“Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand” ~ Martin Fowler
By: Stephanie Suazo
For today’s blog, we’ve interviewed Learnabi’s software engineers! They were eager to share their experiences and what they have learned over the summer. Learnabi’s CTO, Katherine Suazo, told us that she is very proud of her team and all the work they’ve done. The Learnabi team has been very blessed to have such an incredible group of people working by our side. Let’s meet our engineers!
Leah Benitez
To check out more of Leah’s interview, visit our TikTok!
College: Lehman College
Position: iOS Backend Engineer
“I have a passion for actually doing things that can help people”
1) What inspired you to become a software engineer?
“I was going through some personal issues and ended up having to talk to the vice president at the IT department…Then she told me that she thinks that computer science would be perfect for me because I love math and I was still undecided what I wanted to do. She told me to take an introduction class. I don’t really have a deep or personal reason, just somebody put me on a path and then I ended up loving it. It’s [software engineering] pretty much a nice blend of logic and creativity”
2) What is your biggest challenge as a software engineer?
“It’s probably a combination of being new to everything and imposter syndrome. I only like just this summer I got started in web development and mobile app development. Yeah it’s been a tough summer. It’s important to be kind to yourself and not to let doubts hold you back”
3) What inspired you to join the Learnabi team?
“I have a lot of experience with service so I worked at an environmental nonprofit for two summers, where I led volunteer groups in restoring Bronx parks because they are a mess. Basically they have very little funding. Then I went to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane Maria and stuff. So I kind of have a passion for actually doing things that can help people. When I learned that I got into Learnabi, and I learned about their values and its mission, I was actually really happy that I got a chance to be able to contribute to a company that wants to benefit the lives of people”
Other Questions for Leah:
What are your plans after graduation?
“That’s still a big question mark for me right now. Maybe find a career in mobile or web development. Maybe doing freelance for small businesses and nonprofits”
How has the pandemic changed you?
“I think it made me more nervous in general. It affected my student life. There are good sides to it too. The good thing the pandemic has taught me is to reach out to people”
If you had to pick one TV show, what would it be?
“Mine is kind of mainstream but a classic. Friends, the show. I would come home every day after school and then like turn on the TV and it’s what I watched”
He Chen
To check out more of He’s interview, visit our TikTok!
College: Columbia University
Position: Android Backend Engineer
“Suddenly, like magic, it comes to the real life setting”
1) What inspired you to become a software engineer?
“First reason is family. My dad just loves technology so much. He brought me computers and game consoles so I can have some exposure to technology. Technology for me is basically like magic in this modern world. The second reason is when I was getting my Bachelors degree at the University of Washington. I took a introduction class. We were asked to build a sample project. I feel like ‘oh I can bring that in the real world that can be awesome’ . So after that I took another class. Suddenly, like magic, it comes to the real life setting”
2) What is your biggest challenge as a software engineer?
“At the beginning we worked on some front end stuff and then learned how to use React Native. I was more like Firebase, web surveys, something like that. Honestly for me as an engineer, I think the biggest challenge for me is actually about language. Like my reading speed because I’m a foreigner. So my reading skills are not that good. You need to face a ton of systems you need to learn, so you have to read many articles”
3) What inspired you to join the Learnabi team?
“I am not only interested in technology but I’m also interested in the educational field. Especially how to help children and families in need that need to get some help. My professor told me about Learnabi. The mission of Learnabi, it suits my goals. So I said I will take the chance. I love the atmosphere of the company. They are very friendly and supportive because I used to work at other companies when the CTO or managers interview me like they want to make you feel pressured. Katherine [Learnabi CTO] was like ‘oh we can learn together, we can go together’ so I defintely wanted to join”
Other Questions for He:
What are your plans after graduation?
“I still want to find a company like Learnabi. Like a company that actually combines education and technology together. Seeing what technology can do in the educational field, especially for helping students. I feel like I want to go in this direction after I graduate”
How has the pandemic changed you?
“It ruined my student life, definitely ruined my student life. It also ruined my Master's student life because I cannot make new friends, come to the classroom, or talk to a professor. It also has some benefits like I get more time to talk to myself. Sometimes you compete with each other and sometimes you don’t get time to relax for yourself. My sense of myself actually comes from the other people but, during the pandemic you literally cut off social connections, limiting social connections. So now you’ve got time to ask yourself ‘do you really want to do that?’ I don’t want to compete with other people, I just want to be myself ”
If you had to pick one TV show, what would it be?
