Poll: What do you do for a living?
I'm a programmer (C++, databases, &...) and have to thank VIC-20 for this. It all started with the sound effects type-ins contained in the VIC20 manual that I could not save to tape because I didn't have the cassette unit! I started to experiment, learn, end eventually programming became my second nature.
Huh. I never answered this question. Got a few minutes? This will take a while...
I fell in love with computers early on. I think I was 12 when I got my first computer; a Vic 20. Prior to that, we had PETs in our school; but you had to be a teacher's favourite to get any decent amount of time on those. I was lucky to get half an hour a month, if that; begging my parents for a Vic 20 seemed like the only way.
Now, I should mention here how screwed up some of the teachers were in my public school. In grade 8, we had to pick out our high school courses, which would dictate our career path. We were told that we could no longer count on good paying labour jobs at places like General Motors; the biggest employer in our area. I knew what I wanted to do; I wanted to work with computers. My guidance teacher advised me that there was no such job; that while there were jobs that involved using a computer, there were no actual computer jobs. When I asked her about the people that program computers, she laughed and told me that she didn't think I had the aptitude for it, and advised me that if I wanted to use computers, I should get into business and become a manager or something. Thus, I selected business courses.
I ought to tell you that I found these business courses dry and completely uninteresting. We had to take a mandatory shop class in grade 9, to expose us to four different shop classes. I picked the one that included electrical, automobile mechanics, woodworking, and drafting. We were broken up into semesters (the first to do so in Ontario), so it was two per semester. While my mind went numb in the business classes, it was afire in the shop classes. I switched my focus to electric class; my strongest subject.
We moved when I was about to start grade 12. I had electric class up to grade 11, but the new school I went to didn't offer it past grade 10. They had an auto shop class, so I took that. We had a project where we could work on our own cars; the teacher had a bias against Japanese imports, so he would not allow me to work on my Mazda. I felt this entirely unfair, so I dropped that class and switched back to business classes; economics, accounting, and so on. Big mistake. I forced myself through it, and even went on to college taking Business Administration. I dropped out in the middle of my first year.
Meanwhile, I had always had a computer. Around this time, I had my Amiga 500. I worked as a security guard and did some manual labour on the side, and ran a BBS from my A500. Writing the menus and such required some programming skill. One night, working security, I was talking to an engineer who finally set me straight. He told me the truth about teachers; that they really don't know what they're doing half the time, are certainly not experts, and they teach because they can't do (those who can do, those who can't teach). No offense to Jeff; I'm just repeating what he said, and naturally this doesn't apply to ALL teachers. He saw I was good with computers, and encouraged me to go back to school.
I went to Loyalist College for 3 years in Information Systems. I achieved an A average, and worked at the College as both a peer tutor and a lab technician. I worked a summer at EDS, but found the petty bureaucratic bullshit to be stifling, to say the least. The work was boring, and the pay wasn't good at all. At the time, Nortel programmers started at $40k/year, while EDS started out at just under $30k/year. Some long-term programmers there were only making $33k/year.
I got a co-op placement at a local business in Belleville, where I decided to work afterwards. Unfortunately, after I graduated, he was only willing to pay me just a little more than minimum wage! I told him thanks, but no thanks, and went to work for Apple Canada in Markham.
Let me tell you a little about Apple. It is a culture like no other. They take their computers VERY seriously and personally; it's almost like a religion. At the time, I was a a PC user running OS/2 Warp. I gave the Mac a fair chance; I really did, but OS 7.x just didn't measure up to OS/2. Really, I soon discovered that the Mac OS wasn't everything it was cracked up to be. They tried running department databases on Macs using Apple software, and it was dreadfully slow. Lock-ups were very common. Add to this, this was around the time that they were selling the Performa; a rather dreadful machine that was outsourced. I tried; I really did try to like Apple, but I liked OS/2 better. My honesty made me some bitter enemies. I realized to get anywhere at Apple, I had to blindly worship the Mac. It was like trying to convince myself that Santa Claus was real. I had to move on.
