disconnect

/EXISTENCE
For the past week I've been away from my home relaxing in Montana after finishing school. It's actually why I'm a day late posting this as I remembered late last night that I normally would have posted something and my parents don't have Internet service at their home. It's kind of nice to just disconnect every now and then. I realize that we rely on communications quite a bit, but knowing that I have a place to go and get away from it is rather nice. I look forward to the times now when I can just get away from the city and all the busy-ness it brings with it. Admittedly I wasn't completely disconnected as I had my Android phone to keep me somewhat up on email and the like. But I was pretty disconnected and it has been awesome.

I head back to my home today. So much for talking tech...

drive

/PHILOSOPHY
As I started writing this entry I realized that my previously defined "tags" were insufficient. This entry is more about making it through higher education, but isn't really one existential tangents. So pay attention to the headings I put on these and you'll have a better idea of what I'm talking about. I should probably use the labels feature of Blogger as well.


The final stretch to my BA in Computer Science is upon me and I can't find words to state how relieved I am to have it within arms reach. That being said, I'm sure on some level I will miss the it after all is said and done.


Though I've always messed with computers--playing, breaking, fixing, building--I never programmed anything until I started my university program here at Whitworth University. With so much computer background yet no programming, my adviser questioned if I should skip Programming 1 or not. I didn't and though parts of the class were boring, it was good for me. Fast forward through my introduction to programming with C++ to now. I've now learned the skills for picking up any programming language and have played with SQL, C#, and Google Go just to name a few. I wrote a research paper on long data sectors in hard disk design, designed a CPU, and managed several projects.


So what does it all mean? Well, it means I earned a really expensive piece of paper that says I know stuff about computers. That I waded through all the bureaucratic crap while trying to glean some knowledge from my professors and the authors of my textbooks. It is a moment of triumph as I declare that I do actually know stuff and that this expensive piece of paper proves it. That I'm worth it.


Remember that. The most important part of your degree is that you're worth every penny you ask of your employer. And if you prove it, your employer will want to keep you when an end is in sight. It's why I'm able to continue working at the same job for another year after graduation but as a full-time employee instead of a student employee. But I won't put everything on my degree. It was really my drive to tinker and do good work that earned me respect.


And I will forever tinker with technology--playing, breaking, fixing, building. It's just in me and I have to follow that desire or I fall into a slump feeling useless. So though I come to an end of this educational degree, I'll keep doing the things I love.


I'm also looking forward to taking a vacation after graduation. It's time to reset. Next time we talk tech and hopefully get Doppelgänger running.

graduation

/EXISTENCE
I started this blog in an effort to help me follow through with my personal projects in learning about technology but forgot to take into account one very important and significant factor: I'm graduating this semester with a BA in Computer Science.


So yeah, I don't seem to have much time outside of assignments and my employment and when I do have time I just want to slack off. I'll play video games or watch a show, but playing with my computers is not really on the list of priorities. Example: yesterday I'm playing the open beta of Diablo 3 (which could be a post of its own) when I get a text from my classmate asking if I was coming in to work on our CPU project for Architecture. I think, "Oh yeah, that thing..." and tell my friend I'm playing Diablo 3 with I need to go. I got to the computer lab at about 7pm and didn't leave until midnight. Ugh...


That being said, I already have plans to take off the rest of May after graduation to do stuff for me. This includes: working on my personal web site, working on my dad's web site, setting up Doppelgänger, migrating my current server to Doppelgänger, playing video games, and hanging out with friends I haven't had time to visit with. I can't express enough that I'm so ready to be done with school. I've been done mentally since last fall for that matter. But I'd be stupid for not following through with my education. It's the smartest thing I've done in my life and will likely be the most worthwhile for the remainder of my life, aside from finding someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.


Of course, I have to make it through graduation first...