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Created March 9, 2016 23:02
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ADA Essay: My answers for the Essay questions 1-4
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ADAEssay1.markdown

Melissa McCann

  1. Essay Answer

Although I did not major In CS at Cornell University, I have always been interested in Computer Programming. While in high school I chose to enroll in an Introduction to Computer Programming course while attending Phillips Exeter Academy’s Summer Program. In college, I took an intro to MATLAB course, which I enjoyed immensely. Soon after graduating, I participated in a weekend coding bootcamp, and learned the basics of HTML, CSS, and JAVA. Although the bootcamp was very quick and fast paced, I was amazed at how much we were taught within a day. It was fun to experiment with code, and watch how just one change would give such a different result. We fiddled around with one piece of code which, with only small alterations, could result in the creation of a straight line, curvy line, circle, or a square. I messed up many times throughout the day, and had code that wasn’t working at times. However, I would work through it, and it was very rewarding when it finally ran. By the end of the weekend, I had built my own rudimentary website. As soon as I was finished, I sent the link to all my friends.

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ADAEssay2.markdown
  1. Essay Answer

Over the next two years my professional goal is to advance my career and find my place in the working world. As a recent graduate with a BS degree in Environmental Science I would like to work for an environmental consulting company or a B corporation. B corporations use their business and influence to solve environmental and social issues. I am particularly interested in finding ways to spread the importance of renewable energy, sustainability in one’s personal life and work environment, and finding solutions to climate change. I am applying to this program because learning the skills of computer programming would help me with these goals. Understanding how to code gives you a larger and more creative platform to present your ideas, reach other people, and get other people involved. I have realized with the difficult job market that companies are searching for people with very specific, distinct, concrete skills. Over the next five years I hope to be working in a job field that I find stable and fulfilling, or to be attending Business School for Finance. I want to be part of the movement of using skills for good, for the benefit of society and the earth.

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ADAEssay3.markdown
  1. Essay Answer

My first experience working in a professional environment was as a Research Intern at CU’s Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Science. I was thrown into a new environment with many grad students. Immediately upon arrival my PhD mentor leaped right in. In the span of less than 1 hour we had gone through every topic from the photosynthesis process of a plant, to how to prepare leave samples for a dehydration experiment, and how to extract amino acids from the tissues. I was taking notes but wasn’t sure I would be able to remember everything. He did one practice run with me, and the next day I was given a ton of plant samples and told to extract their amino acids myself. There were many mistakes; I dropped some samples pipetting, some samples exploded in the freezer, and I broke a beaker. While at the time these mistakes stressed me out, I quickly realized it was all part of the scientific process. Samples were lost and destroyed all the time! That’s why there were always hundreds for each experiment. I adapted quickly, matured, worked hard, and I now know I am capable of facing any challenge in the future.

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ADAEssay4.markdown
  1. Essay Answer

The Fall of my Senior Year at Cornell I spent the semester abroad, at the University of Copenhagen. Before starting the semester I knew that I wanted at least a basic understanding of the Danish Language. So, I purchased books, CDs to listen to in my car, and downloaded apps on my phone. I practiced every day, and mainly concentrated on understanding how to correctly pronounce the Danish Alphabet. With the Danish language, knowledge of English, Spanish, or French will not help you with reading comprehension and translating. The language was very different from any I had experience with. When I arrived a month before the semester would begin, I was able to get around the city with a map and ask for directions if I was lost. I then enrolled in a month long Danish class, and before the semester had started I was able to introduce myself, ask a few questions, and order food in Danish. Having recently graduated college, I have taken up the language mantle again, and have begun re-learning Spanish. Although I have been attending a class once a week, I mostly teach myself through vocab, reading stories, and listening to tapes.

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