Hello, my name is Nicholas Tam and I am currently a freshman at New York City College of Technology. At the moment I am in the computer system major but I’m still not completely sure if that is what I really want to do because there are other careers that interest me as well. The career field I would like to enter is computer technician. I feel like this is the best career for me because I am very familiar with computers, I use one everyday myself. In today’s society, everything is run by technology, which means there will be a high demand for jobs in this field. Back when I was in middle school, I didn’t know how to properly take care of my computer. Viruses just kept pouring into my computer and I had no idea what to do. As I grew up I asked for a lot of opinion and help on how to fix my computer and eventually I learned how to solve these issues myself. I have also received a job from Blizzard Entertainment before. With my experience, I believe that I will be a big help in this career field in the future. In this essay, I will be talking about pros and cons of being a computer technician and my reasons for choosing this career. I will also talk about how City Tech will prepare me for my future career.

A computer technician is a person who is responsible for repairing and maintaining computers and servers. Sometimes they may have to build and configure new hardware, install and update new software if it is required for the computer to run smoothly. To have better understanding in my decision to be in the computer system major pursing a job in the computer technician field it is useful to learn the following facts. The 2014-2015 New York City College of Technology Catalog tells us that “The computer system major will provide students with excellent communications, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, allowing students to anticipate the direction of technology, not just follow it.” (City tech, 285). In this degree program there are many different courses you can choose from like database system, network and security, IT operation, and software development. After I graduate with a degree in this major there are many career options that I can choose from. For example, computer technician, computer programmer, web designer, etc. With the education that I will be receiving at City Tech, I hope that I will able to make use of it in my future career or in another school. I am still debating if I should transfer to another college either way I will stay in the computer system major. I really hope that once I get out there into the field, I can help people troubleshoot their problems because when I had those problems on my computer I was really lost and hope someone can help me.

I remember back then there were advertisements everywhere over the web. Some of them actually had pretty persuasive things to say and as a kid I wouldn’t know better. It would tell me to install this, install that and my computer would end up with a ton of different viruses. It was so bad to the point that I would see the advertisements as I turn on my computer, not even opening my browser yet. There was really no one around me at that time who knew how to fix a computer so I went to my middle school’s computer teacher and he gave me a disk to reformat the whole computer. I never really talked to him before that happened but he really helped me out a lot. Every time I would have a problem he wouldn’t mind coming to my house to help me and teach me why certain things are happening to my computer. After graduating out of middle school, I started helping my friends fix their computer problems. After helping out my friends, I gained a lot of experience and knowledge on how the computer works. As I was fixing their computers there were many issues that I didn’t know how to solve but I found out myself. Like Margolis said, “In order to be able to fix and maintain a computer, you must know how it works.” (Margolis, 8). Even with so much experience there are much other issues that I have not seen or tried to solve yet so I hope I will learn more in City Tech. The picture above is my monitor and keyboard while I was editing my paper.

In our world, we are trying to improve technology steadily as time goes on so technology can make our daily lives much easier. Like Watkins said in his book, Computer Technology for technicians and technician engineers, “In less than seventy-five years we have seen progress from horse transport to space travel and from the cat’s whisker to the communication satellite.” (Watkins, 1). Who knows, in the next seventy-five years there might be an even bigger progression in technology. About a week ago, I went to eat dinner with family at this fancy hotel. I went to use the bathroom and with a click of a button the toilet seat cleans your buttocks. I remember my grandparents use to tell me that back then they didn’t even have toilets in China. This is how far technology have gotten. As you can see in the picture above, my professor is teaching the class using technology which is very clever of him. Most of my professors are also educating us through technology like posting lectures online and showing us slideshows through the projector. After graduating from college, everyone stresses about finding a job in the field they want to because it’s just so competitive out there. While you are looking for the job other people are too so I am trying to find a job where it might be a little easier. Like I said in the beginning, that in today’s society everything is run by technology which means there will be a high demand for jobs in this field. In Margolis’s Computer Technician’s Handbook he states that “If you want to become a computer technician, the time to develop those skills couldn’t be better.” (Margolis, 2).

