The End of the Byte Trail

Time really does fly. This will be my final journal entry, and it marks the end of Gerek’s “byte trail” and undergraduate journey in Computer Science at CSUMB. Looking back, I can see how much I’ve grown both technically and professionally. I’m glad I was encouraged to keep a journal because now I’m able to look back on my past entries to reflect on my growth. Throughout the program, I’ve developed a strong foundation in core computer science concepts like algorithms, data structures, databases, operating systems, networking, and software engineering. I learned important concepts for being a competent software engineer like documentation, testing, and clean code habits. I plan to carry these forward into my career.

As I close out my chapter at Cal State Monterey Bay, I’m excited about the opportunity to step into the tech workforce. It seems learning in this field never truly stops, and I expect my education to continue evolving throughout my career as technology advances. I’m particularly drawn to Artificial Intelligence, as it’s becoming an increasingly integrated part of our modern lives. I feel motivated to contribute to that space and to continue exploring it.

Looking back, my Capstone project has been one of the most defining experiences of my academic journey. My team and I developed a distributed, multi-service AI system designed to automatically crawl, extract, summarize, and publish information from the web. I designed and implemented key components of the summarizer, created automation scripts for scheduled pipeline runs, and helped coordinate integration testing across the core services. The system also supports multi-language output in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese which required careful prompt engineering and unit test coverage. This project strengthened my technical depth while showing me how AI can deliver real value when combined with thoughtful engineering and teamwork.

I’m also excited to announce that I’ll be continuing my academic journey in the Master’s program in Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of San Diego. My experience at CSUMB has prepared me well for studying AI at the master’s level, particularly in areas involving algorithms, machine learning, data, and ethical considerations in computing. I’m looking forward to building on my Computer Science career, deepening my understanding of AI systems, and applying my skills toward meaningful, real-world problems.

This degree has helped me gain clarity about the direction I want to take in both my career and personal life. My motivation comes from a desire to build a stable and meaningful future for myself and my family during a time of rapid technological change. These are challenging times, but I also believe they are also some of the most transformative and exciting times to be alive. I want to contribute my skills and knowledge in a way that creates value.

My motivation extends beyond personal goals to a broader sense of responsibility toward society. Through my studies at CSUMB, I’ve seen how technology, especially artificial intelligence, can expand access to information and opportunity, but also how it can reinforce bias, strain resources, and deepen existing inequalities. I feel a strong responsibility to approach technology thoughtfully and ethically.

OpenAI. (2025). AI-generated image depicting a technological crossroads between dystopian and sustainable futures [Image]. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/

It feels as though we are truly at a crossroads. The choices we make about technology today will shape the future of our society. I believe our progress will likely come with growing pains, but navigating those challenges is necessary to reach the best outcomes technology can offer. I aspire to develop, apply, and share technology in ways that benefit humanity, protect our planet, and contribute to a sustainable future.

I’m grateful for the knowledge, challenges, and confidence I’ve gained at CSUMB, and I’m motivated to carry that momentum forward as I take the next step in my education and career.

I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who has been part of this journey. First and foremost, I’m deeply grateful to my family for their unconditional support—especially my mother and brother, who have always been there for me. I also want to thank the entire CSUMB CS Online community, including my professors, counselors, teammates, and peers, for their guidance and encouragement along the way. The CS Online program truly feels like a close-knit community, and I’ll always be proud to call myself an Otter.