Choosing to read Computing wasn’t a hard decision to make. I thoroughly enjoy working with computers and have owned a P. C. for the past 8 years.
The enjoyment I’ve experienced during past lessons and from good examination grades also aided my choice. The fact that the I. T. market is forever expanding is what really appeals to me. I believe that I am reasonably competent and also capable of keeping abreast of many of the latest technologies and hope to incorporate them into my work. For example, I am intrigued by the concept of the Internet.
The idea that any information is easily and relatively rapidly accessible from any connected terminal demonstrates how much computer technology has evolved during the last 20 years. My aim is to develop future generations of Internet technology; making it more secure, widespread and capable of housing more material than ever before. My computer usage has not just been limited to home and school. In 1999 I was sent to the Administrations Department of I RISC Claims Management, a large insurance company in Sheffield, as part of my Trident work experience.
There I used P. C. s to log reference numbers of received letters and to allocate them to their corresponding file. A Microsoft Word based document, designed by myself, was also used to determine which files needed retrieving and passing to appropriate senior staff. Other tasks included inputting new claims, organising incoming post and other general office duties. I was given a certificate for my hard work and excellent attendance and punctuality.
During the summer breaks of 2000 and 2001 I worked full-time at Ant Marketing in Rotherham as a Tele-marketing researcher. As well as using telecommunications to interact with the client, I simultaneously record their responses to scripted questions on a custom-made P. C. program. Every hour the results of these questionnaires would be sent to the local server to calculate my hourly figure. Recently I attended a Junior Football Managers course that qualifies me, not only to coach children of ages upto 11 but to administer First Aid for the next three years and to have the opportunity to become the appointed Child Protection Officer of any Chartered football club.
This award also enables me to build up my catalogue of football coaching techniques and I’m now eligible to proceed to the Advanced Certificate. In 2000 I travelled to the Spanish Pyrenees on a skiing trip with school. For my “Excellent” abilities I was awarded a Diploma after completing a 5-day skiing school. As well as my interest in computers I have other hobbies.
I am a keen sports fan, in particular, football. I have played for, an on occasion captained, my school throughout the last 6 years and for several successful local clubs and hope I will be able to persue this interest at University. Other representative sports include rugby and cricket. I also enjoy being a spectator and am currently in my 8 th year as a season-ticket holder at Sheffield United Football Club. I enjoy travelling and have also visited St. Cast in northern France on two occasions and been on Summer Camp in Borrow dale in the Lake District.
I have also taken holidays in Greece, Turkey, USA, Mexico and Thailand; where I went elephant trekking. I am looking forward to the challenges of working in Higher Education and to persue my keen interest in Computing.