👌Howdy,
As the end of the year approaches, it’s not often we take a moment to look back and reflect on what we’ve done and how it connects to our goals. This year-end serves as a reminder of the many things we can achieve and learn. What better time to think and write about this than during our staff retreat?
The more I ponder, the more I discover better ways to perform self-analysis. This time, I’ve chosen to focus on my personal statement, attempting to rewrite it for 2024. Here’s part 1 for your enjoyment:
From a young age, my fascination with technology started, driven by a desire to overcome adversity and create a better future. Growing up in rural Rwanda, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by underserved communities. I saw how limited access to information and resources held people back. This experience ignited a passion for using technology to solve societal problems and improve people’s lives.
At Bulinga TSS High School, I discovered my true calling in software engineering. The power of code to solve complex problems captivated me. I remember the first time I created a simple program to impress my mother, showing her how technology could keep track of her small business inventory. Seeing the potential of this small piece of software to make her work easier, I knew I wanted to do more. I threw myself into learning everything I could about programming to build things she could actually use.
Step by step, year by year, I learned and eventually excelled in web development and computer applications. Staying after school to work on projects contributed greatly to my success. But it was experiences like the Learn to Code </> Polymath competition that truly sharpened my problem-solving skills. This competition, one of the first in Rwanda at the time (2018), gave me the pleasure of working with a young team to solve challenges that combined different subjects like math, physics, and coding. We used our coding skills to model what I considered complex systems and find solutions. This taught me the importance of teamwork, adaptability, quick thinking, and critical analysis – skills I believe are core to success in the fast-changing tech world.