As a result, I worked on a number of different things, from software maintenance and bug-fixing to feature addition and more. In a small company, being a “jack of all trades” is an asset. My first job out of college was with a small company that got smaller over time - unintentionally. Over the rest of my college career, the roots of what 20 years later would become Ask Leo! were sown as I helped friends with technology and worked the local help desk from time to time, often for free.
I walked out not only with a perfect grade, but with the giddy realization that people would pay me to do this. I’ve often told the story that Engineering 141 – Introduction to Fortran Programing changed my life.Ī required class for all engineering students at the UW, it was the first time I’d used a computer of any sort… and it was love at first sight. As a result, I wish my education had included more writing-related classes and topics. It wasn’t until years later I realized I was a writer, and always had been. I started out as a computer programmer and loved it.
