Degree: B.S. in Computer Science, Creative Technologies in Music Composition
How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
The Stamps Scholarship provided me the financial flexibility to pursue two degrees with extra time, as well as contributing to the greater Virginia Tech by being active in research, clubs, and department activities. I had the unbelievable experience of a lifetime to combine my love for music and technology by studying computer science for my technology chops and music by studying composition and creative technologies. With the scholarship, I was able to get the education that I wanted, and support both my technical and creative sides.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
I would tell my freshman self to take a step back and appreciate and put more time into some of the things that I really loved doing or should have tried doing, and let go earlier of the things I didn’t feel were as rewarding.
Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
I think it was my composition professor from my first year who had the greatest impact on the trajectory of my college career. When I entered university, I wanted to study computer science and music, yet it was more daunting to study two fields compared to one. Dr. Nichols, a composition and creative technologies professor at Virginia Tech, sent me an email before I even entered Virginia Tech, welcoming me to take his composition class during my first semester. It may have seemed like the natural thing to do, but for me, it helped me realize that I was able and welcome to study composition at this university alongside my computer science career. The creative technologies professors in general have been very helpful and supportive in all our endeavors.
What comes next?
I will be headed across the country to Seattle to join Sonos, a company developing smart speakers, starting in late July.