Title: I was given my first computer to work with in my sophomore year of high school
Author: Preferred Customer
Last saved by: Jasmine

Frantzy Jean Philippe

I was given my first computer to work with in my sophomore year of high school. Before then, my exposure to computers and the Internet was limited to the library. However, today, as a result of my participation in BDPA, computer science is my future and programming is my passion. 

I took my first computer science course in 10th grade as an elective course, having minimal interest in technology. Soon, I became amazed at how much technology evolved over the years and the amazing things that can be done with programming. I joined the BDPA SITES program to expose me to more technology. I also joined the HSCC team for the BDPA New York chapter and fell in love with programming even more. BDPA SITES exposed me to the real world that awaited me as a computer scientist. Through tours of data centers at sites such as the data center at the United Nations, I soon realized that technology was the most important part of any business; and I wanted nothing more than to be a part of that. The thing I liked about SITES is that it not only teach you programming skills, but it also promoted the ability to network with people and gave me skills to succeed in the professional world. Technology became my passion and I wanted to be exposed to it as much as possible.

HSCC was my favorite part of the SITES program as it gave me the opportunity to learn programming and made me able to work in teams. Through the various competitions, I learned great communication skills, management skills and the ability to work under great pressure. My first year in HSCC was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Through the efforts of our coordinator, Ms. Hamilton, and our technology teacher, Mr. Destine, our team was able to learn the skills to perform well in the competition in Atlanta, GA and placed 6th. At the conference, we were able to make a lot of connections and exposed to a lot of culture from around the country. Another important skill we learned from the competition was the ability to present a finished product to judges. Little did I know that this skill would spark my interest in marketing and the need to convince people that the products I represent is the best. I plan to obtain a degree in marketing or business.

The next year, we worked harder and were able to each gain scholarships for placing fifth at the national competition. The same year, I was able to gain an internship with UBS Investment Bank through BDPA, something college students struggled for. With the skills and values I learned from BDPA, I was able to do well in the assignments given to me. This internship opportunity provided me with many contacts at UBS and made me more passionate, more determined and more confident in my career path. Not many high school juniors, or college juniors for that matter, can say they had an opportunity to have a paid internship at one of the world’s biggest investment bank. Collectively, BDPA exposed me to something new, challenged me to learn more about it, exposed me to what my future will look like and gave me the necessary skills to achieve that goal master that future.

This year, I am a freshman at Cornell University’s esteemed College of Engineering on a full scholarship from the Gates Millennium Scholars program. If it wasn’t for BDPA, I would have never been exposed to my future career and passion for programming.