Undergraduate Degree Awarded from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus

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Before the University

I finished my Associate of Liberal Arts and my Associate of Science in Computer Science at Normandale Community College. It wasn't my first choice at the time I had enrolled, but I also had no idea that I would be majoring in computer science before the end of my first year. I had enrolled in an introductory CSCI course in the summer semester and fell in love with the content. Not only that, but my professors were knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. I enrolled in several extra-curricular activities and the campus quickly became my second home. One such group was Phi Theta Kappa.

With Phi Theta Kappa, I helped guide the chapter for two years along with several of my now life-long friends. The first year I was the Vice President of Public Relations and was responsible for the communications with the student body. The second year I took the seat of Vice President of Scholarship and headed up a major research project. Alongside these roles, I was the president of the local GSA, volunteered at a hospital near my home, assistant the foundation office with data entry and reports, conducted campus tours for middle-schoolers, and participated as an Academy of Math and Science cohort member. This was all while maintaining at least part-time employment and grades sufficient to receive high-honors upon graduating.

Many of my friends actually graduated with me and enrolled at the University of Minnesota to finish our Bachelor degrees. Six of us rented a house a couple blocks from the Minneapolis Campus, enrolled full-time and prepared for what we knew would be an adjustment.

The First Year

We knew going in that the University was different. Our classes were larger, there was more to study, and we had heard that navigating the curriculum was more challenging. I had personally made the mistake of not taking all of the courses I could have at Normandale before transferring. Even though I had enrolled in an average amount of credits, the workload between that and work was suddenly more than I had handled before. I ended up needing to withdraw from my architecture course and still ended the semester with a GPA below 2.0, placing me on immediate academic probation.

I was mortified, but I was still anxious about paying for school, rent, and my other expenses at the time. I couldn't take less work and as far as I knew, I couldn't reduce my credit load. I'd end up essentially paying more per credit and I was anxious about graduating in a reasonable amount of time. I did make a marginal improvement in both my cumulative and term GPAs for the spring semester, but it wasn't enough to prevent suspension.

The Long Years

Being suspended from the University meant that I could not return for another academic year. During that time I got a new full-time job as a Project Coordinator and returned to Normandale to complete the course that was causing me so much trouble at the University. After about a year at that new job, an opportunity came along that would bring me back to the world of software development.

During my time at Normandale, I had a year and a half long internship in the QA department of a software company as a Junior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET). I was responsible for assisting my senior develop an automated testing framework for the company's internal tablet devices. I enjoyed the work, but there was no opportunity for advancement and the commute was difficult with my classes. The new opportunity in front of me was for a similar role at a new company.

The new company was fine, but the job took a lot of my focus. I was working as a team of one to do both the manual and automation for the entire team. I had class here and there which got me out of immediate danger of another suspension, but I still wasn't doing well enough to significantly improve my GPA, so I stuck mostly to work. However, the work that I was doing for the company at the time should have been divided amongst at least two people, if not two teams. Over time it was clear that even if my direct co-workers appreciated my work, the larger company did not. Between that and the financial bind of my school loans coming back, I had to move on.

I landed at a great company that kept me comfortable, but I was in a position that still mixed its automation and manual testing. I had been looking for anything in development, but this group was the only offer I got. With my financial burden still in place, I couldn't say no. I rationalized that this would still give me the opportunity to advance once I was settled.

Not more than a month or two later, a junior developer was hired. They were good, but I was disappointed that I wasn't given the option to apply for the role. By then, I had had enough experience in the software development world that the role of a junior dev was just a matter of learning that shop's code. My performance slumped. I internalized my disappointment and re-focused on school. There was a tuition reimbursement benefit that I started redeeming. I took one course at a time, the limit of the benefit.

The Climb

My first semester back, I took an advanced algorithms course. It was actually a course I was repeating from a couple years before. I had dropped it the first time since I was in the middle of changing jobs. This time I completed it with a B.

This was the best grade I had received at the University so far. I still had a sub 2.0 cumulative GPA, but it at least seemed possible to repair. The next semester was summer and this time I was able to get an A. Things seemed to be going well academically, but my benefit was dried up for the year, so for the fall, I started back at half-time using FAFSA funding again. I found a couple of courses that didn't conflict with my work schedule and sounded interesting.

By this time, however, work was less than pleased with my performance, but I was struggling to focus on work. In response to my dissatisfaction and dip in work performance, I had seeked out professional help. I had attended therapy before, but the most I was ever diagnosed with was generalized depression and anxiety. I was being medicated for it, but it seemed to be doing little for my situation. At this time, I was also aligning more and more with some meemes and content directed to and for folks with ADHD. I remembered that I had asked for ADHD testing in high school. I found the report and gave it to my new therapist. It was their opinion, and the opinion of their colleagues that I had been misdiagnosed. My treatment plan changed and things have been different ever sense.

I wasn't able to complete that fall semester, but that spring I enrolled in two more courses and finished them both with A's, along with improving my performance at work. I still didn't like my job, but it was becoming easier to tolerate. I kept working through the summer, saving money for the following year. I had to complete my year of service since last redeeming the tuition reimbursement benefit.

The Monday after my anniversary, I submitted my two weeks. I enrolled for two more courses and became an undergraduate TA. Until this point, I didn't have high enough grades at the University to even consider a position as a teaching assistant. This was my first opportunity to do so.

I had seem what the corporate world was like and I had an inkling that I might want to teach. What better way to decide than to try? I wasn't responsible for direct instruction, but I did get to assist. I helped with grading and answering questions during discussion. I enjoyed it so much that I asked for the same assignment with the same semester and even started holding office hours for students. What was even better is that I completed both semesters with straight A's.

I graduated. Not only that, I was able to bring my GPA back up above a 3.0, even if just barely. The cherry on top was a letter automatically admitting me into the master's program.

What Comes Next

If I do want to teach at a college level, I need to complete at least an MS in the field I want to teach. In this case, I would be focusing on Computer Science. That auto admit was an amazing gift that I was not expecting to receive, but it's still only one piece. I still have to complete the degree and continue with opportunities that allow me to teach.

Over this summer, I've been spending time teaching at a kid's technology summer camp. It's been a great opportunity to run my own classroom and I'm excited for more opportunities like it. Once the summer is over, I will likely need to find something new since funding and TA opportunities are not guaranteed for Master students at the University. But, I'll keep aiming for those TA roles.

Regardless, I'm excited for what's coming in the next academic year!