“Big Bang Theory, it’s a very funny show. I would like to see how nerds come together. Especially, Sheldon. I love his character but sometimes I hate that because he discriminates the engineers but, it’s just a joke. They are nerds but, they are so cute and kind”
Vladimir Zhihao
To check out more of Vladimir’s interview, visit our TikTok!
College: Rice University
Position: iOS Frontend Engineer
“Keep learning, keep working!”
1) What inspired you to become a software engineer?
“I remember when I stepped into the college. I chose mathematics as my first major and I actually did enjoy it. In my second year, my department, the mathematical department required us to choose a programming course as our elective. After considering it I chose Java as my first programming elective and I fully enjoyed it better than Calculus or Mathematics. I found that software engineering was the most interesting branch for me”
2) What is your biggest challenge as a software engineer?
“As computer science students or software engineers, we need to keep our eyes open to make sure we are competitive in the software industry. I always think to keep learning is a big challenge. For most computer science students, we need to learn to provide for us. Communication, teamwork or group teamwork, that is what we need to learn the most in the long term”
3) What inspired you to join the Learnabi team?
“As a computer science student, I really wanted to apply the technologies to serve people’s daily lives. Learnabi does do that. Learnabi is an educational company which focused on promoting education quality so, that is why I wanted to join”
Other Questions Vladimir:
“My hometown is in the Southeastern of China and the summer is very hot. So, I prefer Spring or Fall. It would be cool and not much humidity. When I move to Houston, definitely the summers will be hell for me”
How has the pandemic changed you?
“It changed my mind. Initial of 2020 our university told us to take online courses. We have to stay at home to learn and forbidden to go out. As you know, at that time in China, the pandemic was so serious so I couldn’t go out to exercise or meet my friends. I was so sad. I choose to remove my sadness by meditation or reading philosophy books”
What is one profession you would never do?
“I will never be a businessman because then it requires a person to have very strong communication skills. I don’t know whether or not it is appropriate to say, they might lose their principles sometimes to get some benefits. The people I recognize, they will do some bad things to get some benefits”
Braulio Calderon
To check out more of Braulio’s interview, visit our TikTok!
College: Lehman College
Position: Android Frontend Engineer
“Being capable of learning something new is what computer science is about”
1) What inspired you to become a software engineer?
“I used to work for the International House of New York. The way that I got into software engineering was by talking to students going for their Masters in computer science at Columbia University. I saw computer science in a different way. I thought only privileged individuals with super brains knew about it. I used to think that people who came into the field, had some crazy background of being 10 years old and coding and having super experience. It is completely the opposite of what I thought. Being capable of learning something new is what computer science is about”
2) What is your biggest challenge as a software engineer?
“When I went into computer science I didn’t know anything about it. It was a little bit intimidating because a lot of my classmates were with a lot of experience since they were 18 years old. I mean they can write code in their sleep. I was lost, completely lost. It was just a challenge for me with mathematics as well. Mathematics I hate it but, it is necessary. That’s the only part of this field that I fail completely every semester. However, I remember this advisor told me, I am very persistent, even though I used to fail [mathematics] every single semester. I don’t lose the objective of getting things where I want them to be”
3) What inspired you to join the Learnabi team?
“When it comes to technology I was very eager to learn React Native. React Native was the main attractive part for this internship and I wanted to learn. That’s a derivative of React, the web development, which I am learning and I love it. When it comes to the tech part of the internship, that’s what attracted me to the company as well”
Other Questions for Braulio:
What are your plans after graduation?
“My plans of course will be to find a job, to be honest. In a more serious note, I have to feel or join a team like this one that I am right now with Learnabi. I want to be comfortable talking to people from other departments like yourself. The environment is so comfortably good. I don’t feel pressured to ask something dumb. Even though we are not person to person but you can somehow feel the energy when people talk. Going back to the actual question, my plan will be to find a company that will make me feel comfortable”
How has the pandemic changed you?
“I know other people hated it. I guess with this pandemic everybody is in their own box and own world. It taught me, still, a lot of patience with people. How to deal with really small problems that bothered me, how to control myself, how to breathe more. Meditate, I didn’t meditate before that and I meditate every single day. To be honest with you, it hasn’t been much of a negative aspect [for me]”
If you had to pick one TV show, what would it be?
“I love it because they’re so sarcastic, so there you go, Golden Girls. The sarcasm is so on point, it never gets old. I can watch the same episode and it seems like it is new. It’s so well done. I can watch the same episode and I laugh every time. It’s funny”
We wanted to thank our engineers for taking the time out of their busy schedules to be interviewed. The engineers were informed beforehand that the interview was being recorded. They understood and accepted that snippets of the interview were to be posted online. Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts for the latest updates.
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