Author Archives: connorkempf

Exploring City Tech’s Computer Engineering Technology program and a career in Computer Engineering by Connor Kempf

I am Connor Kempf; A student at New York City College of Technology (City Tech). I am studying Computer Engineering Technology and it is my first year of college. My first reason for choosing this major and this career is the fact that this career has many opportunities and advancement once hired. The second reason why I chose this major is to learn more about technology. Based on previous experiences,technology is the future of mankind. The third reason for my choice of major is I feel I can make a living doing a job I enjoy. The fourth reason is the broadness of this field, it is not focused on one specific thing.

In this essay, I will go into detail about my choice of major and my reasoning for choosing this major. Evidence will be provided to justify my claims. People ask me about my IT experience, I have it. I started studying technology in the sixth grade, continuing through middle and high schools. Upon my graduation from high school, I was certified by Microsoft in networking and security fundamentals. These certifications have the potential of giving me a career. I hope to continue learning about computers and technology as a whole, becoming a productive member of the community. When i finished high school, I elected to continue my education. I want to prove myself to potential employers.

People have asked me why I have chosen my major of computer engineering technology. One of my reasons for choosing this major is the fact that it is a job. This may be an understatement in itself. I know from my experience that this career field is growing, Instructors or workers, they all work under the same title. I encourage the reader to look around and observe the people always using their electronics. I think the phrase “to be left to ones devices” has taken a whole new meaning. This career has a trait, the growth of the field. People use technology in every day life, such as a smart phone or computer. It does not matter what it is, what matters is the fact that it is technology. Technology itself needs someone to maintain it, this is where I think I come in. According to the City Tech College Catalog(2014-2015) “Manufacturers and users of computers and electromechanical equipment are potential employers. Among the employers of graduates of this program are Con Edison, General Electric, Verizon, Cable Version, Apple, Logic Control, Lutron Electronics, JetBlue, MTA, NYC transit and the elevator industry.” (City Tech 218) This in itself is a mouthful of information to swallow. The quote from the college catalog is from my perspective from my perspective showing just how broad the career field really is for someone in this major. The possibilities are endless when it comes to this field. I could end up find a specific area related to computer engineering that I really like. I have not found this specific part as I am still in school.

Technology is the future of mankind as we know it. Many people, including myself, own at least one item of technological equipment. Technology itself is very complicated, there are many specialized subsets of technology such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer systems technology, and much more. “Decades ago, Alan Turing predicted machines would likely get smart enough to pass for humans. But these days, artificial intelligence is just one of the technologies shaping the devices of tomorrow.” (Fitzpatrick 75) I can imagine a world where robots and humans interact. Imagine a world where humans and robots coexist. What about the conspiracies that may arise if technology use becomes malicious? There is a lot of “what if’s?” in technology. If however,something does happen that warrants the attention of humanity, it will likely get it. Technology is an invention of humans, it can evolve like we do. Humans design new pieces of technology every day. I suggest the reader search on google for  ‘New Technology’ and read a little. Humans like to retain information. I theorize this as a part of the reason why the personal computer was invented. Instead of having handwritten notes or photo albums, many people today store all this great knowledge and memories in the cloud. Computers today were distilled from larger computers, computers the size of a whole room. Today’s technology includes smartphones the size of our hand and tablet the size of a book, allowing us to see the technological world before us. Imagine a day thousands of years in the future and you are looking back through them in the family cloud, looking at photos of your distant ancestors. All this technology is dynamic, it can adapt with humanity. I myself say that in my field, I must be dynamic as things are changing. When I started learning about technology, computers still ran windows xp. That is just to put it into perspective. I have being learn about technology since the sixth grade. I chose this major to build on the experience I do have.I know only one thing about my future and the future of mankind, the fact that technology will be present in some form.

