Elevator Pitch
With sky-rocketing salary ranges and millions of open job positions- the gap in our society for qualified computer professionals has never been more of a concern. With the goal to create a better pathway in our education system to computer sciences, lets discuss awareness and steps to fill the need.
Description
Within the fields of tech and computer science, we have become accustomed to seeing exponential growth and unprecedented revenue; take Amazon or Facebook for example. However, within these fields of such talented workers, extensive profit margins, and innovative discoveries- we have a huge problem. The demand for top-grade applications, products, systems, and infrastructures rely on there being top-grade programmers and intellectuals to fill the positions to support this technological growth. Currently, we have a huge shortage in that regard; we have exponentially more job openings than qualified applicants. Let’s take time to understand this gap, its causes, and potential steps each and every one of us can take to try to remedy this societal need.
Notes
As a huge proponent of technology-related disciplines starting at a young age, I have had a unique journey with the sciences and their interaction with our society. I am originally from Blaine, Minnesota where I attended a traditional public elementary school and middle school. In high school, I applied and was selected for a magnet high school in the area; CEMS, Center of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science. CEMS is a four-year engineering program that allowed me a one-of-a-kind high school experience, with considerably less content based on a normal public-school curriculum and strong emphasis on application-based sciences, engineering classes, as well as mathematics and technology courses.
This educational foundation prepared me immensely for a program that I applied to the summer before my senior year of high school called Genesys Works. Genesys Works, in short, is a non-profit organization that spans several major cities across the US and works to encourage high school students towards a career in tech. They do this by selecting students for an 8-week program that would be held the summer between their high school junior and senior year that includes an intensive technology and business training curriculum. Concluding this 8-week training period, students are assessed for a chance to be offered a position at a corporate internship in the metropolitan area closest to them. I was offered a year-long corporate internship at Target Headquarters North Campus in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota within their Data Center Operations and Network Engineering Team. Working for a year at Fortune 500 company within one of their most data-sensitive sectors as only an 18-year-old gave me a lot of experience, perspective, and responsibility. It also showed me a great deal in regards to the potential within the tech industry for bringing young people from lower-socioeconomic levels all the way to the highest ranks of technological innovation and financial comfortability. Arguably, in the tech field more than any other field, someone can go from nothing to everything – even in an established system like a Fortune 500 company.
Moving forward, as a current Computer Science Undergraduate at Colorado Mesa, I have now had the chance to also be employed in academia – even though I still haven’t even graduated with my Computer Science degree. This goes to show that programs are already set in place that are taking into consideration the need for intellectuals in the field with experience and are working to cultivate these intellectuals before even the completion of the degree. Last summer, I was chosen as one of seven students across the nation to participate in an Undergraduate Research Program at University of North Texas called the Software and Security in Emerging Technologies Research Experience for Undergraduates site. This new and exciting opportunity allowed me to bring my perspective on the computing field to new heights. I now can better understand the need- not only in business but also academia- for intellectuals who are curious problem-solvers, who understand the mechanics of the machine, and yearn for the ability to make the world a better place; these are the students we need to find, these are the students we need to push toward the shortages in this field, this is how we make progress towards an even more technologically intelligent, well-working, and efficient society.
In my presentation, I hope to help raise awareness on this perspective. I also hope to inspire parents, teachers, and intellectuals in our community to better support students and young people towards this field. I also aim to help those same parents, teachers, and intellectuals understand that it is not too late for them to improve their own skills with technology. I strongly believe the fields of computing and technology are our future and that, in presenting, I – supported with my unique perspective and non-intimidating role as a student – can help to demonstrate to the general audience that it is valuable and worthwhile to dedicate time and resources to this growing, and impactful field.