My long-term goal is to write computer programs for space exploration missions. As a first step in achieving this goal, I will graduate in December 2000 with a B.S. in Computer Science. I plan to work for several years in industry and then pursue a higher degree, M.S. or Ph.D., in Aerospace Engineering, Astronomy, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Engineering Science. I intend to follow a technical career path that will eventually enable me to take the lead in forging software systems that will extend humanity’s reach to the edge of our solar system and beyond.
I believe that space exploration is a new frontier where I can combine my technical expertise with my enthusiasm for astronomy and astronautics. High-tech aerospace organizations are poised to transform the United States — and the world — into a spacefaring society, and I aspire to contribute to this transformation in areas like software engineering, scientific analysis, visualization, data collection and management, artificial intelligence, or user interface development.