I first realized that I might like computer science in high school. I had taken an introductory course my freshman year, and as a senior, I took an advanced course to fill a space in my schedule, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also interned at Northrop Grumman my summer of my freshman year in college. The internship was probably my most rewarding programming experience. I work in a part of the building where the company showed off its new technology, and was helping one of the employees redesign the website. It was the page itself was in XML with the code-behind done in C#. I was unfamiliar with both languages, so I would read books about them on the long Metro ride to work, and then work on the website with my “mentors” help. It was exciting to hold so much responsibility for my own progress at an internship, which I had heard typically consisted only of busy work. Though I really only completed a small part of the website, I was one of the most fulfilling and rewarding programming experiences I’ve had.
As far as real computer scientists go, I would imagine that, at least on a daily basis, their computer use would not differ that much. I imagine they listen to music, check their mail, and surf the net. I would only imagine that they do much more of their daily work on computers than do other people.
In the future, I see myself using my computer much more in the business sense, as whatever job I come to hold will more likely than not deal with computers. Nevertheless, I believe my personal use of computers will be close to the same. I am cautious about allowing my computer to do too many things for me, I know people who don’t go shopping for Christmas, or even for groceries, because they can do it online. I see myself using my computer more in my professional life, but I feel like I have my computer doing all I need it to do for me personally already.