Computer Nerd by Connor

Computer Nerd by Connor - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

One of my greatest passions today is computer science. Early in my high school career, I stumbled across the world of computers and the limitless potential they hold for our society. I remember how fascinated I was when inputting a few simple commands into the terminal window changed how the computer operated. Never had any other subject of education interest me as much as “how a computer worked”. I recall renting programming books from the public library that had not been taken off the shelf in possible years. I was obsessed with learning not only how the computer operated, but how I could change/influence what the computer did.

As I continued to learn and digest this rather complex topic, it prompted me to start attending classes at my high school that I would not have even considered prior to this obsession. At this time I gained a clearer understanding of programming and began to become proficient in coding and problem solving. However, my mind never considered programming to be more than a hobby or something to pass the time. In the final week of a computer science course I was attending, the instructor began to discuss the possible career choices we could ponder about.

Learning that programming can be turned into a profession - something I can do for the rest of my life - reflected a change in me. It created a deep desire or passion within myself that made me want to find my way to become a Software Developer. I began to study as much as I could about what is required of me to become a “professional coder”. I found that programming on a professional level requires complex math, so I began to study more diligently on my math. I learned that a Software Developer requires communication skills, so I started to challenge myself to socialize more.

Forwarding to today, I’m still striving to become a “professional programmer”, to write code for tech companies and enjoy solving their problems. I have learned that it isn’t as easy as it might appear to become a Software Developer. So this passion has caused me to make concise “stepping stone” goals to make my way up to the ultimate goal as a Developer. This passion has influenced me to attend college and advance even further for my knowledge to become wisdom. Computer science has influenced me so much that I can’t imagine myself failing or pursuing anything else.