A Reflection on my time as a grad
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The document summarizes the author's experience as a graduate student while working full-time and raising a family. It discusses how people questioned whether he could handle the workload but that he persevered with support from his wife, family, and time management. The author reflects on lessons learned around balancing school, work and family responsibilities. Key courses covered advanced topics in web development, database management, software engineering and ethics. The author is proud to have completed the program and grateful for the support received.
A Reflection on my time as a grad
- 1. A Reflection on my time as a Grad StudentBy Larry Jennings
- 2. People Said“Do you know what your getting into?”“Do you really want to go back to school?”“You just started this job, are you sure this is a good idea?“Don’t you have enough going on with 2 little kids?”“Does he know what he’s getting himself into?” (I didn’t…. But I had a good idea)And you know what…..
- 3. I did it!It was NOT easy…but…
- 4. So.. How did we pull off this miracle?Set aside time blocks at night and weekendsThe kids have to sleep sometime… … sometime…. eventually?..pleaseLots of support WifeParentsFriends & FamilyAnd 1 final thing… lots and lots of this…..
- 6. LearningIts not like it used to be.
- 7. First SemesterCurrent & Future Trends
- 9. Google.. All of it I think.
- 10. Social Media, Blogging, Podcasting, Folksonomy..
- 11. And that was before the presentations.
- 12. 3 X 30 min presentations.
- 13. Nothing covered in books
- 14. Social Media
- 15. Set the tone for my semester and beyond.
- 16. Prog Lang for the Web I
- 17. Topics Covered:
- 18. HTML
- 19. CSS
- 20. Javascript
- 21. ASP
- 22. Final Project bringing it all together
- 23. Working webpage with grading system.
- 24. Conference (CCSC)Second SemesterWeb Server SecurityMost fun we will ever have port scanningScan scanscanUntil…Success (finally)However, Breaking into the test system VERY SATISFYING… even if we were noisy.Metasploit was neat to play with. Allowed semi automated invasion of the users PC.Able to get the password file. Systems AnalysisTeamworkWeekly AssignmentsWeekly PresentationsCASE softwareVisual Analyst(needs to be taken out back)Realistic Casework:1 case through whole semester. Helpful to follow it.
- 25. Lessons LearnedThis is no longer instructor led schoolLots of outside reading and researching that’s not in our text books.Time ManagementLearning the balance between work time and homework time. Learning that the faculty are only semi aware of this (just kidding)The Train is a great place to get reading done. An aircard does wonders for homework also.Family ManagementEven during a crisis, you cannot lose sight of your goals and dreams and need to work through them no matter what.
- 26. Relaxing for the Summer(mostly)
- 27. How I spent my Summer VacationReading books that I had came across researching projects.CrowdsourcingCrush ItOutliersWhat Would Google Do?WikinomicsBlinkSocial Dev CampThinking about my Portfolio
- 28. Third SemesterEthicsHow to analyze Ethical situationsUtilitarianDeontologicalVirtueApply to different situationsGoogle in ChinaInternet PrivacyInternet PiracyGovernment Surveillance(scary)Midterm Group PresentationProject ManagementMore group workRelated to current occupation.Work Breakdown Structures Lots of DiagrammingCertifiable at CompletionCAPM that is!1st step to PMPSoftwareMS ProjectBasecampVisio(All better then Visual Analyst)
- 29. Getting too comfortable Time for a reality check.
- 30. Fourth (and Final) SemesterAdvanced Database1st Database work in 10 yearsMy SQL & WorkbenchSome OracleSome C++ (BACI)Group workTriggersStored ProceduresData WarehousingHardest Test of MACS Program!!Seriously.. What is this writing stuff? Software EngineeringBrought all other classes together.Designing a websiteChoice of Bookstore or Carpool siteChose Carpool – More ChallengingProject ManagementTeam of 13 PeopleGreat team different perspectivesProject CompletedNothing like the last minute!
- 31. Lessons LearnedI like to be in chargeBalancing a team is hard – but achievableHaving my hands in too many things was not helpful to project.Both technical classes at same time was daunting – but helped.You can take knowledge from 1 area of life and apply it to another.Planning can go a long way.You can still get Senioritis at 35Easier to fight then at 21 though
- 32. Showing OffWhat I have been working on
- 33. ePortfolio
- 34. Being AppreciativeI could not have done this alone
- 35. Thanks!FacultyDr. FrickerDr. MehtaDr. AmanDr. AppelChris HarrFellow StudentsAndrew BoyceAshaRobert S.AnjuKobeOlympio
- 36. Graduating!Can I uninstall all of this software now?