Embracing Opportunities: Passing Ships

From a young age, I had to take on the responsibility of supporting my family due to my sister's chronic illness and my parents' distress. I had to take on adult responsibilities such as chores and taking care of my younger siblings. While my parents did their best to provide me with a happy childhood, I understood that our financial situation and my sister's illness meant that we had to make sacrifices. Throughout secondary school and college, I continued to shoulder these responsibilities. However, my sister's surgery changed everything for the better, and it motivated me to pursue a career in the health sector.

During the summer before university, I met a family friend who worked in the tech industry and was making a difference in people's lives through technology. This inspired me to think about how I could use my creativity to help people. She spoke with passion and enthusiasm about the work she did, and I found myself becoming more and more interested with each passing moment. The way she talked about the technology and the creative solutions she were able to come up with really made me feel like computer science was the perfect path for me. I left that conversation feeling excited and energized, knowing that I had found my calling. Looking back, that small moment of meeting one individual and being inspired by them made a huge impact and also taught me a lot about the power of passion and enthusiasm in influencing others. I was torn between sticking to nursing, which felt like a safe option, and taking a risk and pursuing a degree in computer science. Ultimately, I chose to change my application and pursue computer science.

The journey wasn't easy, as I had no prior experience in computer science and felt like an imposter amongst my more experienced classmates. However, my determination and hard work paid off, and I graduated with First Class Honours. While I was proud of my achievement, I soon realized that I didn't know much about myself beyond my academic pursuits. I was lost and anxious about what came next, and I didn't have a clear idea of my interests or dream job.

In hindsight, I realize that switching from my original course to computer science was a significant decision that I wasn't fully prepared for. However, I believe taking risks is essential, and I am glad I did because it opened up new opportunities for me. Life is full of choices, and it's up to us to decide which path to take and accept the consequences that come with it. This experience taught me that I am capable of taking on challenges and overcoming them, which is a valuable lesson that will guide me as I navigate the future.

It's worth noting that switching to computer science also introduced me to a whole new world of possibilities. I discovered my passion for programming, which has led me to explore different areas of technology and consider pursining more within the industry.

Ultimately, I think the lesson here is that it's okay to take risks and try new things. Even if the outcome isn't what we expected, we can learn valuable lessons from the experience and use that knowledge to guide us in the future. By being open to new opportunities and embracing the unknown, we can push ourselves to achieve greater things than we ever thought possible.

In conclusion, the decision to switch to computer science was a pivotal moment in my life that taught me valuable lessons about taking risks and pursuing my passions. I'm grateful for the experiences and opportunities that have come my way since then, and I'm excited to see where my journey in the world of technology takes me next.