Luckily, I landed the perfect job. The Ontario government needed their school board systems to be made Y2k compliant. Most of these systems were written in COBOL, and I was one of the best COBOL programmers around. The conservative government at the time made the school boards outsource things like this to private companies, which was what this company started out as. It was a great place to work. They were results-oriented, which meant that as long as I completed my work by the deadline, everything was cool. I could come and go as I pleased; just as long as I was there for the important meetings. I could dress as I pleased, just as long as I dressed in a shirt and tie on the rare occasions when they'd bring new potential clients through the office. We played a lot of Quake on the corporate network, and I became addicted to Napster. I also completed all of my work well ahead of schedule because COBOL was like second nature. Best of all, the pay was pretty decent.
So, what happened? Y2k came. All of our software rolled over flawlessly. The owner of this nice little company sold it to shareholders, where it was bought by a bigger company. Suddenly, everything changed. We moved to a cheaper building. I had to complete this stupid on-line form showing what I was doing in every minute of the day I was there. Results-oriented was gone; this was bureaucracy at its worst. No more coming and going as I pleased. No more jeans and T-shirt. When I negotiated my next raise based on my performance and increased cost of living, I was told it wasn't enough; that I was expected to take courses which would cost me more than the amount of my raise. My manager told me they didn't care about the cost of living; that if I wanted that, I should work in the union at General Motors. This was when this company increased the prices of their products and services, due to the increased cost of doing business!
Then came the Nortel layoffs. The writing was on the wall. I knew I would be next. I stuck to my guns as long as I could, advising them about the terms and conditions I agreed to when I was hired while the other programmers got scared and did as they were told. I got into real estate at this time, flipping houses and making a tidy profit from that, so I wasn't worried. We inevitably got laid off, and they brought in cheap immigrants to replace us. They got what they paid for; one of them completely trashed some of my systems. They wanted me to come in and fix it, but didn't want to hire me back on. I told them where I filed the hardcopy of the source code, advised them that it may only take two to three weeks to program back in, and bid them adieu.
I enjoyed UI for a while, and used the time to fix up things around the house; just before my UI ran out, I landed a two year contract with IBM. It was tough; I had to write a test and score 80% or better. Out of over 600 applicants, 20 of us passed that test. After that, it was a few weeks at IBM school. Only eight of us made the cut from there. I quite enjoyed the process; I found it both challenging and stimulating. I was in IBM school the day the world trade towers collapsed.
Halfway through my contract, things were getting worse. People were being let go; only the highest performers remained. A lot of our work was being outsourced. One guy in our group landed a really good job with a competitor, and then started head-hunting, eventually obliterating our top line. I knew our department wasn't going to last much longer. I asked my manager if I could get a look at the internal job postings to see where I should focus my training on; he told me I couldn't see those. An hour later, my supervisor pulled me into her office and told me that soliciting IBM for work while under contract would be grounds for terminating the contract. The backstabbing that went on there was relentless; there was other stuff, but I'm not here to air out dirty laundry. Suffice it to say, I had enough.
All my contacts could come up with was more contract work; a lot of it in sweatshop conditions. I realized I didn't even know where I stood anymore. Then I thought about what my last manager had said about General Motors and the union. I also recalled what that engineer told me about my teacher being wrong. So I poured myself a very stiff drink, and set out to write a cover letter and resume for a job on the assembly line at General Motors. At the time, I was venting. I don't recall dropping it off, but I suppose I did; two months later, I got the call. I went through the interview process. The pay and benefits were irresistible; I knew I had nothing to lose at this point of the game.
That was over five years ago. I've since lost most of the weight and stress I used to have as a programmer/technician. I also have a lot more free time to pursue other interests and hobbies. I can't say what the future will bring to the automotive industry, but I haven't been affected by the layoffs yet. Not that it worries me; I've been there and done that.
