About Me
I graduated from Columbia University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Beginning in September 2018, I will be a full-time software engineer at Facebook.
My interest in computer science and programming is perhaps one of the most influential factors in my life. I spent much of my elementary and middle school years attempting to learn enough about web development so that I could make my own virtual pet site, similar to something like Neopets. Because I wanted to learn more about programming, I chose to attend Troy High School for its technology program, where I took a range of introductory computer science classes. It was during this time that I began to realise the depth and breadth of the computer science field, and appreciated for the first time computer science beyond its most visible applications (e.g. websites, games, apps).
While I love computer science, to say that I love it for its own sake would be too reductivist. During my time as a college student, I took many classes from the creative writing and English departments, because my interest in computer science is deeply intertwined with my interest in the role of language in human thought, and thus, human society. On the macroscopic level, I am interested in the vast transformative power of art and technology. For example, with the correct words (and other artistic techniques), stories can move a society to effect legislative change. Technology opens new vehicles of artistic expression, and also enables these stories to reach more of the population.
On a more personal level, I find beauty in the abstraction of logic, and elegance in its expression. I believe that computer science at its core is simply the study of algorithmic thought; that is, it's the study of how to best describe both problems and their solutions. Likewise, I believe that the duty of a writer and author is to write in a way that best communicates their ideas. Ultimately, I strive for precision, efficiency, and clarity of thought and expression. I hope that this reflects in my code as well as my essays and stories.