The Good News? 

Lauren Adams delivers with class.

The Bad? 

There is none....

(just that we can't see her in Reading)

We all have those fantasy jobs that we never pursued....I must admit, a news anchor is one of mine. I can, however, live vicariously thought my former student, Lauren Adams, or Lauren Violand (when she was a student at Central Catholic, Class of 2002.)

That's Lauren on the left, 11p.m reporter for CBS affiliate WLKY in Louisville, Kentucky.

She is joined by meteorologist Jay Cardosi and anchor Vicki Dortch.

This busy woman took the time to answer questions on how she reached her career goal and what she had to do to get there.

 College attended/Year of Graduation/ Major/Minor?Syracuse University
Major in broadcast journalism, minor in history
I was class of 2006 but graduated a semester early in December 2005, in order to get a jump start on what I knew to be a highly competitive job market.

 Current position
I'm the 11 pm reporter for CBS affiliate WLKY in Louisville, Ky.
It is the number one watched show among viewers (according to tv ratings) at the number one station so while the hours aren't ideal - it's a great show to be a part of.

 Did always have aspirations to be news anchor?
This is a family business of sorts.  My father's brother and my grandfather had (and have) careers at newspapers.  My mother's younger sister - who began as a reporter- is now an anchor for CBS, Los Angeles.  It was not uncommon at all growing up for my Pop to leave holidays early to go to work or to visit my aunt and celebrate Thanksgiving the following weekend, when she had off.
Interestingly enough, the irregularity of the schedule never intimidated me.  The fast paced, ever changing atmosphere appealed to me.  What an incredible opportunity I have every single day to present the news to hundreds of thousands of people and impact their viewpoint.

 What were college classes that were either very interesting to you and/or very pertinent to your career?Syracuse is known for their journalism school so I was fortunate to have a good 'road map' of sorts. I was required to take classes that worked on my voice (eliminating any trace of an accent or dialect which makes the on air personality more relatable in any television market (city) - north, south, Midwest.   I also took communication law classes. As a journalist it's important to understand how the law works.  In many instances we're in courtrooms covering trials so it's imperative to have a basic knowledge of the judicial system.  Also, it's not uncommon to go places where we're not welcome, where tempers are hot and it's an absolute must to know what your rights are- where you can be, where your cameraman can set up, etc.

Were you involved in any activities in college that led to your career?
Rather than get involved with the on- campus television station I spent my time at Syracuse interning at local television stations.  This was difficult, as usually I was working on the weekends when my classmates and sorority sisters were out.  My last semester in fact, I was driving an hour South every Saturday morning to work in Binghamton, NY.  But, it was worth it.  I was able to put together a great reel (a video composite of my work) and make it to a newsroom within weeks of my graduation.

After college graduation, what was the path or other positions that led to your present job?
 I interned and worked in news stations throughout my time at Syracuse.  From there I went to Albany, Georgia and then Paducah, Kentucky before landing in Louisville, Kentucky.   There's a lot of misconceptions about this business, a lot of people have asked why I didn't chose to stay local or work at a news station closer to Reading.   The news business is like any business- you start small and work your way up.  In my case, that meant accepting my first job 17 hours from home in Georgia- making about $200 a week.  It's only now, after more than a decade in the business that I'm living in a decent sized city, making a good salary.

What are your responsibilites in this position?    What do you do behind the scenes before you are on the air? I work 2:30-11:30 pm Monday thru Friday.  And while that's my schedule there's plenty of days I come in early, stay late, work weekends, and holidays.   Case in point- after working in this business 11 years I have yet to spend a Thanksgiving at home with my family in Pennsylvania.  But, that's part of it- the news doesn't stop.  There are plenty of other professions were people work holidays and weekends, so I'm certainly not alone in that.  While I've had various consultants over the years work with me on my hair and make up I am responsible each night for my own hair and make up.  A lot of times - because we are so busy -that means applying a little lipstick and doing a touch up at 10:55, right before the news starts.