I fell in love with computers early on. I think I was 12 when I got my first computer; a Vic 20. Prior to that, we had PETs in our school; but you had to be a teacher's favourite to get any decent amount of time on those. I was lucky to get half an hour a month, if that; begging my parents for a Vic 20 seemed like the only way.
Now, I should mention here how screwed up some of the teachers were in my public school. In grade 8, we had to pick out our high school courses, which would dictate our career path. We were told that we could no longer count on good paying labour jobs at places like General Motors; the biggest employer in our area. I knew what I wanted to do; I wanted to work with computers. My guidance teacher advised me that there was no such job; that while there were jobs that involved using a computer, there were no actual computer jobs. When I asked her about the people that program computers, she laughed and told me that she didn't think I had the aptitude for it, and advised me that if I wanted to use computers, I should get into business and become a manager or something. Thus, I selected business courses.
I ought to tell you that I found these business courses dry and completely uninteresting. We had to take a mandatory shop class in grade 9, to expose us to four different shop classes. I picked the one that included electrical, automobile mechanics, woodworking, and drafting. We were broken up into semesters (the first to do so in Ontario), so it was two per semester. While my mind went numb in the business classes, it was afire in the shop classes. I switched my focus to electric class; my strongest subject.
We moved when I was about to start grade 12. I had electric class up to grade 11, but the new school I went to didn't offer it past grade 10. They had an auto shop class, so I took that. We had a project where we could work on our own cars; the teacher had a bias against Japanese imports, so he would not allow me to work on my Mazda. I felt this entirely unfair, so I dropped that class and switched back to business classes; economics, accounting, and so on. Big mistake. I forced myself through it, and even went on to college taking Business Administration. I dropped out in the middle of my first year.
Meanwhile, I had always had a computer. Around this time, I had my Amiga 500. I worked as a security guard and did some manual labour on the side, and ran a BBS from my A500. Writing the menus and such required some programming skill. One night, working security, I was talking to an engineer who finally set me straight. He told me the truth about teachers; that they really don't know what they're doing half the time, are certainly not experts, and they teach because they can't do (those who can do, those who can't teach). No offense to Jeff; I'm just repeating what he said, and naturally this doesn't apply to ALL teachers. He saw I was good with computers, and encouraged me to go back to school.
I went to Loyalist College for 3 years in Information Systems. I achieved an A average, and worked at the College as both a peer tutor and a lab technician. I worked a summer at EDS, but found the petty bureaucratic bullshit to be stifling, to say the least. The work was boring, and the pay wasn't good at all. At the time, Nortel programmers started at $40k/year, while EDS started out at just under $30k/year. Some long-term programmers there were only making $33k/year.
I got a co-op placement at a local business in Belleville, where I decided to work afterwards. Unfortunately, after I graduated, he was only willing to pay me just a little more than minimum wage! I told him thanks, but no thanks, and went to work for Apple Canada in Markham.
Let me tell you a little about Apple. It is a culture like no other. They take their computers VERY seriously and personally; it's almost like a religion. At the time, I was a a PC user running OS/2 Warp. I gave the Mac a fair chance; I really did, but OS 7.x just didn't measure up to OS/2. Really, I soon discovered that the Mac OS wasn't everything it was cracked up to be. They tried running department databases on Macs using Apple software, and it was dreadfully slow. Lock-ups were very common. Add to this, this was around the time that they were selling the Performa; a rather dreadful machine that was outsourced. I tried; I really did try to like Apple, but I liked OS/2 better. My honesty made me some bitter enemies. I realized to get anywhere at Apple, I had to blindly worship the Mac. It was like trying to convince myself that Santa Claus was real. I had to move on.
Luckily, I landed the perfect job. The Ontario government needed their school board systems to be made Y2k compliant. Most of these systems were written in COBOL, and I was one of the best COBOL programmers around. The conservative government at the time made the school boards outsource things like this to private companies, which was what this company started out as. It was a great place to work. They were results-oriented, which meant that as long as I completed my work by the deadline, everything was cool. I could come and go as I pleased; just as long as I was there for the important meetings. I could dress as I pleased, just as long as I dressed in a shirt and tie on the rare occasions when they'd bring new potential clients through the office. We played a lot of Quake on the corporate network, and I became addicted to Napster. I also completed all of my work well ahead of schedule because COBOL was like second nature. Best of all, the pay was pretty decent.
