Carol Sze is double-majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies and Computer Science and getting a certificate in Data Science.
- Why did you choose GWS?
During my first few semesters, I took a number of GWS courses for electives and really enjoyed the experience of getting to talk about social justice issues and learn about important movements that have shaped the society we know today. Some of these courses were just basic intro courses with professors who I really liked. My advisor recommended that I declare a certificate in GWS so that I could tailor more of my elective courses to topics that I liked, and I became so immersed in the courses I was taking that I switched from the certificate to the major to further complement my degrees in computer science and data science in a way that added a sociological perspective to my studies in technology and information. I chose GWS as a fun elective and ultimately stayed with it because of its meaning to why I was doing everything. - Has GWS changed your approach to your involvement (on or off campus) during college? If so, how?
I have always been an advocate for causes that are important to me, from fundraising for drunk driving awareness because a family friend died from an accident involving a drunk driver, to joining a March for our Lives protest to fight for safety in our schools, to joining the middle and high school robotics teams and expanding the number of female team members tenfold. Coming into college, I knew I wanted to do more than just learn how to code, and sought to get involved as much as I could. As the President of WACM, the largest women in computing student org on campus, GWS has helped me better equip myself to promote and provide opportunities for women in tech to meet each other and build community. As a House Fellow for a learning community dedicated to women in STEM fields, GWS has helped me provide more inclusive and meaningful service to my residents and support them through their first year of college. Understanding that everyone is coming from different backgrounds and may be impacted by various challenges in the field has brought a valuable perspective into how I coordinate our events, communications, and personal interactions. I get to have a lot of in-depth discussions with my residents, coworkers, and classmates about different social justice issues and current events while having a more complex knowledge of how they came to exist in the first place and the role that we play to contribute to these movements. - How has GWS shaped your future plans?
My college experience has positioned me at the intersection of technology and society, and my passion involves utilizing the mass amounts of data in today’s society to contribute to meaningful projects that promote social justice. I am currently applying to graduate school programs with the intention of completing a master’s degree in data engineering/analytics while enhancing the experience with the social justice lens I gained from GWS. If I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to be involved with GWS, I likely would not have developed such a personal mission and fuller understanding of the world around me. Upon graduation, I also plan to utilize my GWS knowledge and experiences to influence the types of professional roles and industries that I work in, ensuring that I am contributing to a group with an inclusive and meaningful purpose.