Why I Chose Computer Science: A Journey of Curiosity and Impact by Danielle

Why I Chose Computer Science: A Journey of Curiosity and Impact by Danielle - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

From the moment my neighbor handed me a Windows 1996 computer at the age of 9, I was hooked. I dove headfirst into the settings, tinkering with every corner of that device. A few years later, I was teaching myself HTML to spruce up my Neopet’s page—complete with a sparkly “Hey, welcome to my Neopet’s page!”. That’s where it all began, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride since.

Today, my love for technology has only grown stronger. I’m not just someone who loves to break things down and build them back up—I’m someone who wants to use technology to make a difference. Whether I’m helping coworkers understand Excel or earning my IBM Mainframe certification, I’ve always felt like I was on the right path. Paying my own way through college, pursuing a Computer Science degree, and actively seeking out opportunities to level up, like internships and mentorships, has been a journey full of challenges and triumphs. But nothing felt more satisfying than nailing that 30-point final exam in my Java class—after a ton of tears, breakdowns, and triumphs.

But here’s where my journey gets unique. As a Haitian American woman in tech, I’ve noticed there aren’t many of us. Women from my community are often seen in healthcare or education, not tech. And that’s where I want to step in and change the narrative. I want to be that example, showing that you can break boundaries, overcome the odds, and create space for others to follow.
What’s my end goal? I want to bring my skills into the health field—because, let’s be real: without health, there’s no wealth. Using tech to improve healthcare, make it more efficient, and more accessible to everyone? That’s the impact I want to make. I’ve learned firsthand that curiosity is key in this field, and my journey has been all about embracing that curiosity—learning, unlearning, and learning again.

And to anyone starting out in Computer Science: Be curious. It's the best advice I can give, because curiosity fuels the journey. It pushes you to ask questions, solve problems, and keep going even when it feels hard. I’ve come this far because I never stopped asking, “What’s next?”