So, what happened? Y2k came. All of our software rolled over flawlessly. The owner of this nice little company sold it to shareholders, where it was bought by a bigger company. Suddenly, everything changed. We moved to a cheaper building. I had to complete this stupid on-line form showing what I was doing in every minute of the day I was there. Results-oriented was gone; this was bureaucracy at its worst. No more coming and going as I pleased. No more jeans and T-shirt. When I negotiated my next raise based on my performance and increased cost of living, I was told it wasn't enough; that I was expected to take courses which would cost me more than the amount of my raise. My manager told me they didn't care about the cost of living; that if I wanted that, I should work in the union at General Motors. This was when this company increased the prices of their products and services, due to the increased cost of doing business!
Then came the Nortel layoffs. The writing was on the wall. I knew I would be next. I stuck to my guns as long as I could, advising them about the terms and conditions I agreed to when I was hired while the other programmers got scared and did as they were told. I got into real estate at this time, flipping houses and making a tidy profit from that, so I wasn't worried. We inevitably got laid off, and they brought in cheap immigrants to replace us. They got what they paid for; one of them completely trashed some of my systems. They wanted me to come in and fix it, but didn't want to hire me back on. I told them where I filed the hardcopy of the source code, advised them that it may only take two to three weeks to program back in, and bid them adieu.
I enjoyed UI for a while, and used the time to fix up things around the house; just before my UI ran out, I landed a two year contract with IBM. It was tough; I had to write a test and score 80% or better. Out of over 600 applicants, 20 of us passed that test. After that, it was a few weeks at IBM school. Only eight of us made the cut from there. I quite enjoyed the process; I found it both challenging and stimulating. I was in IBM school the day the world trade towers collapsed.
Halfway through my contract, things were getting worse. People were being let go; only the highest performers remained. A lot of our work was being outsourced. One guy in our group landed a really good job with a competitor, and then started head-hunting, eventually obliterating our top line. I knew our department wasn't going to last much longer. I asked my manager if I could get a look at the internal job postings to see where I should focus my training on; he told me I couldn't see those. An hour later, my supervisor pulled me into her office and told me that soliciting IBM for work while under contract would be grounds for terminating the contract. The backstabbing that went on there was relentless; there was other stuff, but I'm not here to air out dirty laundry. Suffice it to say, I had enough.
All my contacts could come up with was more contract work; a lot of it in sweatshop conditions. I realized I didn't even know where I stood anymore. Then I thought about what my last manager had said about General Motors and the union. I also recalled what that engineer told me about my teacher being wrong. So I poured myself a very stiff drink, and set out to write a cover letter and resume for a job on the assembly line at General Motors. At the time, I was venting. I don't recall dropping it off, but I suppose I did; two months later, I got the call. I went through the interview process. The pay and benefits were irresistible; I knew I had nothing to lose at this point of the game.
That was over five years ago. I've since lost most of the weight and stress I used to have as a programmer/technician. I also have a lot more free time to pursue other interests and hobbies. I can't say what the future will bring to the automotive industry, but I haven't been affected by the layoffs yet. Not that it worries me; I've been there and done that.
I too realized I never answered this the last time. I majored in history at the university, with minors in journalism and English. Worked as a journalist for a few years before becoming a technical writer for telecom giant Ericsson (well, a giant back in 2000, not so much now). Was laid off in 2003 as part of their huge downsizing from 115,000 employees to 35,000. A few ups and downs since then, but now I'm back as a technical writer in software and telecom, this time for a consultant firm. My current assignment is with a telecom company. I'm happy with my job so far.
Bacon
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Das rubbernecken Sichtseeren keepen das cotton-pickenen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watschen die Blinkenlichten.
