Nicholas Wissinger, Class of 2021
Why was it important for you to attend college?
College was important to both me and my family. Both factors pushed me to pursue higher education. I personally was not satisfied with just a high school education and I wanted to pursue a degree in order to find a career that I liked the best, such as Engineering or Computer Science. My parents also wished for me to pursue college, something they regret not doing. I also understood the value a college degree can offer when it comes to finding a career path and just how much of a difference it can make.
What has been the greatest challenge so far in your college experience?
The greatest challenge I have faced so far is finding my own identity. Being able to figure out what I wanted to do when I finished college and move into the work force and what type of person I would be. I have always been focused and centered around learning, studying, and doing homework so I feel that leaving this environment will lead to me to finding out more about myself and how I will be once college is all over.
What has helped you the most so far in college?
I feel that the TRIO program at Shepherd University has helped me the most so far in college. I have learned vital tips and techniques from the multitude of workshops they host and I have also grown more as a person, met and networked with new people, and have been able to find a great place to go and get work done. The vast amount of resources they offer has helped me immensely throughout my schooling.
What are your career goals?
I am interested in becoming a Software Engineer or Software Developer at large technology company or pursue the same position at a federal agency. I want to expand my skills and become a Senior Software Engineer down the road.
Outside of academics, what are your hobbies/extracurricular activities?
I love to play video games, board games, spend time with my family, and learn new things. I played football for two years at Shepherd University which was a blast but I now focus my time into learning new coding languages and making programs for fun.
How has being a first-generation student influenced you?
I feel that being a first-generation student has put some pressure on me to succeed in college. Since I am the first one in the family, I have a spotlight on me which I use to push myself to keep my grades as good as possible. I also feel like it has made me more grateful to be in the position where I am now; to be able to go pursue higher education whereas, my family did not have a chance to do that.
What would you tell your first-year self now?
Time flies by. You’ll be done with college in the blink of an eye, so use all of the time you have to your advantage and enjoy every minute of it.