Hello! My name is Nate Adams and I am a Computer Science – Mathematical Sciences major and my theme is Technology in Society. During the summer I was able to experience so many things technology related while working with UM Information Technology. Working around the Help Desk and working on various campus projects I got to see many implementations of technology that is used to run campus, and see the many professors and staff that use different programs and other applications of computers. I have been able to use these experiences to learn more about how and where people use technology, whether with research or accessing internet.

Being able to work on various projects means I was also able to experience the backbone of campus cyberinfrastructure, I have been able to learn from so many people across the wide range of IT. Hearing from these people about current and past experience made me realize that this is something I wish to continue to do, I want to be able to help out others with issues and allow many people to have access to computing technology. Although I stayed within the state, I was able to hear from many others that have taken their campus work to research and explore abroad and I saw how beneficial these resources were. I think that more people should be able to have access and understanding of technology, and eventually I want to see people have secure and reliable access to technology. I think being able to work with others in the field of IT and learn from them has helped me be able to lead others not just with technology. Like all things, you need to be able to lead others, as well as yourself, and I was able to see that very clearly this summer by working with others that lead their areas of IT. Having to manage projects that can only happen during the summer, and being able to be a part of classroom updates, computer inventory, and other projects that go on taught me time management as well as effective communication and effective work balance.

I was also able to participate in the RMACC conference hosted by UM this year, a meetup of System Administrators from all over the United States that work in High Power Computing. They came from many different Universities and companies to talk about what they do and enjoy, as well as chat with students in IT like me to get passions fired up in college. Having conversation with people that work with researchers closely to help them do computational research is so cool, it is something I will never forget.

I find myself still asking questions, What other areas of Information Technology can I continue to work in? How does IT work in other places, and can I learn more if I speak to even more people in the field? How else can I explore this topic and get others to use technology in their lives? These next 2 years before I graduate and throughout my GLI Capstone I am going to work on answering these questions. I am also going to pursue conversation with those around me to see what I can accomplish with technology and having people from all over accomplish so many things with it.