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| Code Monkeys Courtesy of Flickr |
Hey everyone, my name is Bill, and I'm a junior at OU. I am majoring in Computer Engineering. I decided to become a computer engineer because I've always had a passion for creating things as well as emerging technologies. I grew up in Ada, OK. (It's that town that Blake Shelton and Jeremy Shockey came from.) I attended kindergarten through high school at Latta schools. The best description I can give of my high school is that I had a graduating class of 56, and that was biggest class in years. When I was in high school, I discovered my passion for engineering through the FIRST robotics competition. I was on team 2352 Metal Mayhem.
I'm a complete computer nerd. I love everything about computers. I starting learning how to program when I was 12, and I built my first custom computer when I was 14. In my free time, I like to play video games, watch movies, draw, and work on robotics and electronics projects. I've also done some judo, practiced guitar and piano (poorly), painted, cooked, programmed, and done some welding/metalworking as well as some old school blacksmithing. I'm basically a jack of all hobbies and most definitely a master of none.
I'm currently the President of OU Robotics Club as well as the IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Student Chapter. I'm also an officer in Engineer's Club and Sooner Competitive Robotics. I've been heavily involved in student orgs since my freshman. I'm really passionate about these and the other organizations at OU because to me, organizations represent one of the most important parts of the college experience through the opportunities and extracurricular activities that they offer. Helping my fellow students find these opportunities is a huge thing for me because, coming from a very small high school, I know what it's like to not have those kinds of opportunities presented to you.
I'm currently working as an undergraduate TA for the College of Engineering. This semester, I'll be a TA for the Circuits for Non-Majors classes.
My favorite food is free food, and chocolate pie. Speaking of which, I can make a from-scratch chocolate pie that's better than grandma's (trust me, she told me so.). My favorite color is iridescent. Some of my favorite books include The Hobbit, The Life of Pi, The Count of Monte Cristo, and the C Programming Book. I like listening to music from the 90's and watching really good movies like the The Phantom Menace, Battlefield Earth, and the Constantine movie with Keanu Reeves.
Hey Bill! So I commented on you storytelling post first and called you Will, so my apologies! I find it really awesome that you are in computer engineer, I am not tech savvy at all.. Actually I absolutely loath technology, so I'm thankful for people like you who have a passion for that!
ReplyDeleteWhat an accomplishment that even your grandma says that your chocolate pie is better than hers, you might have to share some sometime!
Lastly, I loved the photo you posted, food for thought kind of photo!
Bill, Growing up in Sulphur, I used to go to the movie theater in Ada. I would never have guessed that I would enjoy computer programming but last semester I fell in love with my Management Information Systems class and am currently in an Accounting Information Systems class, which I am very excited about! Congratulations on serving as president for TWO clubs – you must be very busy. P.S. I would love to have a slice of that chocolate pie right about now!
ReplyDeleteHey Bill, nice to meet you! I think that it's great that you found what you love to do, and speaking of computers, what video games do you like to play? I like to play video games myself.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Robotics club sounds so cool, and it's awesome you were in your school's first robotics club.
Lastly, I found it interesting that you listed The Phantom Menace as your favorite Star Wars movie. I LOVE Star Wars. I just don't usually hear people liking the first three movies, which don't get me wrong, I love those movies. I think my favorite Star Wars movie though is probably the new one! (It is also my favorite movie, period.)
Ha ha, I love that code monkeys cartoon, Bill! I am saving that to share with friends. I do a little programming, just some javascript... but I spend so much time at the computer that I might as well be a code monkey too. And that is so cool that you are into Robotics! Do you know Cody Taylor? He is an Engineering student who is a big force behind the new Maker Space in Bizzell Library, and he also has helped out a ton with this class, getting our comic books available on Reserve and setting up Kindles with all the books for class in the Library that people can check out. Definitely let me know about announcements for any of the clubs you are involved in so that I can include that in the announcements for the class.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of India, the god you want to keep an eye on is Vishwakarma, the All-Maker. He is the patron god of engineers in India, and Vishwakarma Day is a national holiday in honor of engineers. You can find out more here: Viśwákarma ... you will see the cities of Lanka and Dwaraka mentioned there, which are important for both the epics this semester - Lanka in the Ramayana and Dwaraka (home of Krishna) in the Mahabharata.
Hi Bill! I don’t think I have seen a computer engineer on this site yet. That sounds like a really challenging major but I think there is someone for everything. I also saw that you are in the robotics club which is pretty cool. I tried my hand at robotics once but I think I'll leave it to someone who knows what they are doing from now on.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you!
