Personal Statement

My niche has always been Computer Science, pure and simple. Unfortunately, computer programming has always had the stigma from pop culture of being classified as a geeky endeavor, subject to isolation, love of personal cubicles, and segregation from human contact. Nothing can be further from the truth and I object to this stereotype wholeheartedly. On the contrary, it is my love of community spirit, the sharing of ideas, and both the humility and reward I receive from learning something new every day that inspires me to master Computer Science. As far as I recall, my path has always converged with this subject.

Although I was born in the United States, I spent most of my youth living in Mexico. Subject to poverty and other social restrictions, I developed curiosity for electronics and technology, items that were outside my reach. At age 10, my mother enrolled me in a summer program which taught computer programming. I was hooked instantly; the logic of it all was beautiful. Looking back, I could swear I was so obsessed that I felt anything could be written in code and began to even see the actions of everyday people as a grand collection of programming statements! Unfortunately, my fellow peers did not share my enthusiasm on the subject and it was not until community college that my passion truly shined.

Two months after graduating high school in Mexico, I moved to California in an attempt to seek advancement in the field of computer science while working and providing aid for my family in Mexico. I enrolled in a local community college and became instantly attracted to the institution’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (M.E.S.A.) program. While enrolled in this program, I expanded my social circle and developed wonderful contacts. These students were unbiased and did not judge me for my accent or English skills, which I was still improving at the time. Instead, they valued me for my thoughts and ideas. They worked with me and taught me the power of teamwork in developing projects one could otherwise not accomplish alone.

The time I spent in M.E.S.A. solidified my devotion towards Computer Science. To illustrate, my friends and I developed a C++ tutoring workshop which I currently lead which allows students interested in the C++ programming language to work in a supportive environment solving challenging critical thinking and coding problems. Collaborating with other students passionate about other fields has also helped me expand my range of applications. For example, in my Physics class, I was awarded extra credit along with my colleagues for developing a computer program that solves elementary mechanical problems using kinematics formulas. This exercise showed me first hand that having an open mind and a collaborative spirit will allow me to use Computer Science to innovate in diverse fields.

With spring approaching soon, and my community college days coming

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