-------------------------------------------------------
Das rubbernecken Sichtseeren keepen das cotton-pickenen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watschen die Blinkenlichten.
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eslapion
- ultimate expander
- Posts: 5037
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
- Location: Canada
- Occupation: 8bit addict
Worked as a phototypesetting technician and desktop publishing technician between 1990 and 1996. I worked on both Amiga and Macintosh computers.
Got an MCSE certification in the late 90s. Worked in network management until late 2000. Was laid off by Alcatel (formerly Newbridge Networks) along with about 5000 other people when the telecoms crahsed.
Then I moved on to electrical engineering in 2001. I presently work as an academic researcher in electrical engineering for the Université du Québec's ETS. My Bachelor's degree in EE is not yet complete.
Got an MCSE certification in the late 90s. Worked in network management until late 2000. Was laid off by Alcatel (formerly Newbridge Networks) along with about 5000 other people when the telecoms crahsed.
Then I moved on to electrical engineering in 2001. I presently work as an academic researcher in electrical engineering for the Université du Québec's ETS. My Bachelor's degree in EE is not yet complete.
That's cool. I still use PageStream on the Amiga as my main desktop publishing program. It's served me well, doing several CD covers that went to actual commercial sale. It's good value for the money and still being developed for many platforms (including the Amiga).eslapion wrote:Worked as a phototypesetting technician and desktop publishing technician between 1990 and 1996. I worked on both Amiga and Macintosh computers.
Did you use that application?
I'm using it with a 68040 processor, but would love to have a 68060 in there (too expensive, though).
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eslapion
- ultimate expander
- Posts: 5037
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
- Location: Canada
- Occupation: 8bit addict
Unfortunately, PageStream was an absolute bummer when it came to making sure the PostScript code was properly formatted for output on high end machines.
We had too many costly experiences with that and the maker of that software couldn't care less because the output came out fine on cheap raster printers.
We had to go for Professional Page. We stayed on it until we went to QuarkXpress on the Mac and even the Amiga was more or less converted into a Mac by the addition of a Picasso card and Emplant.
When I worked for Dumoulin, we had an Amiga 2000 with Fusion Forty accelerator.
When I worked for CompuArt, I used a 3000T with Mercury accelerator. The owner of that small shop later sold me the mercury and I still have it at home in my own A3000D.
Most of my work was outputted on a CG9800 AGFA/Compugraphic imagesetter. A machine worth in excess of 100'000$
I also scanned images on an Optronics Colorgetter. A drum scanner than employed a photomultiplier tube. This machine was worth around 80'000$.
We had too many costly experiences with that and the maker of that software couldn't care less because the output came out fine on cheap raster printers.
We had to go for Professional Page. We stayed on it until we went to QuarkXpress on the Mac and even the Amiga was more or less converted into a Mac by the addition of a Picasso card and Emplant.
When I worked for Dumoulin, we had an Amiga 2000 with Fusion Forty accelerator.
When I worked for CompuArt, I used a 3000T with Mercury accelerator. The owner of that small shop later sold me the mercury and I still have it at home in my own A3000D.
Most of my work was outputted on a CG9800 AGFA/Compugraphic imagesetter. A machine worth in excess of 100'000$
I also scanned images on an Optronics Colorgetter. A drum scanner than employed a photomultiplier tube. This machine was worth around 80'000$.
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Centallica
- Pinballer
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:26 am
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Centallica
- Pinballer
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:26 am
During the 80's I too wanted to be in computers but the science and math requirements scared the crap out of me for post secondary school.
Instead, having exposure to messed up Headbangers as friends, I went into college for Social Work with intentions of working in drug rehab or youth.
Ended up specializing in employment after working at Youth Employment Services. Continued my education in Career Development Practitioner (Post Diploma), Certified Life Skills Coach and Certified True Colors Instructor. I'm finishing my 3rd year of a 4 year degree program in Human Services part-time and may go onto getting my Masters in Counselling afterwards.
I work for the Job Connect Program (Provincially funded by the Government). I career counsel people in career decision making, job search techniques, apprenticeships, school options etc.
