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Here are the answers of some web visitors. Which of them do you like best of all? Can you answer the questions given above?
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Ø Dave Citron
When I was a kid, I always wanted to grow up and be a chemist, or a biologist. But the thing is, I really didn't understand what that meant, I just liked the reaction I got from my parents.
My dad is a huge computer buff so he started showing me how to use a computer at quite a young age. Then when my schools started getting computers and we started using them in class more and more, I found that I was always one step ahead of most of the other students, and even the teachers. I liked the respect I received from being the knowledge source on computing. Remember, I was only 12 or 13, but getting called out of class by the librarian so I can format a document for her... quite an incentive to spend your life with computers.
So I just learned more and more, and more, and more... until I started programming. And being able to create applications like the ones I had used for so long, or being able to create games like the ones I had gotten so much enjoyment out of... I just fell in love.
And so that's why I am going for my degree in CS. I just have a passion for programming, and technology!
Ø Lee B
I never owned a computer until I reached college, and even as a senior in high school I still had trouble double-clicking. But almost all my friends pursued a CS degree, while I was doing math. I began to play more with computers simply by being around them. We setup LANs at my buddy Evan's house and play video games during the summer. I built my own computer as a sophomore, and really got into it. Still, not until I was a junior did I take my first programming course. I discovered I really had a knack for it, so I stuck to it. One of the few things that actually comes easier to me than Math does.
Main incentive for taking that class, though, was to get on track for CS degree and make money. However, with things the way they are in industry, I am not nearly as optimistic as I once was, and the main reason I don’t just graduate right now with a degree in Math is because I’ve developed a deep interest in computers.
Ø Brad Rider
I remember my dad bringing home a Vic20. We bought several cartridges for it and even a cassette tape drive. I would spend hours working with the educational stuff and playing text adventures (Scott Adams Rocks!). In the back of the manual, they had sample code that you could type in and the computer would play sound through your TV.
What can I say, the inherent logic of programming appeals to me. Of course, my starting salary is better than the current salary of most of the people. But that's not the point. Programming is what I enjoy doing, and would be doing this even if the pay was not as good.
Ø Young Lee
For me, it was a different story. I was indifferent to computers (only for surfing online and just having fun). In fact, I was undecided when I entered college. By chance, I registered for a class Poli Sci2 12 that was way advanced for me (I'm a shy one so don't ask for any speeches or stuff like that), so I was searching for a class-filler. The only class I noticed for real beginners was for Computer Science so I thought why not? Hey, I'm not really interested in it for the major, but I needed to be full-time.
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Imagine my surprise when I took the course and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was actually thinking of becoming a Math major really. Well, I took the class and I was great in it helping friends and just gaining the satisfaction that I was actually able to program something out of my own hands that would do stuff I asked for it. Having the computer print out what I wanted was a rush. I could show my parents and stuff (yeah, corny, isn't it?). I got this rush from learning C++. Then Java came along and I got hooked on it.
Anyway, after my CSE 5 class, I knew then what my major would be. And to this day, I haven't had any regrets. I'm a ECE: Computer Engineering major.
Ø William Triest
I'm seeking a CSE degree for one reason... With the exception of my daughter, computers are my life.
I was born missing over half the muscles in my tongue. They didn't realize this until I was 5 or 6, and it really delayed my communication development. I had to go to specialized school for children with speech pathology. During that time, we had a 386, and it was my break from the world. It didn't require talking, or even writing sentences properly. It was my escape. By the time I was in middle school3, I was getting excused from classes to help with computers. In high school, we were punished for even making suggestions about the computers. I also started fixing other people's computers and getting offered money while I was done. I always tried to pass up the money (though I accepted some so I would avoid insulting people), but I asked for letters of recommendation to help me in my future job search. My senior year I took my first computer class. I knew much more then my teacher.
Also, I have made a lot of friends from computers. I helped start a Linux user group, and while most of my friends from that were older than me, we had fun hanging out. So when it came to knowing what to do, it was good money for doing something I really enjoyed, so really there was no decision to be made. Now that there really isn't that much money, I'm a little worried as I have a daughter to support. But as long as I can find a job, I really want to work in computers. Hopefully programming, but if not then I'll find some other aspect.
Notes: 1CS/IS major – студент, специализирующийся в области вычислительной техники и информационных технологий;
2poli-sci (Political Science) – разг: политология [как предмет в университете];
3middle school – "промежуточная школа" [4-8 классы];
to hang out – разг: тусоваться.
UNIT TWO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Ex. 1. Practice the reading of the following words and phrases:
person, business, trajectory, phenomena, machine, database, financial, effect, component, professional, diagram, engineer, mathematician, architect, chemist, meteorologist, pilot, medicine, airline, diagnostic, laboratory, ideally, intensively, efficiently, creative, encyclopedia;
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programmable computer, special index, computer technology, business manager, results of experiments, molecular model.
Ex. 2. Revise the following words from your school active vocabulary:
to study, to think, to find, to shop, to change, to call, to teach, to draw, to create; science, scientist, plant, power station, spaceship, library, nature, education, language, dictionary, answer, report, example, human being, weather, scientific, foreign, possible, wide(ly), together.
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