Nhi Nguyen

Born and raised in Vietnam, I never had the chance to grow up with technology. My family and I came to the United States when I was 5 years old - the time when I was hit with the cultural and technological shock wave. I got my first computer when I was 12 years old and built my first one when I was 14. Since then, I've developed an obsession with computers. I was amazed at how one object enabled me to connect with my family across the world.

 

During my senior year of high school, I was offered an opportunity to take the first computer science course ever held in my high school. I came into the first day of class, not knowing what computer science or coding is. My first project was creating 3 circles on an Android phone. My last project was game application that helped children learn shapes and colors. I left the last day of class with a new mindset that technology is the future and we can solve so many problems with the touch of our fingertips. You could say the obsession still continues. 

 

I am currently a sophomore at Virginia Tech with an intended graduation date of May 2018. I am studying Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA)/Big Data along with Computer Science and National Security and Foreign Affairs.