This is what I want to do with my life:

I plan on using my college education and experience to be an example and mentor for girls interested in pursuing an education in technology.  Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have a mother involved in the technological world.  Her interest and involvement made it easier for me than most girls to discover the opportunities that lay ahead of me in technology. 

It hasn’t taken long for me to realize that women in technology are few and far between.  Upon researching the cause for this sparseness, I discovered that a lack of role models and mentors in the field of technology is a major reason why women aren’t pursuing a technological education or career.  I plan on working closely with groups dedicated to empowering women in technology both during and after my education.  I have already done some work with the women and children’s center of Provo: I helped the center obtain computers and upgraded them to make them extremely user-friendly.  I also helped obtain and install software for the women to use in finding and obtaining employment, and educational software for the children.  This project has had so much success, that my brother is, as part of his Eagle project, working on getting the center 2 new updated computers to add to the lab.

I have seen firsthand through various programs I have been a part of how technology can change people’s lives.  A little bit of education empowers people, who had nothing in their lives before, to either have the self-confidence to continue their education, or to even obtain a career.  The opportunities available to people are endless.  Many people, however, don’t realize how obtainable these opportunities really are.  Women especially are lead to believe that they don’t belong in the business world, and more specifically, the technology world.  Stereotypes of “manly” jobs discourage women from trying for careers they could really excel with.  Too many women are afraid of technology, and we need to break the negative stereotypes.  To do this, it is important that we start girls at a young age in participating with groups that encourage them to embrace technology.  One such program that I was a part of, called HI-GEAR (Girls Engineering Abilities Realized) at the University of Utah, takes middle school and high school-aged girls through various workshops and seminars that are focused on how women really do belong in the technology world.  The girls who participate, leave the program with a deeper understanding on if they want to pursue a technical career, and how they can obtain an education that will get them to it.

I want to help people change their lives through technical education, but before I can do that, I need to be educated myself.  Obtaining a college degree is something that I have always planned on doing with my life and something I am working hard towards achieving. 

Online or Traditional Education?

Do you think a traditional college experience is the best option in this day and age?  While nothing can replace the experience of a classroom setting, online educational opportunities have become more and more prevalent.  I for one, feel like the opportunities to take online classes only enhance a student’s abilities to become a well-rounded individual--as they have the opportunity to learn how to learn in a different way.  The discipline and vigor of an online course really tests how motivated a student is to succeed.

As a student who has been taking online courses since the 9th grade, I don’t know what I would do without online courses.  I tend to keep a busy, involved schedule, and to be able to continue my education through the computer, on my own schedule, is an invaluable resource. 

I’m not trying to knock on the traditional classroom setting, as I also attend classes on-campus.  But, when you finish your first online course, the achievement you feel from knowing you had the discipline required to make yourself complete it, is unmatched by any other feeling.

I think people are afraid to try online courses.  The idea is pretty daunting, and if this sounds like your thoughts on the matter, maybe you could try a hybrid course.  One of my classes this semester only meets on Tuesday mornings.  The rest of the coursework is completed through online submissions and discussions.  I couldn’t be happier with the opportunity I have to still connect with other students in my class, but that I can also do my assignments in my pajamas from home!

There are pros and cons to each situation.  I am very pro-online education opportunities.  If you are interested, there are many options available to try it out yourself.