Computers and Movies by Alade

Computers and Movies by Alade - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was a child, my creativity has been a driving force for self-discovery. Computer technology has drawn my interest in ways that no other discipline has been able to match. That is, until this recent semester when I enrolled in two broadcasting courses. While the experience has altered my intended pathway, it has also allowed me to embrace computer science in a much broader capacity. I had my first brush with programming with video games. The idea of creating something felt special to me and coding, whether through Java, Python, or R, was the sole medium in which I expressed it; until I stepped into a broadcast booth. I anchored my school’s broadcasting program, Moreau Catholic TV (MCTV), which broadcasts a weekly show organized solely by the students in Film and Video Arts 2.
I proposed an idea and wrote the script. I certainly learned a lot about the scriptwriting process. Prior to the live broadcast I thought I’d be nervous, but I was surprised at my own level of excitement. I wasn’t expecting much of a reaction afterwards, but I was overwhelmed by the congratulatory messages I received. However, none surprised me more than a word of praise I received from my US History teacher, who told me I was “carrying MCTV”. Other people said that my segments of MCTV stood out from the others. The experience has made me feel more proud of my work.
I’ve found a new love that enhances my first love - computer science. At this nascent phase, I’m not certain how the two will merge, but I’m harboring some exciting ideas. I’m learning that I'm not wedded to one medium of expression, but have realized that my real passion lies in the expression itself and the message that can be crafted. I see both as providing me the ability to develop multiple tools to create and craft unique messages, allowing for unique ways to build stories and ideas. The two together excite me in ways I haven’t experienced before, and the journey forward is one that I anxiously await.