I am responsible for pitching stories each day at our afternoon editorial meeting.  That means coming in 30 minutes before the meeting starts and making phone calls to various contacts: police officers, elected officials, community leaders, etc to find out what's going on in our city.  I'll set up interviews, write stories and then present them in a live report each night at 11pm.   Also, if there's breaking news- I'll respond to that.  Sometimes that means coming right in the door, going right out, and doing a series of live reports (a fatal shooting, a downtown fire, etc) before the night is over.


 Have you experienced any stand-out moments in this job either on or off the air?I've had the opportunity to have some national exposure, which has been incredible.  But really the biggest reward is being given the trust of my viewers.  It would be impossible to tell you how many grieving mothers I've talked to that have lost children.  Last year, Louisville saw more than 120 murders.  There is nothing more satisfying than receiving a hand written note- mailed to the television station- thanking me for my time and letting me know how much they appreciated our efforts.  Often times, we'll talk to these families - urging the public to step forward with tips and incredibly sometimes the tips do come and arrests are made.  That's the biggest confirmation for me that I am not only doing the best I can, but workingto make a difference.

 What are your working hours? 2:30-11:30 Monday through Friday but when we have special coverage that all changes.  Last year, Muhammad Ali (who was from Louisville) passed away.  I worked 11 straight days.

Did you move to your current location for this job?
I did.  My husband is from western Kentucky so when I felt I was ready to take my career to the next level it was important for us to stay within a few hours from his businesses and hometown- and that meant Nashville or Louisville.

 What are some perks for this career?
 I have been given some incredible opportunities over the years- meeting several Presidents and celebrities.  There are countless red carpets and charity events that I have the opportunity to attend and host.  Working in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is hands down the best part of the year.  To get an all access pass to the most celebrated two minutes in sports never gets old.

 Meeting George Foreman

and Mark Sanchez

 And what are some challenges?
 The  schedule- the hours, sometimes working weekends and holidays and also being on call (much like a doctor) is difficult.   Also, it's tough not to bring this work -- and the emotions--home with you.  Each day I'm meeting people at their worst- the murder of a loved one, a child killed in a car accident, a devastating house fire.  It's hard to leave that at the door when you get home each night.


 Can you offer any advice for students who are considering a career as a news anchor/correspondent?
This is a very demanding, job that truly requires your attention 24-7.  Not a Saturday passes that my phone isn't ringing.  It's so much more than 'being on tv.'  A lot of interns I've met through the years have asked if this job is fun.  Occasionally sure there are some great perks, but this career is not 'fun'- it's hard work.  But, if you're willing to put in the hours and get your start in a small town with an ever smaller paycheck- you can have a very rewarding career.

Lauren has been honored over 20 times by the Kentucky Associated Press, being reviewed against other reporters in the state. She has been nominated for an Emmy, and some of her team coverage has helped win some hardware for stations at which she has worked.

************************************************

How I wish I would have scheduled a trip to Louisville as part of my TeacherTrek travels! I would love to see Lauren in action. 

(and pretend it's me?)

No, the good news is that I can take extreme pleasure in being part of Lauren's education at some point on her way to being an internal part of the Louisville community.

"Do not be afraid."

Not many of us use the words of Saint Pope John Paul II to discern our career, but when one is considering the priesthood...well, it makes perfect sense.

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Meet Father Allen Hoffa, Reading Central Catholic Class of 2001. While I did teach Father Hoffa at Central, it wasn't until my work with the Kairos Retreat that I came to know him well.

When I approached Father Hoffa for the interview, I explained the career research I have been doing, but I hesitated calling the priesthood a career rather than a vocation. He clarified by explaining that a man's calling to the priesthood is his vocation, while his career is his work in the parish, high school, hospital, college ministry, etc.

A usual question for my interviews is "Did you always know you wanted to be a _____? The answer for this one seemed especially significant and consequential. So...did he? 

