Describe what sparked your interest in computing and technology and HOW has that interest furthered your experience in computing and technology? This is your time to shine – tell us what you have been doing and give us specific details.
I used to believe that something about my life was missing. I did not have passions, and certainly not any talents. However, this all changed when I joined the iTECH Academy at my high school; that’s when I discovered my true self. At iTECH, I learn technical skills such as visual design and programming, which I combine to create video games. In the entire district, iTech is the only magnet program that encourages students to learn programming to create games and compete in local, state, and even national competitions. Every year, I participate in the competitions and earn many achievements. I feel very proud of all the years of hard work and dedication that I put into my skills with technology. Every time that I sit down at my computer and create, whether it is a design, a game, or a simple program, I know that this is what I want to dedicate my life to. Whenever I look back and remember my freshman year of high school when I was not fluent in the world of programming and had no skills in visual arts, I can feel how far I have come in the world of technology and I strive to learn more each day. As I move forward, I am excited to see what I can accomplish using technological skills as one of my most valuable assets.
What makes your application STAND OUT, be that LEADERSHIP or overcoming ADVERSITY or your personal EXPERIENCE with technology? We want to hear about what makes you unique.
Being born in a minority country, my knowledge of technology was limited. When I discovered the Internet and what it was capable of, it instantly sparked my interest. Since I came during my childhood age, it was difficult to get accustomed to life here, and I had trouble making meaningful friendships. I found myself at home playing computer games and I was so fascinated by how I could be transported into another dimension; one where I felt happy and had no worries. This was my first real experience with technology, and to be able to now be creating games like the ones I used to play back in my childhood is such a wonderful gift that has given to me. I want many people to experience the amazing feeling of creating something unique and personal to tell your own story, and I find myself often encouraging my peers to learn more about it. I have studied the programming language in depth to ensure that I know as much as I can to be able to help my friends and classmates when they have a problem while creating their own games for competition; whether it is a programming bug or a visual idea, I will always be there to help. I feel very joyful when I am able to help others create their own programs and designs because I am so passionate and I love tinkering with technology to expand my horizons.
Describe HOW you would like computing and technology TO BE A PART OF your career goals.
Throughout my high school experience, technology has been all around me. I hope to continue my education and pursue a major in computer science and a minor in video game design. Since technology is ever-changing, the STEM jobs in today’s economy will likely double or triple by the time I am finished with my education. This can sound really exciting, or really scary, depending on the perspective. The technology we see today will not be the same four years from now; no one knows what to expect. I seek to learn the mind of an innovator, the skills of a technician, but most importantly, to broaden my knowledge each day. I am looking forward to working with technology as a professional career, whether I continue as a game designer or move to a different branch in computer science, my goal will be to create new things with the skills I have learned and share them with other creative innovators to create a complete product and publish it to the world. Not only that, I hope to use the skills I have learned and use them to create solutions to everyday problems and improve people's lives.
Describe a problem that you would like TO SOLVE using technology and explain HOW you would solve it (this could be a social problem, a technical problem, a local problem, a world problem, etc.).
In the modern day, technology serves as a solution to most problems; however, not all solutions have been discovered. When I attended an internship at Florida International University last summer, I was exposed to a huge problem in today’s education system: procedural education. When students take a geometry course, it goes as follows: pick up a book, memorize the concept, and take the test. A few weeks after taking the test, most students only have a blurry idea about the concept that they just studied for weeks! Geometrical concepts are not sticking unto students’ minds because they are not developing their spatial visualization abilities. If future schools could implement virtual reality in the classroom, students could step inside of a 3D simulation and partake in fun and immersive challenges outside of the regular textbook math problems. This would develop their spatial visualization skills and tackle geometry problems with real-world situations! An example of this would be a simulation of a room where a student would have to figure out how many feet of baseboard molding they need to cover the dimensions of the room. By immersing the students inside the environment, they are challenged with a math scenario where they can learn a concept such as perimeter and store it in their minds forever, not just for the exam! I believe this would be revolutionary in education and would make students think twice before they assume they will never use the concepts that they learn!
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