I work with everyone but specialize in foreign trained professionals. Last count I've counselled people from 77 different countries and learn about their culture, working in their country and have a life changing impact on families helping them into their careers here in Canada!
I job develop to find employers that match their qualifications, call the employer up sell the client to them and do a job placement for them. I get to see all different work places and how they operate. I learn about all different occupations, their duties and wages etc.
Most recent success....a newcomer from China with his MA in Electronic Engineering specializing in embedded software....wasn't getting any bites from employers....I got him his first Canadian job working on GPS technology for an employer...very happy guy
If you're an employer in the Greater Toronto Area with Professional Career Vacancies...pm me and I'll help you find some great people for you at no charge (actually our program may offer a wage subsidy to offset the training costs of giving one of our clients a opportunity)...
And you guys thought I was in the porn selling business I bet
Instead, having exposure to messed up Headbangers as friends, I went into college for Social Work with intentions of working in drug rehab or youth.
Ended up specializing in employment after working at Youth Employment Services. Continued my education in Career Development Practitioner (Post Diploma), Certified Life Skills Coach and Certified True Colors Instructor. I'm finishing my 3rd year of a 4 year degree program in Human Services part-time and may go onto getting my Masters in Counselling afterwards.
I work for the Job Connect Program (Provincially funded by the Government). I career counsel people in career decision making, job search techniques, apprenticeships, school options etc.
I work with everyone but specialize in foreign trained professionals. Last count I've counselled people from 77 different countries and learn about their culture, working in their country and have a life changing impact on families helping them into their careers here in Canada!
I job develop to find employers that match their qualifications, call the employer up sell the client to them and do a job placement for them. I get to see all different work places and how they operate. I learn about all different occupations, their duties and wages etc.
Most recent success....a newcomer from China with his MA in Electronic Engineering specializing in embedded software....wasn't getting any bites from employers....I got him his first Canadian job working on GPS technology for an employer...very happy guy
If you're an employer in the Greater Toronto Area with Professional Career Vacancies...pm me and I'll help you find some great people for you at no charge (actually our program may offer a wage subsidy to offset the training costs of giving one of our clients a opportunity)...
And you guys thought I was in the porn selling business I bet
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TheOlMaestro
- Vic 20 Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:22 pm
I am a musician by trade, in the churchy area of music: Choir, handbells, and the expectation of being able to turn out arrangements for kazoo, clarinet, tuba and viola in the blink of an eye, so notation programs and audio software are part and parcel of what I do.
The first computer I learned intimately was a VIC-20. While I was learning the VIC, I became contract labor at a little Commodore book and software publisher named Abacus. I moved on to C-64, C-128, and PC, as did Abacus (oh, they took a trip into Amigaland, but I didn't). I returned to music full-time, but still do occasional contract work for the Abacab.
--Gene
The first computer I learned intimately was a VIC-20. While I was learning the VIC, I became contract labor at a little Commodore book and software publisher named Abacus. I moved on to C-64, C-128, and PC, as did Abacus (oh, they took a trip into Amigaland, but I didn't). I returned to music full-time, but still do occasional contract work for the Abacab.
--Gene
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eslapion
- ultimate expander
- Posts: 5037
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
- Location: Canada
- Occupation: 8bit addict
Please note, I too was scared of the math and science requirements of post secondary education.
In fact, even if I had my high school degree, I finished advanced high school maths at the age of 31. Once I looked at the scores I got then all fears vanished.
I am now done with all math courses related to the EE program. The lowest score I got in any of these courses was A-.
In fact, even if I had my high school degree, I finished advanced high school maths at the age of 31. Once I looked at the scores I got then all fears vanished.
I am now done with all math courses related to the EE program. The lowest score I got in any of these courses was A-.
I completed a degree in computer science at the university, but
when I graduated back in '90 there was not much for computer
jobs available here.
I was working part time as a maintenance tech for the univ. during
my student days, and that turned full time while I looked for
a computer gig after graduation.
