Extracurricular Activities
-Boring Marathon volunteer -Portland'5 Safety Committee (work) -Video Game Development Club
A Little Bit About Me
I am a non-traditional student in the sense that I am a few years older than most college students, work full-time doing maintenance for Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, and am the father to an amazing toddler named Emmett. After some bad experiences with college right before COVID, I withdrew and spent several years working in construction. I eventually decided that I could find a more fulfilling career with a degree, and enrolled at OIT PM. While it has been at times challenging to juggle school, work, and family responsibilities, I am so well-supported by my school and loved ones and lucky to be able to do what I do. In my free time, I like to play and go out with my family, read sci-fi and fantasy, drink lattes, and watch Formula 1. I also love woodworking and making furniture and toys!
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
I chose Oregon Tech because the Portland Metro campus offers a more convenient experience for those who have families and work full-time. OIT also has a strong software engineering program that is oriented to prepare students for a career in the field over more traditional, somewhat conservative curriculums like those offered at the other state schools. Software engineering is my passion!
My Influential Professors
All of the Portland Metro teaching staff are inspirational in their own right. I have been particularly entertained, inspired, and supported by Phong Nguyen, Pete Myers, Arthur Spears, and David Johnston. The environment at OIT PM is perfect for someone like me, a non-traditional student that has a strong desire to learn but needs some extra flexibility and support sometimes. These professors have always encouraged and helped me when I needed it the most.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
My greatest learning experience at Oregon Tech has occurred within the last year or so. As my junior year comes to a close, I am really starting to feel as though the things I am learning have the potential to make a difference and a positive impact on the world. I feel like I can start to work like a professional software developer, and I am excited to start working on my senior project as I plan to develop a business software system for a local non-profit, the World Forestry Center.
My Plans After Graduation
After graduating, I hope to find a career as a software engineer or in cybersecurity. I would love to continue working for local government as I do now or for non-profits or at least contribute to and create open-source software as much as possible.