone starting out in college is to get involved - even more so than I did. I'm not a very socially-extroverted person, but joining clubs has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone, explore my interests further, and meet new people. This leads me into another major aspect of my college experience.
Participating in the co-op program has greatly impacted my journey as a CS student and has opened my eyes to the possibilities that working in software can provide. My co-op rotations have made me more excited for graduation, but also more excited to learn more about CS on my own. I gained a very real interest in certain aspects of programming (such as web development) because of my co-op experiences. If it weren't for my co-op experiences and the job-search process that got me into them, I would not be as passionate about my studies than I am now.
Participating in the co-op program has greatly impacted my journey as a CS student and has opened my eyes to the possibilities that working in software can provide. My co-op rotations have made me more excited for graduation, but also more excited to learn more about CS on my own. I gained a very real interest in certain aspects of programming (such as web development) because of my co-op experiences. If it weren't for my co-op experiences and the job-search process that got me into them, I would not be as passionate about my studies than I am now.
Making Connections
Meeting new people and connecting with employers is a part of my experience that I never thought I'd be so excited about. Whether it be friendships formed during group projects or companies met at career fairs and hackathons, making connections with other people helps take the fear out of the future. Now that I have sent my resume to dozens of employers and spoken to their representatives, I feel confident about my ability to secure a job after graduation. During in-class semesters, I have come to know many of my classmates (especially those whom I paired with for projects and team activities) which makes the "giant university" setting feel closer to what I have been used to. I've also found that it is very helpful and uplifting to have friends who are also your classmates. They can relate to the struggles you may be going through, and can help you when times get rough.
I also have references from my co-op experiences. Not only do my coworkers serve as references, but they have become friends of mine too. I was fortunate enough to secure a co-op where collaboration and team-building are an integral part of each work day, which makes forming bonds with my co-workers much easier.
So my advice is to meet people. Reach out, and get to know your classmates and coworkers on more than just a mere "acquaintance" level.
I also have references from my co-op experiences. Not only do my coworkers serve as references, but they have become friends of mine too. I was fortunate enough to secure a co-op where collaboration and team-building are an integral part of each work day, which makes forming bonds with my co-workers much easier.
So my advice is to meet people. Reach out, and get to know your classmates and coworkers on more than just a mere "acquaintance" level.
Standing Out
With going to a large school and entering an even larger workforce, comes the fear of being lost in the crowd. Especially in CS, I oftentimes struggle with feelings of self-doubt - "Am I good enough?" It is hard to feel experienced when there is always so much more you can learn, but I have found that it is important to use this fact to my advantage. Rather than fall into despair, I use it to motivate my independent endeavors to learn more about software and computers in general. I have also been told time and time again that working on projects and picking up new skills outside of the ordinary workload that comes with getting a degree in CS will go a long way. Knowing this, I spend much of my spare time watching videos and answering questions (primarily on Pluralsight) related to programming. I have also been working on an online game coded in Luau. While succeeding in terms of ones GPA is important, I've realized that the most meaningful and beneficial things for me have been the side-projects and co-op experiences related to my interests.
During my remaining co-op experiences, I want to focus on building closer connections to my coworkers as well as reaching out to people in other teams to learn more about what they do. I also want to put a focus on acquiring new skills, refining existing ones, and researching ways I can perform my job more efficiently. These things will ultimately benefit myself when I go on to search for a job after graduation.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, then take what I have said to heart - pursue your passion, make connections, and get involved outside of the classroom.
During my remaining co-op experiences, I want to focus on building closer connections to my coworkers as well as reaching out to people in other teams to learn more about what they do. I also want to put a focus on acquiring new skills, refining existing ones, and researching ways I can perform my job more efficiently. These things will ultimately benefit myself when I go on to search for a job after graduation.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, then take what I have said to heart - pursue your passion, make connections, and get involved outside of the classroom.
Looking Forward
If I could go back and start over again, I'd do three things differently: get involved sooner and in a more impactful way; spend more time outside of class learning about software and CS in general; and try harder to foster long-lasting friendships. As I look at the years ahead of me, I do so with much less fear and anxiety than I did when I was in high school. I know that software development is what I want to do. I know the wide variety of practical applications the skills I learn from my degree program and co-op experiences can provide. I feel confident about my own abilities, but will never stop trying to achieve more and learn along the way. It is my ultimate hope that I can inspire others to do the same and to keep moving forward.