Whenever I’m asked why I like programming, why I’m majoring in Computer Science, my answer is that its one of the few subjects that is both a science and an art. It’s analytical and logic-based, and is a C-STEM discipline, but it’s also very creative. I’ve never been particularly artsy, but I’ve always been very creative, and have found programming to be my perfect outlet.
In 6th grade, I got my first taste of what I would eventually make a career out of, using a program called Scratch; an introductory coding application that allowed you to make simple programs by snapping blocks of code together. Our teacher had the class try it out, and then moved on to other subjects, but I spent countless nights creating basic animations and games at home after that. In high school, I started teaching myself some basic Java by creating mods for video games.
But both of these formats were very restrictive. Since getting to college and learning how to actually program, my creativity has been able to flourish. I’ve found I enjoy creating more than just games, but also systems and tools, even those that don’t really do anything on their own, but might make something else easier or quicker to do. Every quarter, as I learn new things in my field of study, I feel more and more sure that this is the right field for me. I find myself wanting to learn more and to create more.