Father Hoffa reminded me of what I already knew about him. He had been an altar server since 5th grade at St. Catherine of Sienna Parish in Reading; Monsignor Joseph Smith was pastor at the time, and he recognized Allen's devotion to the church even then. Father Hoffa became the first Sacristan there, a job that included care of the sacristy and the church. I remember him spending much time at church on weekends and religious holidays, and although I could see how time-consuming the job was, I knew he would not want to be anywhere else. Besides that, his dedication to Kairos when he was Rector his Senior year was unparalleled.

So, off to the seminary after graduation, right?

No.

Father Hoffa loved football, and he was offered a financial aid package to Albright College, so that's what he did. He attended Albright College as an Education Major, and he loved it there. Football, however, caused him a setback after a shoulder injury which required surgery. It was during the recovery down time that he had some time to think.........He knew he often thought ,"What do I want?" (or what do others want), but now he thought, "What does HE want?"

Wow.

Father Hoffa says that many things can make one happy, but the question should be what can make one happiest.

So, with that answer in mind, during Easter Week of his freshman year at Albright, he made the call to the Diocese of Allentown, and entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia as a sophomore.

Any of us can imagine that going from the football field to the altar wasn't an easy decision, but Father Hoffa was inspired and energized by his experience at World Youth Day in Rome in 2000 when he saw the Holy Father and remembered his words: "Do not be afraid."

What is it like to be a seminarian?

Some men enter directly (or almost directly!) after high school, and attend college earning a degree in Philosophy. Then they continue a four year graduate school program at the seminary. Some attend college elsewhere and enter the seminary after that schooling.

The undergrad program is similar to other college formats with the addition of Morning Prayer and Mass and Evening Prayer. After breakfast there are classes all day with time for study and recreation. Days end with Evening Prayer. One distinction is that Thursdays are Apostolate Days. Much like an internship, the seminarians go out into the community to serve in schools, colleges,  and hospitals.

Some of Fr. Hoffa's Thursdays were spent at John Paul II Special Learning Center and The Newman Center at Lehigh University.

Summers are off and at home working "regular" jobs so as not to drive their parents crazy. (My words, not Father Hoffa's.)

The four year grad school summers, however, become more devoted to the ultimate goal of priesthood; the men are assigned to live at various parishes  in the Diocese to perform duties there. 

Ordination Day in June of 2009 arrived after much hard work, dedication, and anticipation. Father Hoffa describes it as a day of extreme emotion and an intense feeling of the presence of the Holy Spirit. His face lit up just thinking about it.

That same day the priests are given their first assignment. This is where the vow of obedience is evident. He is placed where the bishop feels he is needed.

That's Father Hoffa on the left, Bishop Barres on the right

Father Hoffa's first assignment was the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena in Allentown.

 There he was the full time Assistant Pastor and also the Part time Chaplain at Allentown Central Catholic High School, and his second year as a priest he became the  full time Chaplain there.

 In 2010 he was named the Director for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In 2013 an additional assignment as the Chaplain at Lehigh University made him an extremely busy man!

In June of 2016 Father Hoffa was reassigned to Holy Guardian Angles Parish in Reading as the Assistant Pastor. Seeing first graders every day is a long way from seniors, but he enjoys each day.  Some duties of an Assistant Pastors include saying Mass, serving funerals, visiting hospitals and nursing homes,baptisms, conducting marriage preparation classes, and providing parish counseling. 

A huge task he has taken on is the overseeing of the return of HGA's parish festival!

Be not afraid, Father Hoffa!

The challenge of being a priest according to Father Hoffa is not being able to be everywhere for everyone (like the blogger who keeps pressuring him for pictures?) or, on a more serious note, the sadness at "losing" someone who he was so close to helping.

