B.S. Information Management and Technology ‘12
From a very young age, I have always felt an unexplainable draw toward technology. It was almost as if I needed to interact with it, even before I had a complete idea of what it was. Over the years, my interest has grown and expanded. I can partly attribute this to being born at, what I feel, is a perfect time – with many of the emerging technologies of the day. It is a strange thing: having the privilege to grow up with many of these technologies being born around me.
Upon applying to Syracuse University, I was planning on joining the School of Engineering. However, when I arrived for my interview and told the office of admissions about myself, my interests, and my working history, they were eager to inform me of the iSchool. I am glad they brought this school to my attention; I felt an instant draw. I knew that it was absolutely the proper fit for me and was a better fit for what I wanted to do with my life.
Let’s fast forward to my freshman year at college. By this time I had already gained some years working in the IT field, but I was ready for more. I quickly found an on-campus job working with A&S Computing Services. For the next four years of my life (aside from my semester abroad experience with the SU London program) I would find myself waking up each morning before classes to provide computer hardware, software, and networking support for all faculty and staff of the Arts and Sciences College of Syracuse University. This was soon to be an achievement that was the first of many while attending Syracuse University.
I’ve always been ready to help out around the iSchool. From the beginning I was eager to become a peer advisor; I wanted to give new and potential students the same feeling of excitement and comfort that my peer advisors gave me. They were there for me and I wanted to do the same thing for others. Another way in which I was able to give back was through becoming a teaching assistant for database, programming, and system administration. I wanted to pass on what I had learned to future students.
Having received a full time job offer with JPMorgan Chase as an Infrastructure Engineer, I am ready to take the next step in my life after graduation. No matter how ready I may feel I will always cherish my time here with the iSchool and Syracuse University. While I cannot take campus with me, I’m able to look back at what I’ve learned and at all of the people I’ve met. This is something I can always keep close with me, and that is what matter most.