-Sara
Great to meet you Bill! First off I love the evolution picture you used, I think it is hilarious. Secondly, so nice to meet a fellow Okie! I think that being on the robotics team in high school would be a blast. I also enjoy building and innovating products or just working on my car, so I think a robot would be awesome. The leadership roles you have taken in college and the passion you have for learning and teaching is evident in your person. I bet you are a great role model for students coming through the engineering program. It was nice to meet you and I hope you have a great semester. Keep up the hard work!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone’s favorite food is free food. That is the best answer ever, I often find myself trying all sorts of weird stuff just because it’s free. Chocolate pie! Mm, that sounds good, I haven’t had chocolate pie since Thanksgiving two years ago. I have heard some amazing things about the Life of Pi and The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s on my TBR list, but it’s completely buried by hundreds of others.
ReplyDeleteHello Bill,
ReplyDeleteI am a Computer Science major and it is always nice to meet someone who is doing something related to computers. You have done very impressive things, great job for those. It is also great that you are involved in a lot of different organizations. I enjoyed reading about you and getting to know you. Good luck on your passion for computer.
Bill,
ReplyDeleteGlad to meet you. I am impressed that you are studying to become a Computer Engineer. Last semester I took a course on VBA and it was definitely not my best course. Programming does not come easy for me so it is impressive that you are so good. Also, free food is indeed the best food! I have read the Life of Pi and it is awesome. I will add the Count of Monte Cristo to my list.
Well Hello fellow E-club officer.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know you were in this class! What do you know? Since I already know you..Hi. Let’s see, I didn’t know you liked to draw. Are you any good? I have tried to draw and took an art class in high school and was terrible. I love how you said what you do in your free tome. Because you and I have so much of it…
Ollie
There a quite a few engineering students in here from across the board! I'm an engineering student also and I have no idea how you make time for all the hobbies you listed! I took programming in C and thought it was really interesting until I got to loops! I really respect your patience with programming. Someone has to do it and I'm glad it's not me!
ReplyDeleteHello Bill!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I can't stop laughing at your favorite food because it sounds a lot like my favorite (free food FTW). Also, I love chocolate and I love pie so your famous chocolate pie sounds so good! You seem like a very intelligent person who definitely knows where you're headed in life. I also like to draw and paint, even though I haven't been doing as much recently because I've been so busy. You also seem so involved on campus which is very admirable. It was nice meeting you!
-Bayan
ReplyDeleteHi! It is nice to meet you! I have to agree with you. The best food is free food. You are extremely involved! Im glad that you have taken on such leadership roles. I can’t imagine being so involved. Especially being President of two organizations. You are extremely dedicated to computers. I can tell your level of dedication. Doing programming since you were 12!
Hi Bill! I feel you on the small school: my graduating class of 40 was the largest for my school at that point, too. We had a few extracurriculars available, and I liked the closeness of the student body and teachers compared to what I saw at other area schools. You built a computer at 14?? How impressive!
ReplyDeleteLife of Pi is also one of my favorites. Have you seen the movie version? I've been scared to watch it, since it's such a unique book it seems like it would be difficult to turn it into a good film.
Hello Bill!
ReplyDeleteNice to "meet" you!
After four years at OU I have encountered tons of people, and have lots of friends , who went to a small school but it always astounds me because I graduated with 1100 people.
I think it is really great that you are so passionate about Computer Engineering! It is so neat to me that computer engineers are able to write code and know the ins and outs of computers entirely!
Good luck in all of your future endeavors!
First off, I love the name of your high school robotics team. I hope that your robot had a leather spike-jacket, leopard print pants, and glorious hair. Second, I admire your early start in programming. I started teaching myself Java last summer and have loved every minute of it. I only wish that I had started younger. I'd eventually like to learn C, but Java makes programming so much easier for noobs like me (gotta love its garbage collection). Anyways, it was nice to learn a little about you. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteI think it awesome that you are into so many neat things! I grew up in Cordell, OK and graduated with 46! Woohoo! So, I can definitely relate to you on that level! I think it is awesome that you are so involved in different organizations because of that reason. I think it is so important for OU students to find their niche while on campus, so I think it is great that you help students do that! It was nice to meet you!
Hey Bill, it's nice to virtually meet you and read a little bit about you! I think it's really cool how interested you are in all things computer. I love my computer but I definitely don't understand much of how it all works. I am impressed by how involved you are with different things on campus. Like you, I also love free food!
ReplyDeleteHey Bill!
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool that you want to be a computer engineer! Your ability to create things is absolutely amazing. I can't believe that you made a computer by yourself at 14. Did you learn online or did you just figure it out for yourself? If you really think your chocolate pie is better than grandma's I would love to try some! I hope you have a great rest of the semester and it was nice to meet you!