Computer engineers are very important members of technological society. People have a desire for technology. This desire is met by the engineers who design and maintain technology. I know from observation that technology is getting progressively smaller and more complicated. This in itself creates additional workload for engineers who must work within certain parameters. One would think that a computer engineer is paid a huge sum of money for complicated work. This is not true. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational Outlook handbook “$100,920 salary per capita, $48.52 hourly median pay”. (BLS)This shows that  although the pay is not great, there is still potential for a living to be made. Think of the average cost of living for New York City, anywhere in the five boroughs. In Manhattan, the average cost of living is somewhere in the region of $8000 monthly when you include food, rent, transportation, etc. Think of how much I would be making when I am starting out. I might be pulling in around $55000 a year in my first couple of years of work. This means that Manhattan is completely out of the question unless my wage was substantial enough to afford the extremely high cost-of-living. I’m not saying that I cannot live comfortably, I just have to be careful where I live in terms of living cost. I know in my field there is at least some potential. It is stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that “the expected growth for Computer Hardware Engineers is around 7% between 2012-2022.” (BLS) This means that computer hardware engineering might not be the way I should go if I am pursuing a career. This is not to say that computer engineering is limited to software or hardware, the field is diverse.

My fourth reason for choosing Computer Engineering as my major and indeed my career path is the fact that it is a broad field. According to the City Tech College Catalog(2014-2015) “Manufacturers and users of computers and electromechanical equipment are potential employers. Among the employers of graduates of this program are Con Edison, General Electric, Verizon, Cable Version, Apple, Logic Control, Lutron Electronics, JetBlue, MTA, NYC transit and the elevator industry.” (City Tech 218) This quote has a dual meaning, the potential for employment and a demonstration of just how broad the field really is. Con Edison, for example, is the primary electricity provider for New York City and the surrounding areas. JetBlue is a low cost airline. This goes to show that it is not just one employer who needs computer engineers. Computer engineers are always in demand. The field is broad, avionics, elevators, design and drafting, all fall under the realm of computer engineering. I wonder what my future holds. Where will I work? Where will I live? What kind of work will I be doing?

Computer Engineering, I feel, is the correct choice for me. I have an interest in technology, a drive to succeed, and a need for a job. I do not know where I will be working. I know I will leave City Tech in no way other than with a degree in Computer Engineering Technology. College for me is an opportunity to learn, and grow. College is an outlet for potential in my eyes.I want to make myself a better member of society. Maybe I will invent the next great thing in technology. I have my reasons, Broad Field, Employment, and The Future of Technology,now all I need to do is finish school and get a job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

  1. New York City College of Technology (City Tech) “Computer Engineering Technology” New York City College of Technology College Catalog 2014-2015. Web. 20 April 2015
  2. Fitzpatrick,Alex. “The Future of Computing.” Time 184.21/22 (2014): 75. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 April 2015
  3. United States Department of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Computer Hardware Engineers.” Web. 24 April 2015

Thoughts In Writing By Connor Kempf

Introduction:

Project 1 is/was about expressing our thoughts in a coherent way. What I did for project 1 is I recorded one whole day of my thoughts. These thoughts were summarized into a coherent paragraph, pictures were taken to illustrate my thoughts. This formed the basis for elaboration which is the thinking in writing section, breaking my thoughts down into manageable chunks and elaborating on the scenarios of these thoughts and why I feel these are important; Further allowing me to refine my thoughts into a better future for myself.

Thinking in Writing:

For the last 24 hours I’ve been recording my thoughts. This recording of thoughts is easier said than done. The Thoughts are marked with a time as seen below; This is the transcript of my thoughts. Until today, I never realized the complexity of my thoughts and actions. I thoughts about my thoughts for a few days, and I come to the realization that my thoughts are in need of channeling Into something productive. Then I realize my mind is normally doing something, thoughts are like shadows or echoes. My thought directly relate to the actions I take. Who would have thought that thoughts would be so important not just to my life but to the people around me.I come to realize that my thoughts tend to revolve around school, entertainment, myself, and the people around me. I then come to realize the mediocrity of it all. I visualize myself, my standing in human existence, I think, I’m insignificant, now, how do I change that? I also realize a 5 day a week school schedule is for me, the most effective way to study. My obsessive playing of video games could lead to some off color thoughts, I should ration my time just a bit better. As for tv, I give thought to how little of it I actually watch. As for school, it’s basically the same old grind that I have gotten used to all my life, wake up, eat breakfast, get ready, got to school, few hours of work, lunch, next few hours, go home, do homework, dinner, watch tv/ video games, unwind, rinse and repeat. Life tends to be a never ending cycle of day and night. My thoughts include the past to predict and possibly change the future. Now I remember, I really need to find a way  to channel my thoughts into something constructive. That is this project. How can I change these thoughts? How can I improve the effects of these thoughts on my life? Who would be a good person to ask about my thoughts? Why do these patterns of thought appear? That is what I have been asking myself all my life, now what if I share the same thoughts as someone else? Now I question whether things in life are necessary, education, things of the like, more on this in a few years.