The rewards? (Again the smile on his face...) Living the sacramental life as a priest at Mass and in the Sacrament of Confession...making a difference in someone's life is a great reward. He says, "It's not easy, but it's worthwhile."

Father Hoffa with my former colleague at Reading Central Catholic, Father Zelonis

For those considering a life devoted to God as a priest, Father Hoffa has this to say: " We are living in an imperfect world with a perfect God. Look at God in His perfection. Allow yourself to TRUST where He may be leading you. Remember that God cannot do anything harmful to us; He only provides the perfect love that leads to perfect happiness. Be as close to Him as possible...be connected to His WILL."

Sounds like words the whole world should hear.

It was a wonderful 2 hours sitting in the library at Berks Catholic High School, reconnecting with a former student, a friend, and a man of God :) 

Simply said: Poe was born in Boston, but his house is gone.

The city demolished the whole block where his house once stood. Nice way to remember a legend.

Before I paint the picture of Poe in Boston I must give credit where credit is due. I did not go to Boston expecting to see his house. I knew this from a book I have been reading titled Poe Land :The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allen Poe by J.W Ocker.

Ocker took a much more detailed jaunt around the U.S. (and Europe) looking for Poe, so his knowledge has been invaluable to me. He has helped fill in gaps when I needed them, telling me things a tour guide or exhibit missed.

Poe's parents, Elizabeth and David, were both actors, she from England and he from Baltimore. They were traveling actors, and spent much time moving up and down the East Coast to perform in various plays. They had been living in Boston for three years when Edgar was born January 19, 1809; his older brother Henry was born there in 1807. His sister Rosalie was born in Virginia in 1810.

Before Edgar was even one, his father left the family for reasons unknown. Sadly, his mother died in 1811 in Richmond, when he was two. The children were spilt up; Edgar was placed in a foster care family with Frances and John Allan. (Now we understand Edgar ALLAN Poe.)

Poe did come back to Boston in his lifetime, but it was never for long. According to Ocker, he traveled to the city as late as a year before his death. By this time, he was giving lectures presenting his work, but he was also in love with a woman who lived in Boston named Annie Richmond. (This was after the death of his wife Virginia.)

So.....Boston was a sad place for Poe, but considering the fact that I have visited his houses in New York and Philadelphia, I wanted more to commemorate his entrance into the world.

And so did other Bostonians.

Ocker identified a plaque on a wall at the intersection of Boylston and Charles Streets. If I had not been looking for it I would have walked right by. 

It states Poe's birth Street (Carver), his parents' names, professions, the book he published in Boston (Tamerlane and Other Poems) and adds that he lectured in Boston in on October 16, 1845

And just like Ocker disclosed, it's on an exterior wall of a burrito restaurant, Boloco.

Oker  amusedly remarked that Boston could have made up for "snubbing" Poe by having Boloco name a a burrito after him--something like "Crazy Poe."


My sleuthing to find yet another plaque tribute (I guess Poe would have liked this, now that I think about it...) brought me to Fayette Street, a residential area that reminded me of the small quaint streets in Philadelphia and Baltimore with the shuttered red-brick row homes. 

Near the iron scroll work is this small, round, worn medallion-like plaque:

Ocker did some sleuthing himself and he discovered that the building's landlord at the time was a Poe fan, and he had the medallion placed there, knowing that Poe had been born nearby. That's the very short story; read Ocker's book for the great details.


BUT NOW... finally the main attraction--and this was better than I expected.

Right on Boston Common Poe has finally been given the recognition he deserves in the form of a very unusual statue--fitting, of course. And I "dedicate" this portion of my blog to Mr. Ocker, who was not able to include a picture of the statue because his book was finished before the state was placed. On page 343 in the epilogue he states, "You're going to have to finish this book for me."

My pleasure!
It's named "Poe Returning to Boston." The sculptor, Stefanie Rocknak, depicts a Poe consumed in thought and importance (take that, Boston) as he rushes away from the Frog Pond (a popular spot for Bostonians) towards his home on Calvert Street. 

