There are so many paths to choose from.
Hello!
My name is Samantha and I am currently a Data Scientist. I’ve been in my role for about 2.5 years. I started at my current company after completing my undergraduate degree in Computer Science.
Truth be told, when I first started college, I had no idea that I wanted to be a data scientist. My interest in technology was very general. I enjoyed coding and problem solving but didn’t know what career path to choose. If you’re in the same boat, no worries at all. There are so many paths to choose from, who can blame you for being unsure!
First step to figuring out what technology career path to choose is figuring out the things you like (and more importantly don’t like). During my undergraduate degree, I took electives in every topic under the sun. I took Computer Engineering, Data Mining, Cyber Security, and so many others. Slowly but surely I started to identify the types of topics I gravitated towards and the kinds of problems I enjoyed solving.
During this time, I also spoke with many people currently in the industry. Learning about their careers, industry, and day to day work helped me get an understanding of what my future role may look like.
After much self-reflection, I ultimately decided I wanted to pursue a career in Data Science and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made! I love the work that I do and am fortunate enough to work with a great team who encourages my development both personally and professionally.
Technology is such a wonderful career no matter what path you go down. You’ll learn so much from being a part of this ever changing industry! As women and especially as women of color, never forget we belong in the room!