If I enter the computer technician field, it would be an easier field for me than other career choices because I have all these knowledge and connections already. Not to mention that I already got a job offer in this field. I submitted my resume to Blizzard Entertainment and very surprisingly, they hired me to do server checks. Sadly, I can’t take the job offer because the hours are too long and I wouldn’t have time to go to school. I was told that if I was hired, I would have to do server maintenance for one of their newer games, Hearthstone. The game is relatively new so there is still many bugs and error in the game so if I do decide to take the job it would be long hours. I really wanted this job because I play games from Blizzard Entertainment and I love it. It would really be a pleasure for me to work for them. No matter how much I like the job, I don’t think it’s worth dropping out of school. If I were to ever get laid off or fired, finding a new job would be very difficult. I would be looking for a job in the computer technician field without a bachelor or any type of degree which is very difficult because like I said before, it’s really competitive in the work field. Everyone is trying to get the same job and they all have these other degrees and nice things on their resume. While mine doesn’t even have a bachelor’s degree on it? Not worth it.

In City Tech’s computer system degree program, they give you a lot of flexible courses so you can choose what you specifically want to learn about. In the computer system degree program they have over 50 courses to choose from. They have classes from foundations of computing to installing and maintaining web servers. One of the goals for the program is to “Prepare marketable candidates for position in the information technology field.” (City Tech, 287). I have also interviewed a professor that is working in City Tech’s computer system department. I wanted to know what would be some internship opportunities  so I interviewed Professor Milonas and she said “There are many opportunities for CST students to intern. Many positions are specific to the students’ interests such as networking, databases and technicians. The CST department has many partnerships with companies such as MTA, JP Morgan Chase, Department of Education and many more.” (Milonas, 4). I think it’s really great how the computer system department has connections to so many big companies all over New York. It may start as an internship but in the end it might end up as a career at that place. Overall, City Tech provides enough courses for you to take so you can be ready when you enter the field. They also provide you with many internship opportunities in big companies which is great for your career to get to know all these people and gain these experience.

If anyone is interested in entering this field, I would really recommend it to you because the main reason is that technology will keep improving. As long as new technology is being invented then people will be needed to create this technology. In my opinion, I think it’s the same concept with doctors. As long as we are alive, they are needed. As humans we look to be more innovated as days pass by, we need technology in our lives. Professor Milonas also said that “Most companies hire computer technician’s especially large companies such as the MTA or the Port Authority. Also universities, hospitals and retail stores are in need of computer technicians.” (Milonas, 3). My point is that this field is very big and many people are needed to maintain and repair these new technologies. If anyone is thinking about finding a job in the computer system field, City Tech is a safe way to start your journey.

WORKS CITES

Maguire, Byron. Handbook of Computer Maintenance and troubleshooting. Virginia. RESTON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. 1973. Print.

Margolis, Art. Computer Technician’s Handbook. USA. TAB BOOKS Inc. 1985. Print.

Milonas, Elizabeth. Email Interview. 6 December 2014.

New York City College of Technology (City Tech). College Catalog 2014-2015. 2014. PDF. 17       November 2014.

Tam Nicholas “This is all technology that revolves around us today” 7 December 2014. 7 December 2014.

Tam, Nicholas “This is my computer set up” Flickr. 6 December 2014. 7 December 2014.

Tam Nicholas “This is my professor teaching in an innovative way” 24 November 2014. 7 December 2014.

Watkin, R.V. Computer technology for technicians and technician engineers. USA. Longman Group Limited. 1976. Print

INTRODUCTION

This project gave me a opportunity to write down what i did on a certain day and reflect upon it. I also had to take pictures of the places i went to when i wrote down my thoughts. Last of all, I had to write an essay based on what i wrote and write a argumentative essay on it. The purpose of this project is to think back on the actions i take and make a plan for what i should do in the future.

THINKING IN WRITING

Woo, I’m finally awake.
I think I should go out and eat something.
Just kidding I’ll just cook food.
This soup is so hot, have to let it cool down.
This drama is getting good.
Time to go out to play basketball.
This game is too intense.
I want to go home and take a shower.
Should i eat dinner at home or with my friends tonight?
Popeye’s, tonight it is.
Why is it so expensive?
Thank god I have my bike to go places.
Showering after playing ball is the best.
Time for some computer games.
This game pisses me off so much, i don’t know why i play it.
Its getting late should i sleep?
These videos are keeping me up, they’re so funny.
Now I’m tired, going to pass out.

THINKING VISUALLY

This is the kind of soup that i drank. I love canned soup, It’s so easy to make and warms my heart. It’s perfect for the cold weather outside and it fills me up.

This is a picture of me and my friends biking around the neighborhood, looking at the sunset. We always bike around the time when it’s sunset because we want to see the sight of the sun go down.