Spilling from his carrying case are papers, letters, books, poems...and a (tell-tale) heart!

...of course, accompanied by a raven.

Before leaving the city, we made sure to pass the Boston Public Library. I knew to peruse the outside details of the facade (vocab word) to find Poe's name among the literary famous.

You can see his name between Hawthorne and Thoreau, all three Massachusetts- born literary masterminds.

***************************************

When I reflect on Poe and the unfortunate circumstance of his early years , I am saddened, especially knowing of the odd twists and turns his life would bring. But then, why be sad for someone who people now adore?

“An Oak tree is a daily reminder that great things often have small beginnings.” 

― Matshona Dhliwayo

The information I have presented in previous blogs about Poe have revealed sadnesses but also his triumphs. After I visit the Poe House in Baltimore, we'll see how his life came full circle.

Maybe this fall I'll pay more attention when the Patriots play the Ravens.

"The Homestead"

Emily Dickinson's home for 40 years

I finally made it!

My TeacherTreks took me to Amherst, Massachusetts, home of Emily Dickinson. Emily fans (and blog followers) may recall from a past post on 2/23, that she lived and died in this house. She was a complex woman living a simple life.  Since I had learned and shared much about her after a visit to the Morgan Museum in New York, here I will share things I learned about the house particularly--and some ED trivia I didn't know.

The house was built for her paternal grandparents ca. 1813, and was updated and expanded several times during her lifetime. The Dickinson family owned the homestead until 1916, when it was sold to another family.

In 1963, The Homestead was designated a National Historic Landmark, and two years later the Trustees of Amherst College (a very nice college, I must say) purchased the house and began the efforts of opening it to the public.

The tour includes a visitor's center, a tour of two downstairs parlors, and 3 bedrooms upstairs, including Emily's, of course, since this is where she wrote the majority of her poetry. 

(Side note--no pictures were allowed inside. The external shots are mine, but the internal are from  postcards...I almost cried when the tour guide told me---ask my husband.)

This is the same desk that is in the corner of her bedroom, and while it is not original, it is a very close replica. The powerful visual is the size--a lot of words from such a small surface!

I learned 3 new fun facts. First, about 5 years ago a tour was underway and the group stood in Emily's room, when suddenly the ceiling in the room directly below crumbled to the ground! No one was hurt, but needless to say, all ceilings were quickly restored/repaired. When they came to Emily's room, the restoration team was able to uncover the original wallpaper of the room, and the room was then covered in the resorted wallpaper pattern:

This is very fitting, considering Emily's love of nature.

The Homestead was a working farm with a large vegetable garden, a barn complex with livestock, an orchard, and an ornamental garden.  The Dickinson family, including the children, participated in the intensive labor necessary for the upkeep of such a property. Emily was a primary cook, and she also enjoyed baking. It is said that during the times in her later years when she was hesitant about leaving the house, she would place some of her baked goods into a basket and lower the basket to appreciative children from the neighborhood.

The upper left window was Emily's---little kids looking for a sweet treat probably kept their eyes on that window!

Another way to bring the outdoors in was through a conservatory, a room with extra glass that may house plants and flowers. Emily's father had one built for her. It is currently under renovation.

Cats were a big part of The Homestead--about 30 at one time roamed the grounds (still not as many as Hemingway)....but EMILY DID NOT LIKE CATS! She would only allow 2 or 3 in the house at a time. (Her little sister loved them.) I'm trying hard not to let this fact affect my appreciation of her. 

Emily didn't like cats because they killed birds, and she looooooved birds. She did manage to include this cat/bird relationship in a poem:

She sights a Bird—she chuckles—

She flattens—then she crawls—
She runs without the look of feet—
Her eyes increase to Balls—

Her Jaws stir—twitching—hungry—
Her Teeth can hardly stand—
She leaps, but Robin leaped the first—
Ah, ****, of the Sand,

The Hopes so juicy ripening—
You almost bather your Tongue—
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes—
And fled with every one-

Before we left The Homestead, we took a chilly walk through the New England spring gardens (a nice way of saying that they weren't quite tidied up yet).

