A Passion for Software
21 Jan 2017
Passions in Life
Every little kid growing up is asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer every time - Software Engineer. No, I’m kidding. What kind of kid wants to be a software engineer? Most kids don’t even know what a software engineer does. I certainly didn’t. Throughout my childhood, I found myself aspiring to do a lot of different things. Sports was a big part of my life as a child, so naturally I wanted to be a professional athlete. Unfortunately, I barely had the talent and physicality to compete at the high school level, so that dream was shot down. While I was in elementary school, I started to study music and experimented learning different instruments. I fell in love with the drums and became a drummer. At that point in my life, I wanted to become a professional drummer one day. Music and drumming are still a huge part of my life, but it turned into more of a hobby than an aspiring profession. The same happened when I picked up surfing in middle school. All I could think about was surfing. I worked hard to get better and I was dedicated to becoming the best I could be. But, like my music career, surfing became more of a hobby over the years. Looking back that these periods of my life, I can see how my passions for sports, music, and the ocean have grown together.
What’s Your Major?
I remember the time in my life every high school graduate and future college student goes through. The question goes from “What do you want to be?” to “What do you want to major in?” This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I though about my passions: sports, music, and surfing. How could I do something related to these passions? It seemed impossible, and scary at the time. Would my parents be okay with my decision? I contemplated studying chemistry just because I was “good at it.” This was the plan going into my first year of college. I would study chemistry (miserably) and get my degree, go into some sort of medical or pharmaceutical school, and become a doctor. That’ll show ‘em.
Newfound Passion
It wasn’t until the week before my freshman year when I realized my “plan” was a bad one. Why would I do something for the sake of being “good”, when I could rather do something that I love every single day? At this time, my brother suggested I’d give computer science a try. His exact words: “Computer science is not for everyone. You either get it or you don’t.” I took this as a challenge and enrolled into my first computer science class at Santa Clara University. I loved it from day one, and I haven’t looked back. Though there were times when I wanted to chuck my computer out my dorm window, I’ve never regretted my decision to study computer science. Now continuing to complete my degree at the University of Hawaii, I have realized this is the right field for me. Being able to design, write, and create software and applications from scratch is something that has become my new passion. The best part about software engineering is the ability to tie in my other passions in life with my newfound passion for programming, which to me, is truly satisfying. I hope to use what I learn as a programmer to develop software that will not only help me, but also many others. Computers are powerful tools that are the future of this world, and I am excited to do my part, whether big or small, to innovate and influence the world of technology for years to come.