Get to know some of our 澳门六合彩官网 students! Aaron Alexander is a Class of 2025 CS + advertising major.
What experiences led you to choosing Computer Science (CS) + advertising?
I initially came in undeclared, but I always knew my passion was in a creative field. During my freshman and sophomore years I was a part of Hack4Impact, an RSO where we developed apps and websites for several non-profit clients. In addition to helping real people and making a social impact, I found those projects really fun and compelling. In the same years I also worked at the African American Cultural Center as a history and archives intern. A lot of my work was on their social media page highlighting Black alumni. Before I knew it, I was already combining tech and media鈥攁nd it was a natural path to CS + Advertising.
What’s special about the CS + advertising major?
CS + advertising gives you the ability to approach something from both a technical and creative standpoint. It鈥檚 the definition of 鈥渢hinking outside the box.鈥� It’s a useful skill set, and the major gives you a lot of fun and valuable projects that strongly develop these skills. We also learn how to brand ourselves, so we know exactly how to stand out with this unique experience.
How do you use advertising in conjunction within CS?
I鈥檓 most passionate about front-end web development and design. There is more to building a website than its functionality and there are a lot of advertising concepts that I keep in mind while designing. It allows me to achieve that polished, branded, and memorable look to websites. Thinking creatively is always valuable, and it is especially important when solving complex problems in computer science.
How has being at the 澳门六合彩官网 shaped your experiences?
The 澳门六合彩官网 is a small college, so you really get to know your classmates and faculty. I鈥檝e worked with the same group of CS + advertising people ever since I transferred. I think that sense of community is incredibly valuable, not just in the number of connections, but in the quality of education you receive. I think that’s what differentiates it from other colleges.
How have you reflected on your internship experience?
Last summer, I interned at Microsoft, where I worked on what was then a secret project. After they released the project to the public, I got to see my impact as just an intern. I helped develop and deliver a product to so many people, and it just put my skills into perspective, showing me how meaningful my work could be. It was really exciting to see my work being used by such a wide audience.
What did you learn within this internship?
What internships do best is prepare you for the unpredictability of a job. You are given the tools, but it鈥檚 up to you to use your skill set to make things happen. So, I think the most important skill isn’t necessarily one programming language or one advertising concept, it’s the ability to adapt, learn things quickly, and stay willing to grow.
How did this internship shape your view of the industry?
I think working at Microsoft got rid of the uncertainty and mystique of working at a big company. I realized that they deal with the same problems a smaller company might face, just on a much larger scale. If there are any bugs in the codebase, it could affect millions if not billions of people. The stakes are much higher, but that makes the outcome a lot more rewarding. Knowing you are part of a big machine of people working towards solving the world’s problems is incredibly rewarding.
What piece of advice would you give to an incoming CS + advertising student?
Use the faculty and the fact you are in a small college to your advantage. There’s a great network of people in this college, and there’s a pretty good chance you can create meaningful relationships with them. Put yourself out there and try out all the programs and opportunities you see. Employers like to see a willingness to learn. Lastly, I鈥檒l say to remember that people here want to see you succeed and people are here to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask and put your name out there.
鈥擨nterview by Melanie Villafuerte, New Voices Intern
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