In June 2018, Tiffany Wong (BS in Computer Science, '18) addressed her fellow classmates at the College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) commencement ceremony in the Daskalakis Athletic Center. During her time as a student, Wong served as a Dean's Ambassador, a CCI Computer Science Teaching Assistant, and a member of both Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity and Drexel's Women in Computing Society (WiCS). As a student, she followed her passion for travel by studying abroad in both Hong Kong and Japan, and visiting South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Since graduating, Wong has worked at Comcast as a Front-End Developer.
CCI: What has life been like after Drexel?
Tiffany Wong: Pretty great actually! I moved out of my parents' place (RIP commuter life), paid off my student loans, and just came back from a family vacation in Taiwan and Japan. It's really satisfying to slowly accomplish the goals I've set for myself since graduating.
CCI: Tell us a little bit about what you're doing for Comcast. How did co-op prepare you for your career?
TW: I'm a front-end developer for the prototyping team. Our latest project involved working with the Google team in New York. Using their voice technology, we created an alternate experience for customers to find the perfect internet package and walk them through technical support. My team is relatively small so we are able to involve ourselves with aspects such as user experience design/testing and project management which prevents me from getting bored!
CCI: Any other projects/activities you've been involved with since graduating from Drexel?
TW: Since I no longer have to worry about homework or exams, I've finally been able to devote some time to several of my hobbies. The ones I've been focused on lately are photography and design. My friends and I will schedule time to go out into the city and take photos which also has the added benefit of helping us stay in contact. Outside of that, I've been teaching myself Photoshop and challenging myself to design things for my friends.
CCI: How did your experiences in your co-ops and internships influence your career post-graduation?
TW: They helped me figure out that I am passionate about human-computer interaction and user experience before I graduated. I was able to get a head start on figuring out what topics were covered in classes and what I had to teach myself outside of Drexel in order to be a better front-end developer.
CCI: How did your experiences outside the classroom assist you in your personal and professional development?
TW: Outside of the classroom, I worked as a TA for 4 years on top of various work study positions. These opportunities exposed me to different technology that supplemented my experience at Drexel. I'm also an avid traveler. By exposing myself to different scenarios, it has helped me think outside the norm and meet people from all over the world. I would be a lot less confident without my work and traveling experiences.
CCI: What advice would you give to students hoping to break into the computing field?
TW: For students in general, find something you're passionate about and start your own project. It's the best way to learn outside of class and will help you stand out in interviews. I also recommend combining your project with your other hobbies if you need inspiration. My website was actually one of the major factors that helped me get my job even before I came in for the interview!
CCI: Any advice for graduating students?
TW: Learn how to cook. It's much better for you physically and financially. If you have no experience like me, start off with easy recipes or utilize a meal kit service.