My first quarter at Northwestern I took the introductory CS class in Python to fulfill a general elective. I fell in love with programming and knew that I had found my path. By the end of my first month I had declared as a CS major and by the end of my first year I had a job TAing for the department. Programming had become my favorite passtime--it was a creative outlet for puzzling, problem solving, and innovation. I took classes in various languages (including Python, C, and C++) that explored data structures and algorithms, web development, mathematical theory in CS, and more. During my second year at Northwestern, I decided to put my CS education on hold to finish a Bachelor's of Science in Social Policy and Education with a focus on human development--how our identities, motivations, and socializations form and evolve over our lifetimes. I knew I wanted to be in the CS field career-wise, but I felt that understanding human development was key to seeing where in the field to focus. Throughout this time, I continued to work in the CS deparment as a teaching assistant, and began work as an Ethics Coordinator bringing conversations on tech ethics into the introductory CS courses. I am now pursuing a master's in Computer Science to deepen my passion into a thorough mastery across a well-rounded variety of topics in the field. Academically, my primary interest lies at the intersection of Computer Science and Human Development--human-computer interaction and accessible design. My bachelor's not being a traditional degree associated with CS has given me a unique academic perspective for understanding the field and its implications for society. My background in social development, identity, and interaction now functions as the framework through which I study Computer Science. I’ve gained the tools to explore how these factors apply to the impact and uses of technology for diverse groups of people.
I hope to further apply my education to a career in user-centered software engineering. I'm building a deeper understanding of how to identify and create technology that fosters productivity, collective action, and social good. As I enter the workforce, I'm seeking companies and organizations that reflect these values, and are ethically creating technology that isn’t driven by addiction, convenience, and consumption.