Thinking Visually:

http://instagram.com/p/zQRJcKO6i6/

This is the visual representation of my thoughts. My thoughts are clouded;These clouds are pollution, fallacies,dreams,emotions, and sometimes other thoughts. Maybe I should take more time to think about my thoughts

http://instagram.com/p/zQRVKEO6jT/

Imagine I am standing on the ground looking at the tip of that building. The tree as I came to realize is the barrier or hurdle between me and success. That building is where I should be thinking, right now, I would be lucky to be beyond the tree in terms of my path to success

http://instagram.com/p/zQRgF1u6jq/

I am looking towards Manhattan. I see my future in technology. That is where I think I should be.

http://instagram.com/p/zQUCA1u6oh/

I tend to think about people a lot; I am a person thinking about my fellows. Other people are like sources for information whether it be true or gossip. This is where many of my thoughts lie, the people around me.

http://instagram.com/p/zQUfGyO6pg/

This is a picture of a clear sky with three power line. These lines are clear thoughts and to me represent prowess. This is why I should think about “clearing my head” more often, it enhances my thoughts.

http://instagram.com/p/0QhaE_u6r2/

This picture is representative of my life, twists and turns; many possibilities. There are many things in life I could have done differently. I can say now that I am happy about where I am in life, I feel as if I belong.

Thinking Reflectively:

      The first thing I want to think about is my future, my successes. I am Connor Kempf, Computer Engineering Technology student at New York City College of Technology between 2014 and 2019. I know was a person I have some imagination/ thoughts(Insert Pic). I know I am interested in computers and technology in general, I have been for quite a while. As for hobbies, these relate to my interests, illicit sometimes but still my hobbies; Gaming, Hacking and things of the like. I like to test boundaries whether it be online or in person. My future (after 2019) is likely a job in the engineering field, my first real job. Switching to my future self, five years from when I wrote this, a few questions come to mind. What could I have done differently? I asked myself three questions during the writing of this essay, why am I me?, Who am I really?, What is next for me? I am Me, Myself and I, take it or leave it this is who I am. I’ve always attempted to pursue my dreams, to do what is possible. A message to my 2015 self; be who you are, keep it up, succeed, future, be yourself, and how bad will this all hurt? In 2015, I am me, in 2020 you are me five years in my future. Looking Forward, I wonder what that year holds for me. As a person both you and me are part of history, by part I mean small snippet. Take what is given or allowed and run with it.

      I can only imagine what kind of person I will be in five years.I can see that in five short years, I will be a employee of a big electronics consulting firm. I have not decided where I will work but I know the industry I will be in. An obvious necessity is a job, it does not have to be a great job at first. I have only been out of college for a year in 2020. I knew when I started college in August of 2014 that I was committed for at least four years, but I soon discovered that if I wanted to work at my own pace, I would need an extra year, pushing my graduation to this year 2020 instead of 2019. With a job comes money, with money comes a place to live, with a place to live comes the future. I give thought to 2020, I am going to be my own person by then. If I was talking to my previous self, I would tell myself to stay on the correct path, you know what it is, only accept perfection, and be yourself. I know now looking into the future that I must succeed, if I do not there is the possibility of me being destitute which I will not accept. I am Connor Kempf, a Computer Engineering Student at New York City College Of Technology. I am currently in my first year of college. As of today, I do not have a job,I am looking for one. The complication is that college must come first. A few years from now, I move on with my life. I become a productive member of society with future employment in , I envision myself being in the technology field.

