The Color of My Codes : Phoebe Rosa Virginia

Phoebe Rosa Virginia3

Barely able to reach the desk, I gaze in awe as my dad’s fingers flash like fiery sparks over the sleek computer keyboard. In just a split second, hundreds of lines of code with varied tabs overrun the editor window. I am overwhelmed by the wondrous array of colors of code and do my utmost to unwrap the meaning of each of the commands.

 

That was the nine-year-old me. It was my dad who first introduced me to the realm of programming.  Instantly, my interest was sparked. My curious nature, always wanting to know everything, was intrigued to dig deeper into how computers work and what goes on inside those flat black chips attached to the motherboard inside a computer case.

 

This interest for software development never left me. It only grew more intense with every new discovery I made about computers. From the first time I delved into the wonders of the internet until the time I began exploring programming languages, computers have always fascinated me with how much power and undiscovered mysteries they hold.  

 

As a teen, my passion for building software flourished and became a substantial part in my life. Through reading some of my dad’s archaic books, I began my thrilling programming journey.  I first tasted the now-obsolete Assembly 8086 language, then became good friends with C and Java, while JavaScript and PHP programming greeted me soon afterwards. However, it was C# and Python that piqued my deepest interest.  From the moment I first looked through the pages of a book about those programming languages, I knew I was on my life’s track.

 

Typing each statement was immensely exhilarating for me. Figuring out how the combinations of keywords, expressions and operators could build the miraculous world of my imagination turned out to far exceed my expectations. Although it took many attempts and much perseverance, my curiosity to uncover the intricacies of software systems always propelled me further in my pursuit of the subject. The logical challenges and the need for creative work also fit well with my love of design and problem-solving. As a result, by the time I managed to solve a particular problem, I not only gained knowledge about the principles of programming I had just encountered, but I also gained enough independency to guide myself through the labyrinths of logic. The overwhelming sense of achievement I felt each time I wrote my own program made me realize the capability of software to help computers achieve intangible results, setting the field of computing overwhelmingly apart from other fields. Thus, my innate desire to optimize computers system to its full potential drove me even more to persist in learning about software development.

 

Understanding how software can be developed has also given me a totally new perspective on the world’s need for technological upgrades. Every aspect of our lives is affected by computer technology, and society is becoming more and more dependent on computers for functioning in everyday life. However, just as buildings need foundations to provide solid ground for walls and floors, so does technology. Without well-designed software running the computer hardware, a unit is simply a dull chunk of plastic, silicon, and metal. Therefore, only through coherent creativity and out-of-the box thinking can software systems come up to the cutting edge needed to continue to improve people’s lives in a global society that is becoming increasingly more complex.   

 

Studying software engineering at a higher educational level will provide me with the knowledge and experience that is needed to achieve such a goal. I would be able to learn about software development further. I would also be able to enhance my approach in facing technical issues that I may encounter along my journey. Most importantly, I would be able to refine my logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Software programming, then, would become the common language that can connect me with others who share my enthusiasm and those  The scientific passion I saw my dad pursue decades ago has shaped my life’s purpose to be a software developer. I believe that through colorful codes, I will be able to give new colors to the rapidly changing, technology-based society that we live in.