CompSci
6 : Spring 2009
Dong-Jae
(DJ) Chung
About Me:
I am a senior economics major from
Outside of class, one of my biggest passions is playing golf. I started hitting golf balls when I was about eight years old. My dad played a little bit and I would follow him to the driving range and he’d give me a couple of balls to knock around to keep me occupied. And of course, going to the golf course meant that I could drive the golf cart! I became pretty good at hitting the golf ball around and I started to enter some junior golf tournaments when I was about 12 years old. I had some success and continued to play throughout high school. One of my favorite golf memories is winning the Columbia City Match Play Championship. I have actually won it twice and the picture on the far right is from 2007. It was especially meaningful as my dad was the caddy and witnessed every match I won. I don’t play that much during the school year, but school shouldn’t be an excuse not to get back on the golf course!
Computer Science Autobiography:
I am very new to computer programming. This past winter break, I learned to code in HTML, but that’s the extent of my experience with programming. However, I am taking this class so that I can learn and I realize that I am probably behind most students, but I am determined to learn as much as I can. I first started using computers when my dad bought a Packard Bell in the mid 90’s, I think it was around 1995. Looking back on it, that computer seems so ancient now, I think the processor was a mere 60 mhz. I used that computer mainly to send emails to friends and to use AIM during middle school. In high school we bought an HP and I only used the computer to search the internet, for email and to type up my projects. After graduating high school, my parents bought me an Apple Powerbook for college. I have been using that since and it has been my lifeline throughout college. I constantly check my email and for my classes I use it for research, projects, papers and presentations. I can hardly imagine my life without computers now.
I specifically became interested in studying computer science junior year. A good friend of mine started making websites and I was intrigued about the idea of building something that nobody had ever built before. I want to be able to create something that no one else has ever seen. This is what I am looking forward to most. I expect that computer science is more than just building website. My guess would be that computer scientists find ways to make life easier and solve problems by creating elegant programs. By elegant I mean efficient, easy to use and useful.
After reading Jim Morris’ article about the small number of college students majoring in computer science relative to physical science majors, I completely agree with him that computer science is the science of the future. He mentions that computer science is not just about programming, but a way of thinking that is used to solve critical problems in the other sciences, such as physics and biology. Morris also advocates the introduction of computer science early in an individual’s education; I support this suggestion as well. There weren’t very many options for me to learn about computer science in high school and now that I look back on it, I wished I had pursued it. However, hopefully in the future, computer science will be a standard subject such as mathematics and English and not just an elective.
Steve Lohr’s article about the widespread applications of computer science is especially true at Duke. Of the handful of computer science and electrical & computer engineering majors I know, none are pursuing careers as programmers. One of my friends is going on to medical school, another into business and one friend in particular is starting is own business. I think this shows how versatile a computer science background can be. I don’t think it is the programming knowledge that is the most important thing you learn, but rather the way of thinking and how to solve problems that allow computer scientists to succeed in any field.
After completing this course, I hope to be able to create websites and financial models. I hope to go into the business world and I think those skills along with being able to think like a computer scientist will be invaluable for my career.
