Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations
(500 words max)
Classic white, bulky CRT monitor. Glossy glass screen. White, chunky desktop case with buttons that often became stuck with enough pressure from a child's finger. Though it would be considered obsolete and aghast in today's times of LCD monitors, sweeping desktop personalization, and optimized operating systems, it would be my learning tool to basic computer literacy and the inspiration in seeking a career surrounding computers.
As a child from a low-income household, with a single parent who acted as both a homemaker and babysitter to random children, it was natural for me to not be able to buy all the books I wanted, relying on the luck of scavenging the boring books in retail stores for treasure; the three libraries around my home became my favorite places to cruise, childishly wishing for the day that I could own my own home library that would contain all the books I can touch and read at whim. It was then during the time I spent at the library, I discovered desktop computers, fascinated with the ability to search for articles, information, and games delivered by a few typed characters and the clicks of a mouse. Immediately, I begged my mom to buy me one, going as far as sugarcoating it as an academic requirement in spite of being in elementary school.
After years of begging and promising to improve my grades, I finally received one for Christmas, now positioned in the living room. Now, it wasn't the best computer, and in fact, it was infuriating to handle a computer that could be at worst, incompetent and unresponsive. With the awful DSL internet and outdated hardware, I had to learn all the tricks of troubleshooting, checking for network status, and basic computer security without buying unaffordable antivirus software; introverted and becoming plagued with my issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, the Internet was perhaps my greatest agent of socialization in my youth, broadening the scope of my world and splitting off from my household in terms of ideology and belief. Lurking on the web for a long portion of my weeks, I couldn't help, but fantasize a career involving computer science, where I could learn and work on what I loved, but always overshadowed by uncertainty whether it would bring merit.
Though the desire of a career in computer science lurked in my mind, it was CyberPatriot and AP Computer Science that reeled it out; a certain aesthetic love of writing and organization spilled out and the language of Java glimmered in front of my eyes, while cybersecurity fascinated me. Though my knowledge of general computer science and security is regretfully trivial, I cannot stop now; I must master computer science, mathematics, and all in between from grasping several programming languages to conquering the challenge of the Linux terminal to understanding networking concepts and databases.
Honestly, I am not sure whether this is a sufficient reply to the UC prompt and any criticism and suggestions would be welcome.
(500 words max)
Classic white, bulky CRT monitor. Glossy glass screen. White, chunky desktop case with buttons that often became stuck with enough pressure from a child's finger. Though it would be considered obsolete and aghast in today's times of LCD monitors, sweeping desktop personalization, and optimized operating systems, it would be my learning tool to basic computer literacy and the inspiration in seeking a career surrounding computers.
As a child from a low-income household, with a single parent who acted as both a homemaker and babysitter to random children, it was natural for me to not be able to buy all the books I wanted, relying on the luck of scavenging the boring books in retail stores for treasure; the three libraries around my home became my favorite places to cruise, childishly wishing for the day that I could own my own home library that would contain all the books I can touch and read at whim. It was then during the time I spent at the library, I discovered desktop computers, fascinated with the ability to search for articles, information, and games delivered by a few typed characters and the clicks of a mouse. Immediately, I begged my mom to buy me one, going as far as sugarcoating it as an academic requirement in spite of being in elementary school.
After years of begging and promising to improve my grades, I finally received one for Christmas, now positioned in the living room. Now, it wasn't the best computer, and in fact, it was infuriating to handle a computer that could be at worst, incompetent and unresponsive. With the awful DSL internet and outdated hardware, I had to learn all the tricks of troubleshooting, checking for network status, and basic computer security without buying unaffordable antivirus software; introverted and becoming plagued with my issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, the Internet was perhaps my greatest agent of socialization in my youth, broadening the scope of my world and splitting off from my household in terms of ideology and belief. Lurking on the web for a long portion of my weeks, I couldn't help, but fantasize a career involving computer science, where I could learn and work on what I loved, but always overshadowed by uncertainty whether it would bring merit.
Though the desire of a career in computer science lurked in my mind, it was CyberPatriot and AP Computer Science that reeled it out; a certain aesthetic love of writing and organization spilled out and the language of Java glimmered in front of my eyes, while cybersecurity fascinated me. Though my knowledge of general computer science and security is regretfully trivial, I cannot stop now; I must master computer science, mathematics, and all in between from grasping several programming languages to conquering the challenge of the Linux terminal to understanding networking concepts and databases.
Honestly, I am not sure whether this is a sufficient reply to the UC prompt and any criticism and suggestions would be welcome.
