“Dad, I finally understand!!!”

Originally, I did not like the computer because it was so complicated, and it was hard for me to study. I was struggling to study Pascal and Excel in my high school when I was thirteen and fourteen. Therefore, I wanted to pass those computer classes. However, my father wanted me or my brother to have a computer certification on B or C level according to my country policy when I was fifteen, and I did not listen. Instead, I chose to practice martial art called Vovinam until I reached black belt level.

My father kept explaining that he lost his chance to learn computer language as called Command Dos because he was busy with taking care of the family, so he wanted his sons to better in technology. He told my brother to attend AUTOCAD class, and he told me several time to quit martial art to take Microsoft office class. Sadly, we did not listen.

Then everything changed when I decided to study in US, and my father opened his own company. We were frustrated with the computer issue when setting up internet, fax connection, printer connection, and tax file. At that time, my father had to ask my uncle to go back and forth to help us, but he was not available all the time. My father was annoyed with this issue, and he did not know how to fix. I felt his frustration, and I blame myself that I could not do anything. I tried my best to help my father whenever he need. Whenever there was a technical issue, I was googling to find the solution, and it usually took 30–40 minutes to find the potential solution. Sometimes, I was stuck, and my brother was there to fix. Later on, we imported pH meter and data logger software for laboratory installment in high schools in some provinces. We had to train the lab instructors how the software and the equipment worked. I had to translate all manual from English to Vietnamese and practice with the software to understand. We had to figure out if there were some technical issue. I was trying read the manual carefully to ensure that I understand everything to be able to answer all the questions. I hope that there would not be any problems when I demonstrated. I was wondering that a lot of jobs required technical skill especially working with software. I began to look more software with Chemistry and other applications such as data management and data analysis. I begin feeling more interesting to study more and more with those software, and hopefully I would be able to create one in future.

When I came back to school, I was working as a teacher assistant for General Chemistry. I had to show student how to use Logger Pro and Chemdraw for titration and organic experiment, and I was studying other software for my Chemistry experiment. Furthermore, I was doing research and other advance Chemistry experiment, and I had to be familiar with different software. I felt more interested in computer in Chemistry. In addition, a lot of scenario put me to deal with technical issue that to fix the printer connection and network problem for the Chemistry department. Network in Chemistry department was bad that left the whole bunch of printers not be used, and it made me feel that was wasting too much money. It cause a heavy dependence of printing on the Environment Department, and I was frustrating that we had to share the printer with the other department. From those experience, I realize the importance of computer in everything, and I could not escape from its complication. I was sure that a lot of jobs would require computer knowledge such as Java, C++, or Python, so I understand my father tried to tell me. I admitted “Dad, I finally understand!!”.

I was wondering if I had a chance to study more, I would study computer science/ software engineer because I had to deal with a lot of technical problems for my jobs from Vietnam to US. I understood the necessary of computer and technology in our life, and I want to create my own software in chemistry so that we do not to import foreign material and software from other country. I was looking for any opportunities to understand more about networking, programming, and software. I talked to Dr. Walter, who was my Fuel Cell supervisor research, about learning more about electronic and programing because I saw he was trying to code his own program over night for his robotic research. He told me to join his research by taking three more computer classes, but I almost graduate and was having 23 credits already. Dr. Walter told me I would have a chance in future because I was still young, and all my professors advised me to keep looking hard. I listened to them, and I guessed the chance finally came to me when I moved to the Bay area.

I moved to San Francisco Bay area, and I saw a lot of opportunities related to Biotech and Software Design. Additionally, this was a land of startup companies that emphasized on technology, and all startup companies were biotech and software/app area. I had the feeling that this was a competitive land that it matched with the quote I heard “go hard or go home”. I found the opportunity came from the Holberton School, and it majored on the full stack engineer. I did not know what full stack engineer is until I gather some information from Angel List and Innovation Center in Haas School in Berkeley.

I went to the presentation from the Innovation Center in Haas School in Berkeley, and the presenter showed how different entrepreneurs came up with different ideas to combine human life with software. Therefore, I looked on the Angel List, and I saw a lot of startup companies relating to different areas in business, health, or technology. I finally understood the word “full stack” meant. I thought that Holberton School would be my first step for me to experience about the life with software or computer. There would be an intense training, but I felt that this intense training would require me a lot of efforts work hard and pull up with a lot of better ideas for what I really want to do. I decided to apply for Holberton School in this major. I hope I would try all my best so that I would be able to code and create my own software in Chemistry.