As the May 2016 graduates move into their careers, we are profiling a few and finding out their future plans and how they arrived at this point in their lives.
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Sabrina Hsu, Irvine, California
- Software engineer for Cisco Systems in San Jose, California
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology with a concentration in information systems; minor in management
Job duties
I will be writing software for the internal systems at Cisco.
Purdue classes that helped Sabrina prepare for her job
Android Development, Java Programming, C# Programming, and C Programming. Since I will be coding for a majority of my job, the programming classes have helped me develop those skills. In addition, my Android Development class was a research class which made me look at the thought process behind creating an application. As programming is very logic based, the courses forced me to ask myself “why?” on many occasions and to delve deeper into the reasoning, making me understand the logic to get to the end result.
Other ways the college and/or Purdue provided preparation and assistance
Purdue has helped me develop the confidence I need to succeed. The course work developed my skills, both in performance and working with others. It gave me the opportunity not only to ask for help, but also to provide help to my peers. The classes also challenged me to the point where I was curious to see what was next, but not enough to over-stress myself.
Thanks go to:
- Toni Munguia for being the first teacher that I connected so well with and to always have the time to talk.
- Dawn Laux for making classes fun, leading me to do undergraduate research, and being someone I can admire.
- Eric Matson for giving me the opportunity to do undergraduate research and helping me develop many of the skills I need for my future career.
- Victor M. Barlow for teaching me that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
- My friends for making me social, motivating me, and providing me with housing over breaks.
- My parents for always being there, talking me down from many figurative ledges, giving me the chance to go so far from home, and, of course, everything.