We spied some randomly growing hyacinths and a beautiful variegated daffodils (which I'm sure Emily would love)

AND THEN.............

THIS LOVELY GREY FRIEND!!!!!

HHHMMM....We saw no birds, but we did see him. Maybe Emily was right.

It was a very special visit and I know for a fact that when I read the poems of Emily Dickinson to my classes next year I'll be able to offer a whole new perspective on this woman and the place she called home.

RIP Emily. Thanks for your observations about life, love, nature, and eternity.

NEXT UP: Poe's birthplace (Bean Town) and place of "rest"

"Playing Video games on (computers) in the late 90's eventually translated to a programming career for me."

Meet Joe Appleton, Berks Catholic Class of 2012 who gives some great introspection into the world of computer science.

Your college? YOG? Major? Minor?

I attended Mount St. Mary's University from 2012 to 2016, graduating with a bachelor's of science in Computer Science and a minor in Cyber Security. I also attended the University of Cambridge and studied International Security and Intelligence during the summer of 2015.

Graduation from Mount St. Mary's

 Was computer programming always of interest to you? Did you base your college  selection on this school and its program?

When I first came to the Mount, I really did not know what I wanted to do. I was told that this was very normal for most people so I was not alarmed. I actually planned on being a chemistry major, but after two weeks of speaking to other students and teachers I switched to Computer Science. I have grown up with computers; my family has always had a number of them and my brother and I were always encouraged to learn more about them. Playing video games on them in the late 90s eventually translated to a programming career for me.

When did you start to use your computer for more than just papers, Google Searches, etc? I'm trying to see what makes a person want to be an intricate part of this world!

I would have to say this started around sixth or seventh grade. Up to that point, I primarily used computers for video games and schoolwork. It wasn't until my brother put together his first computer that I realized all the incredible things you could do with them. I remember my brother putting a silly little "virus" on my computer over our home's LAN, and it played Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" until you exited it. I really wanted to figure out how he did that.

When I was young, a computer was really just a magical box. After getting to know computers better throughout high school and after studying them for four years I realized how incredible the low-level architecture of a computer really is. At the lowest level, computers function with just zeroes and ones - electricity flowing or not flowing, that sort of thing. Billions and billions of microscopic transistors - sometimes trillions depending on the chips in the computer - work together to create the underlying logic that eventually translates into images appearing on a computer monitor.

And we're not just talking desktops and laptops. There are cellphones, calculators, cars, refrigerators, fighter jets - computers are absolutely everywhere. Learning more about them in any way makes you more useful to both yourself and to employers in tech fields. I think that's why I want to be an "intricate part of this world." I built my foundation and I can take it anywhere, but no matter where I take it, there is always more to learn!

What were some of your career-related courses? 

I took many diverse courses throughout my college career. You had your standard Computer Science courses - calculus, applied statistics, data structures and algorithms, courses that simply taught you programming languages, and so on. My two favorite CS-related courses in college were Theory of Computation and Artificial Intelligence. They were also the most difficult.

Theory of Computation delved into the algorithmic logic behind what a "computer" actually is - technically, anything that computes. This terminology dates back to the mid-20th century when Alan Turing, the father of modern computing, performed most of his work. If you've heard of a Turing Test, yep, that's the same guy. You may have also heard of his work in cracking the Nazi Enigma machine, saving countless lives during WWII. In order to do all that, he essentially created computing. We're still using his teachings today.

Some of those teachings revolved around the theoretical capabilities of computers. Essentially, this meant that we were studying questions like "What is impossible for a computer to do?" and "How do we describe the computational complexity of this task/algorithm?" We used Turing machines and finite automata as our main tools in these tasks in order to develop mathematical models to prove or disprove certain problems. If you're interested in the field, google those two terms!