I was happy doing that work, and I met some wonderful people, and
I was able to apprentice as an electrician. Pay raises and
promotions followed a journeyman license, but the univ. pay was
far below what 'real world' electricians were getting.
Ten years ago a job as electrician opened up a major hospital in
Lincoln, and I've been there ever since. I get to use my comp sci
background a little, too, with all the systems we have to take care of
there. Although it wasn't a job requirement, I applied and received
my 'contractors' license. With the required insurance, I can now
do work legally 'on the side', mostly for friends and family, but I take
on a paying job once and a while to get some extra cash.
when I graduated back in '90 there was not much for computer
jobs available here.
I was working part time as a maintenance tech for the univ. during
my student days, and that turned full time while I looked for
a computer gig after graduation.
I was happy doing that work, and I met some wonderful people, and
I was able to apprentice as an electrician. Pay raises and
promotions followed a journeyman license, but the univ. pay was
far below what 'real world' electricians were getting.
Ten years ago a job as electrician opened up a major hospital in
Lincoln, and I've been there ever since. I get to use my comp sci
background a little, too, with all the systems we have to take care of
there. Although it wasn't a job requirement, I applied and received
my 'contractors' license. With the required insurance, I can now
do work legally 'on the side', mostly for friends and family, but I take
on a paying job once and a while to get some extra cash.
If you document it, its not a bug, its a feature.
~
You can have peace, or you can have freedom. Just don't count on having them both at once.
~
There was a time, before we were born. If someone asks, this is where I'll be.
~
You can have peace, or you can have freedom. Just don't count on having them both at once.
~
There was a time, before we were born. If someone asks, this is where I'll be.
i currently assemble and repair circuit boards/assemblies for a major government communications contractor here in Rochester (ie - i solder boards all day long for a living). not sure how long i'll be there though, they don't seem to place much value on employee worth. 
i plan to study EE and computer programming (8-bit only, of course
), and i must say that i'm further encouraged by Eslapion's experiences.
i've also been quite involved in electronic music/synths/drum machines/samplers/etc for the past ten years or so. this is actually what led me to the C64/Vic-20 in the first place.
i hope to become a valuable asset to the C64/Vic-20 community over the next few years, as long as i'm able to get my shit together...
i plan to study EE and computer programming (8-bit only, of course
), and i must say that i'm further encouraged by Eslapion's experiences.i've also been quite involved in electronic music/synths/drum machines/samplers/etc for the past ten years or so. this is actually what led me to the C64/Vic-20 in the first place.
i hope to become a valuable asset to the C64/Vic-20 community over the next few years, as long as i'm able to get my shit together...
I have a friend who does this in Calgary, Centallica. I can't remember if I heard it from him, or if I heard it on a CBC radio show, but I've heard that highly qualified immigrants who just can't get an interview when they use their real name (like "M'butu" or "Muhammed") sometimes change their name on the resume to "John" or "Robert" or "Judy" and they get called right away!Centallica wrote:I work with everyone but specialize in foreign trained professionals. Last count I've counselled people from 77 different countries and learn about their culture, working in their country and have a life changing impact on families helping them into their careers here in Canada!
That's kind of sad.
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Centallica
- Pinballer
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:26 am
From my post-youth experience of post-secondary education, I think our maturity and life experiences of handling difficult situations allows us to concour our fears in things later in life and it's a greater achievement for us that had difficulties in high school to know become honours students (and thus my reason for working on my Hons. Degree at 40 years of age because I always wanted to achieve this but was low self-esteem to do so when I was young).eslapion wrote:Please note, I too was scared of the math and science requirements of post secondary education.
In fact, even if I had my high school degree, I finished advanced high school maths at the age of 31. Once I looked at the scores I got then all fears vanished.
I am now done with all math courses related to the EE program. The lowest score I got in any of these courses was A-.
You must have also similar great sense of accomplishments too Eslapion from you high school days until now. I respect people that do something oppose to whine about wishing I had done something