Can you talk a little about your career journey so far?
Last summer, I worked as a teaching assistant at a virtual summer immersion program run by Girls Y Code. Through Girls Code, I began networking and learning and exploring the exciting opportunities that a computer science major has to offer. At LCW, I also recently became the chair of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and created the Women’s Y Code College Loops Club, which is designed for women interested in technology to support and help each other succeed in the field. . These are two computer science initiatives that could provide additional resources within the department.
In addition, I met with Sari Singer of LCW Career Services, where I was able to create a resume and prepare to enter the job market. She has handled countless interviews, contract negotiations, and coached me throughout my journey. After a successful recruiting season, I am thrilled to be moving to American Express and excited for this next phase of my career!
When you started at Touro, did you know that computer science was the field you wanted to go into?
for sure. I have taken AP Computer Science Principles since 11th grade. Subsequently, I took 12 more programming courses.Th The class my teacher Mrs. Kaufman brought to LCW to compete in the Hack It Together hackathon, I won with a group of friends. There I met my current mentor, Dr. Katz, and after seeing the computer science class at Touro, I knew there was a future for me here. I see that LCW cares about promoting women in technology and has a commitment and positive environment that will help us succeed. I left the hackathon intrigued by Touro and the LCW experience, so I applied and was accepted into the honors program. The choice to come to LCW felt very natural because I had such positive experiences, and I knew this was where I wanted to build my career.
You are very involved in this year’s upcoming hackathon. Do you feel that your ability to participate in this hackathon is based on your experience in previous hackathons? Would you be encouraged to join this group?
Yes, I am happy to be one of the organizers of the upcoming event! As a student participating in a hackathon, it’s fun knowing you have 12 hours, one day, to go from A to Z and come up with a project, spend all day working on the project, and then present it to the judges. As a group of high school students, we didn’t expect to win, we came to audition for an event geared toward college-age students. And when it was time to announce the winner, we started packing our bags. We thought college students with experience building beautiful apps and popular websites would win, but to our surprise, our name was called! The judges told us that while our app was a very unique and innovative project, it was something that had never been done before. That was a validating and rewarding time as I saw that I could combine my technical skills with creativity to produce great results. The whole experience was a highlight for me, so I want to give back and help others have the same experience.
Do you have anything to say to a student who wants to come to LCW? Is there anything special about a computer science major?
There is camaraderie among the students in the computer science class and we all help each other. Dr. Katz, our advisor and professor, is always available during lunch and office hours to provide support aimed at helping us succeed in the rigorous coursework. All professors have a student-first mindset and are committed to helping us reach our full potential. School is academically challenging, and I couldn’t be happier here. The environment at LCW is conducive to success and if you are a prospective student, know that the path to all your career goals can start here.