This is a picture of my desktop screen and my keyboard. League of Legends is the game that i always play before i go to sleep and it gets me so frustrated.

THINKING RHETORICALLY  

Hello, my name is Nicholas Tam. I am still seventeen years old unfortunately due to the fact that i have a late birthday. It is on November seventeen, coming soon but still quite not eighteen yet. I was the only sibling until my sister was born couple years ago.  I am currently a student at New York City College of Technology, first year. I’m suppose to major in computer systems but I want to transfer school, I didn’t want to take a class that other schools might not have. Thankfully i only have school 2 days of the week but my days are long. I don’t know if i can handle the stress when midterm and final time come because it’s going to be test after test. I will be arguing that what i am thinking right now is not focused on my future success.

The day that i wrote my thinking was one of the days where i didn’t have school so i woke up really late in the afternoon because i stay up late night to watch movies. I usually eat when it is afternoon so i needed something to eat but I didn’t feel like making something hard to make. So i just went with my favorite canned soup. While drinking my warm soup, it was time for my daily drama. While i was half way through my drama, my friends texted me and asked me if I wanted to go out and play basketball. The weather was nice so I said yes. A lot of my friends came so we got a full court game going on, everyone was hot and sweaty. It was a very intense game but in the end my team lost. It was a really good game though. I live really close to that park so I bike home in a second and took a shower. I was really in the mood for some Popeye’s because its been a while since i had fried chicken. I went to grab some Popeye’s with my friends. I use to know a friend that works in Popeye’s so he gave us chicken for free but ever sine he quit we haven’t went. This is the first time in a while that i paid for Popeye’s chicken, boy it is expensive. After that I biked home and play my computer game. It’s a game you play with five people, the game requires a lot of experience and skill. Most of the time when you are not doing that others expect you do, they look down on you and yell at you. That’s why this game gets me really mad sometimes. It’s getting late, I think I should go sleep but I just found some old funny videos of people doing stupid things. i was watching those for a while because I think it’s hilarious when people do stupid things. After a while my eyes got tired and i just laid on my bed and fell asleep.

Many times have my parents asked me what i want to do in the future and i told them i just don’t know yet. i haven’t decided on something i really like to do for a career. They told me i should do something that can make enough money so i can take care of myself. Since i was born my parents really had their own business and they really got me everything i wanted and needed. I really didn’t think that the time would come when I would have to start being independent. I’m more of a kind of person that just really let things flow. If my parents really don’t force me, I just choose to do what is fun for myself and i go do it. Like in (Paragraph 9) “Should i eat dinner at home or with my friends?” they don’t force me to go home to eat dinner and I felt like eating Popeye so I went and ate Popeye with my friends.

I thought about working for a gaming company because i actually did get a job offer from one of my favorite games: Hearthstone. Their company is Blizzard Entertainment, and they offered me a job to do server maintenance. I couldn’t take the job because it requires you to be on the server for quite a bit of hours due to the fact that the game has only been released for a mere year. Computer is one of my better subjects but a lot of my friends are better than me at what i do.

I have to admit that i have been slacking and really sitting back and letting things happen. So i haven’t been thinking about my future too much. Most of the things i do is hang out with my friends, go out to different places to eat, go biking, and stay home to play computer games. Sometimes i pick up jobs from my friends that are bike messenger and do one or two jobs for them because they pay me back and treat me to drinks so i don’t mind. Biking is one of my bigger hobbies. If there was something i ever thought about doing in the future it would be being a bike messenger because I’m already half of one. I’m pretty sure my parents wouldn’t like it if i become a bike messenger because it is really dangerous biking in the streets of NYC. Those taxi drivers really hate bikers, they would never yield to them. After college if i really can’t find anything i like to do, i plan on opening my own bike shop. That is the only thing i have been seriously thinking about towards my future. In the end, who knows what events will unfold in the future. The future is a mystery to us all, that’s why I want to sit back and watch these moments happen.

WORKS CITED

aznfatty17 (Nicholas Tam) ” Re: Project 1: thinking in writing” Openlab. ENG1101 D377 English composition 1, FA2014 1:02 19, Sept. 2014 Web 14 Oct. 2014

Tam, Nicholas “My soup of the day” Flickr. 14, Oct. 2014 14 Oct, 2014

Tam Nicholas “Biking with my boys” Flickr 9 Oct. 2014 14 Oct, 2014

Tam Nicholas “This computer game that gets me pissed off” Flickr 14, Oct. 2014 14 Oct. 2014