From Social Science to Computer Science

Because it is often asked...

Anyhow, Social Science to Computer Science. Well first, I probably should have gone with something technical to begin with. Of course, seeing how much I am sucking at this...maybe not! But I have always had a HUGE interest in technology, audio/video and computers. Most of what I know is self taught and its always been something I picked up easily.

I graduated with the Sociology degree to find out that most people had no idea what it even was. I worked for a year in human services busting my ass for little above minimum wage before deciding that it wasn't for me. Already I had begun to consider returning to school. And I was thinking about something to do with computers.

My dad works for an IT consulting firm and arranged a day for me to come in and speak with people in various roles. But I still hadn't quite figured it out. I was married at that time and my husband was a HUGE financial responsibility. I needed to work and I needed money. I took a job as a recruiter in the health care industry because I had a previous background in sales and that was all marketing.

That was good for 1.5yrs until the company changed hands and all went downhill. I took a position (also recruiting) for an IT search and placement firm. It was a small, family owned business...a dysfunctional family. It was a nightmare. But it put back in my head that idea of pursuing a technical career. Plus I was seeing the kind of money these people made.

One year at that job and I was downsized when the company restructured. I was out of work for a miserable five months. I had been niched. The only people that wanted me were other staffing/recruiting jobs and nobody wanted to pay even close to what I had been making. I took the first offer with an acceptable salary.

At that point I was divorced but my ex, who I was still friendly with, warned me against working for this establishment. I knew it was bad but I was out of work. Well...I could have never imagined how bad. That was the lowest point of my life and the saddest thing I have ever done for a paycheck. For more details see my blog, "A Step Back".

But anyhow, I knew I was getting let go and I knew I'd seriously rather kill myself than look for another marketing-type job. I also had run out of deferment options on my student loans but I couldn't afford to pay them. And finally, I had been a year without health insurance. Going back to school fixed all of that.

I knew what I wanted to do. I had just been scared of the Calculus. I had also been intimidated by the worse financial situation I would have to put myself in temporarily for the hope of a better job later. But at that point, I was ready to get crazy and do something drastic.

So that's the story of how I became a CS major at UB...how I went from social science to computer science. And what do I hope to do with that?...well, make good money. I'm not sure specifically what I want to do but I really wanted to learn programming because I always have these great ideas...so software development most likely.