My other favorite course, Artificial Intelligence, had a lot of programming and difficult-to-comprehend algorithms. But one of my favorite parts of the course was the beginning. No computers, no algorithms - simply discussion. We spent the first two weeks asking questions like "Can machines think?" and "What does it mean to be human?" These questions have been debated since Turing's time and gave our class an incredible foundation and appreciation for the topics we were about to explore. I also enjoyed the course because, by the end of the year, there were only 4 people left in it including myself. It was the perfect blend of philosophy and hardcore programming, and if I could go back and experience a single course in my college career over again, this would be the one.

Joe at Cambridge

Is this major generalized or do you focus on a particular area? (again, excuse my ignorance!)

Computer Science is very generalized. The science of computers is just so incredibly broad that you can get the degree and then pursue any facet of computing that you have interest in. It's more of a general groundwork that allows you to find your strongsuits, or even something that you just want to explore more in order for it to become your strongsuit. For example, two of the early courses I took were simply to teach the languages Python and Java. Those languages were used to write computer programs that grew increasingly complex over the course of a semester. 

(I think, If you really wanted to, you could just learn to program and then go job seeking! Of course it looks better to have a 4-year degree, but many people today and even more people in the past went straight to programming jobs after 2 years of schooling or less. If you're an excellent programmer and have enough experience in the field, or if you can at least prove to an employer that you've worked on incredible projects despite a lack of schooling, it would be difficult to deny you.)

Like I said, Computer Science is very broad. You can go to school for that and you can go to school for any of its subcategories, some of which are: programmer analyst, database administrator, computer graphics artist, game developer, cyber security analyst, network systems administrator, web developer, software engineer, and so on. The opportunities are just crazy and you're bound to find something you like.

Did you work in this field during college on campus or as an intern?

During my later years of college, I was a tutor for some math and computer science courses. I was helping freshmen and sophomores with the same courses I took years ago. Back then, I struggled with the courses occasionally, but revisiting the material as I was nearing the end of my schooling showed me how far I had come. Writing those programs was easy now! I remember this every time I am faced with a new problem in programming. With enough thought and maybe a change in strategy or two, you'll always be able to overcome a programming challenge whether its incompatible architectures in software engineering, mismatching plugin versions in web development, or confusing logic in your programming homework. It's why tutors are there - and when you start careers, the new tutors are the senior level programmers above you. You can get better at any aspect of Computer Science, but you will need to learn to ask for help many times along the way.

During the summer of 2015, I interned for Boscov's Department Stores for two months as a web developer. I cannot think of a better place to have learned these skills. When I first started, I was looking through the massive codebase that held up the front- and back-ends of their applications. I had previously only worked with one language at a time and maybe across four or five files, but now I was faced with code written in several languages that I had never used, extensions I did not recognize, and thousands of files all working with one another. After those two months, I was able to look back and I wondered why I ever worried. 

That initial time at Boscov's was a great foray into the real world. It's impossible to teach you some of these things with school - you simply need a real taste of it. The team of programmers that I worked with there (and still work with) has been a fantastic help for me along the way.

 What is your current position?  Can you explain your responsibilities? (combined)

I work on both the front end user interface and the backend logic/architecture of the Boscov's website and underlying systems. I suppose you could call me a Web Developer, except that I am able to work on all aspects of their systems in some way. A more accurate job title is a Programmer Analyst or a Full Stack Developer, both of which are worthy of a google if you're interested in working on all the pieces that make up an ecommerce system.

For my job, I am responsible for listening to the business requirements of the "business team." The business team consists of a number of people who make decisions relating to the website and pass those instructions on to the technical team, which is my team. The business team has specialists in digital analytics, marketing, search engine optimization (helping us appear higher on google searches) and so on. Both the business team and my technical team work closely to develop functional specifications for each project, big or small. Projects can range anywhere from simple bug fixes to enormous, year-long endeavors.

