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When I was growing up, one of my favorite hobbies was astronomy. There was no software out at that time, so I wrote my own. And that's how I got my start. My strengths are I can do almost anything computer based. I have a wide range of abilities in computer. So I took a job at the casino, just down the road there, as their network manager. Couple of weeks later, I saw an ad in the paper for programming job here. So I applied, got the job and two months after I started the casino, I was working here as a Java programmer. A lot of engineering went into how these canals were built. There's a lot of food that won't be grown if we weren't here. Cuz when you look at the project as a whole, it's mind numbing. But when you can break it down, and do each individual part, then put them all together and you'll see that that project actually works. That's how I do it. I've come up against obstacles, but I've always persevered through them. It's been rough, but I never accepted a failure, I just kept pushing through it. 

Software is moving too quickly to sit on the sidelines and watch. Go out there and take classes, learn new ways to solve problems. There are wonderful online video courses you can use to expand your learning and never be ashamed to ask questions. Times and technology change fast, so be sure to follow the cheese! If you are not familiar with the cheese analogy then be sure to read "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

When I stepped down from my role as Vice President and Director, it hurt. I felt like I had finally made it, but the managerial tasks were taking me away from what I really loved to do. Leaving was a blessing in disguise. 

Software programming is challenging. There are a lot of languages that you have to know and it's always changing and updating. Every time I have to learn a new language, it takes a lot of time and research.

My dad died when I was 7 and I was raised primarily by my mother. When I was young, she pushed me to just get a job, any job, so I didn't get a lot of support for my interests.

My day begins with checking email which has reports from the servers on the network. This shows me what Backups failed, system health, server status, and general health of the network. After I am satisfied that things are humming along, I start up the IDE needed for the project I am currently programming and get to work. There are also moments I take to read up on technology news, latest hacking threats, and a game of Freecell or two.

Software Engineer, System Administrator

You should just give up and settle for less.

Mel Irizarry

About Mel

Mel Irizarry

About Mel

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