Associate of Science in Computer Science

Hillsborough Community College, Graduated May 2025

05/10/2025

During my time at HCC, I discovered a genuine passion for math. It all began with my Intermediate Algebra course — the first time math truly clicked for me.

While I had taken math in high school, this was different. For the first time, I understood the concepts and genuinely enjoyed solving problems. The class was online and used Honorlock for proctored exams, so relying on notes or Google wasn’t an option — I had to actually learn the material to succeed.

I ended up earning a B in the course, but more importantly, it sparked a love for math that has stuck with me ever since.

Fast forward — I went on to earn A’s in College Algebra, Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry, and Calculus I & II. That’s when I encountered the professor who would completely change the way I viewed both physics and learning.

Me vs Physics

My Physics with Calculus I professor was a tough, no-nonsense teacher. He seemed gruff, uninterested, and harsh — and to be fair, we were his last class before retirement. At first, I resented him. He openly criticized students who couldn’t answer basic questions and reprimanded anyone who dozed off or checked their phones. As a college student fresh out of high school, that kind of intensity felt jarring.

I didn’t misbehave in class, but I remember thinking that others should just fail quietly — not be publicly scolded. Still, his approach created a serious, no-shortcuts environment. And his exams? Brutal. We had only four exams that made up our entire grade, and the first two crushed me. I passed with a 70 and 65, and only because of partial credit. The material on the tests felt disconnected from the lectures, and half the class dropped the course after that second exam.

I almost did the same. But I didn’t want to quit. I didn’t want him to think I was just another student who couldn’t handle the pressure. I wanted to prove him wrong.

So for the third exam, I studied harder than I ever had in my life. I lived in the library. I used ChatGPT to generate practice problems that increased in difficulty as I improved. I watched online lectures, worked through problems, and immersed myself in physics.

That effort paid off — I scored a 90%, the highest in the class, with an average of 70%. I repeated that for the final exam and finished the course with a solid B, securing my associate degree.

Ironically, the subject I used to dislike became one I deeply admire. I came to respect the professor who pushed me to my limits. His difficult class not only made me a better student — it taught me how to learn.

Today, I tutor math — helping friends, siblings, and fellow students understand concepts the way I learned to. And even though I’m taking a break from formal math courses, I bought a calculus and physics problem book to stay sharp. I don’t want those hard-earned skills to go to waste.

Bachelor of Science – Computer Science

5/10/2025

I am planning on transferring to USF in Spring 2026. I would do it sooner, but I have military duty in the Fall. ;-;