I am on-call every month and a half. Our team is on a rotation, taking turns each week. Whenever you are on call you need to be available to handle problems around the clock (which means getting the occasional call at 3 AM and remoting-in to work to take a look at the problem). Some problems might occur if there is an issue with network traffic (people can't get to the site) and such problems may be the result of an issue on our end or an issue external to us (Internet providers experiencing issues). Still other problems may occur if one of our automated computer jobs fails. This could be due to memory issues with the server it's running on or even a programming error. The calls we get come from other Boscovs technical employees. These calls are usually few and far between, but we always want to make sure our support structure is as solid as possible.

What advice do you give to high school student who is considering this career?

Web development is fairly specialized. I would recommend a high school student first become accustomed to what the heck is actually inside a computer. That means understand all of the parts inside and what they do, and that it isn't actually a magic box. I think that should get the interest going. It's what got my interesting going, at least. After some research, get your hands dirty. Take apart an old computer (NOT YOUR PARENT'S CURRENT COMPUTER). Figure out how to install a programming development environment and write your first program. The basic steps are very simple and it's free. Even a small, old laptop would do. There are people who exist that started with the very basics of programming and eventually made world-famous websites, video games, and cell phone apps. All it takes is some practice and creativity, and you really can program whatever you set your mind to. It might take a while but you have to start somewhere.

A major piece of advice is one that is certainly easier said than done: don't feel intimidated when you first start. The world of computer science is incredibly complicated for a reason; I still haven't met a single person who can do it all. In your studies, though, you will come across many people who may seem to be miles ahead of you. Most of the time, they are more skilled at it because they simply got an earlier start of they spent more free time programming. Sometimes, programming does come more easily to some people than it does to others, and that's okay. Just don't give up when you face a problem and don't forget to ask for help. Asking for help in the field of computer science (and any engineering field in general) is arguably much more important than in other fields.

 What are some character traits that you have that make you good for this field?

The stereotype of computer programmers is that we're all nerds or we outsourced all our coders to China or India or something. This isn't the case. I know programmers who play football, drive speedboats, climb mountains, run ultra-marathons, scubadive, and so on. Like any job really, you want to be personable yet professional. You need to be able to communicate effectively. Oftentimes it is very difficult to explain a problem with a program because there are so many variables, so many places other code interacts with it, so many moving parts. This is where effective communication is needed the most.

Unless you're a one-person company, computer programmers always work together. We are a team. And when someone on your immediate team doesn't have the answer, you both can go ask the tens of millions of programmers in various online programming communities. It's very likely that your problem has been experienced before and already has an answer.

Another good, yet underappreciated trait, to have is a small yet firm ego. Sometimes programmers on your team may disagree about a certain way to approach a problem and it is paramount that you respect others' viewpoints. That doesn't mean you shouldn't back down on your opinions immediately, but simply listen and seriously consider your teammates' ideas. You're all working towards the same goal in the end.

During college, I participated in our Math & CS Department's SmallTalk program. Any student could sign up to give a half-hour lecture about any math or computer science topic they wanted. The lectures were open to anyone interested and usually the classroom was full. I ended up giving about 10 or so of these talks throughout my college career, and they helped me tremendously. Everything from the research to the presentation increased my appreciation for my field and made me excited to share it. In the beginning there were some nerves to overcome, but they were nonexistent by senior year. I would recommend that people seeking this field also have that same drive to appreciate the work they're doing. You're working in some of the most advanced fields that humanity has ever created.

BC Students, notice how Joe, like others, has emphasized: 1. the importance of active participation in pre-job activities like clubs or internships and 2. the importance of communication skills---TALKING to others!

THANK-YOU, JOE, FOR PUTTING AN OBVIOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND THOUGHT INTO MY QUESTIONS....GO SAINTS! (AND GO JOE!)