      One question I asked myself during the writing of this essay is why am I me? That is an interesting question as I have advanced myself a bit intellectually, psychologically, maybe some other ways that I still have not figured out yet. I enjoy working on technology; testing the boundaries and experimenting with it. This is probably why I have chosen a technology career. When choosing my career, I thought about the education that would be required if I want to get hired by a company in the field. I knew I would be committed to going to college for a bachelors degree. I knew in middle school but I wanted to go into technology. Then came high school, I went to Information Technology High School, which specializes in career training in the technology field. In the four years that I was in high school, learning about technology and other stuff, I realized how much I enjoyed my choice of career. This is probably why I continued my education past high school, what people don’t realize is I actually enjoy learning, it improves me as a person. I could draw reference to the pictures of clouded and clear thought. My life is full of thoughts. I feel as if school has helped me harness my thoughts and imagination; channeling it into something I can use in my life. My thoughts can be clouded or clear, it depend on the thoughts and on what is prompting that thoughts. I never realized before beginning work on this project how complex my thoughts actually were. I believe before I came to college I was a bit too passive. I never really gave a second thought to my thoughts. What if I had invented something? I doubt I would be here if that was the case. Honestly, I am me, and I am content with where I am, who I associate with on a daily basis. Learning about things in general is something I enjoy, I have never really taken the initiative to learn about myself, let alone my thoughts.

Recently, I recorded a day of thoughts. There were three main thoughts, one thought was me here now, and how it pertains to me. As a college student, I’m obliged to take courses, increase my knowledge, and established my “profile”. My profile is simply what people might see, not just my resúmé, but what I know, who I know, my drive to succeed. Another way of describing a profile is what the world thinks of you. I am still learning about technology, even though I have learned through high school and even in middle school. My learning is not complete; I aspire to know as much as I possibly can about technology and in general every day life. My reasoning for this, it is complicated. I want to see how good I can do in society. I don’t have any estimation but I know that I must at least advance beyond where I am today. This thought could be described by two photos, the one of me looking up towards the building and the one looking towards Manhattan. These photos to me represent my future and higher education is the building block upon which I will succeed. This success to me is being the CEO of some multi-billion dollar technology firm. I aspire one day to achieve this goal. As for 2020, I know I need to find work, hopefully in the technology field

The final thought that came to me on my day if thoughts was my thoughts themselves. This may sound odd but I have taken time to think about my thoughts. Switching to my 2020 self, I can describe my thoughts as snippets, little bits of information coursing through my mind. My thoughts can be contaminated by my emotions which is why I have taken time to think about my thoughts and how to better understand both why I think of these things and how to improve the usage of whatever mental capacity I have. My emotions and/or life events can challenge my thoughts. It is abnormal for me to describe my thoughts, I find it a little bit uncomfortable. I did not realize before writing this paper that my thoughts could be so complex. Why is it that I have not thought about  my thoughts with this much detail during prior times. Something I neglected was my thoughts about the past. These thoughts are questions. I am questioning my past decisions to see what I could have done differently and how to improve said thoughts. Something I could have done differently were my grades in high school, employment, and finishing the technology certifications I started back in high school. I know as a human that I have made mistakes but I wish to improve what I have done so far and be the best person i can  be. I ask myself each day what could I have changed or done differently to improve my day to day life? This could be represented by the photo of me on the road looking around a bend. This bend is a turning point in my life. It is illustrative of the twisting path of my life. I don’t know where the path will end or where but I know that I am on my path. I hope this path takes me to success, at least I will be happy with myself knowing my life has went somewhere. A message to my 2015 self: Succeed, Imagine, Explore, Innovate, and for crying out loud, be yourself, no matter what anyone may tell you.

      What have I learned about my thoughts and how may this affect my decision making? I have learned exactly how astronomically complex my thoughts are. The thoughts themselves could be significant such as my future or rather insignificant, what should I have for lunch? These thoughts I feel are reflective of me both over time and day to day. I believe my life has a lot left to be done within it. I cannot predict my future or anyone’s future for that matter, but I can infer that my life has time left and I have things that I want to or have to do. I wonder what the future holds for me, hopefully technology. My life is just beginning, I must live it.