Megan Yeung came to Niagara College to pursue a love of computer programming that took her by surprise. At NC, she was able to embrace her passion for software development and programming and set herself up to follow her dream of a career in computer science.
We catch up with Yeung to find out what drew her to Niagara College and what she loved most about her time here.
Megan Yeung
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Academic Achievement: Dean’s Award Winner, School of Media, Computer Programmer Analyst (96.0% average)
How do you feel about receiving the Dean’s Award, achieving the highest GPA in your program?
When I initially found out that I won this award, I was really surprised and overwhelmed. I feel proud to be receiving the Dean’s Award and am honoured to have attended a school that recognizes its students’ hard work and achievements.
What inspires you to succeed?
I am my own biggest competition! Every new assignment, exam, or project is another opportunity to one-up my previous performance. This intrinsic motivation helps me to succeed as I am constantly striving to improve upon myself, without comparing my own progress with anyone else’s.
What led you to study at NC and to your program, specifically?
During freshman year of my undergraduate degree, I took an introductory computer science course for a breadth requirement not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I had so much fun learning coding concepts and theory that I heavily considered switching my major to computer science. Unfortunately, I did not go through with it because I was too intimidated at the time. As silly as it sounds in retrospect, I was always told growing up that computer science was not a suitable field for girls, and that really deterred me from pursuing it. After graduating, my interest in tech continued to grow. I kept having thoughts of “what-if” and feelings of regret for not following my heart. Having heard so many great things about the computer programming curriculum at Niagara College, I decided to just go for it this time, and I am so glad I did!
List any other post-secondary credentials (diplomas, degrees) you have achieved:
Honours Bachelor of Science (double major in Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences), University of Toronto
Why are you passionate about your field of study?
I am passionate about software development and programming because it can be applied to so many different industries. It is such a flexible field of study that can take you in a ton of different directions depending on your interests. At its core, computer programming is all about problem-solving. Although at times it can be frustrating when you get stuck on a really tough problem, the feeling of accomplishment you get from solving it is just so rewarding.
Did you face any challenges over the course of your study?
One of the biggest challenges I faced over the course of my studies – as I’m sure many students will agree – was the sudden migration from in-person classes to remote learning. Before I had even completed my first semester of classes on campus, everything was moved online due to the pandemic. Initially, it was very challenging to adjust to this shift as I had never done school online before, and it happened so abruptly. Luckily, the nature of my program allowed for quite a natural transition into this mode of learning. I would like to applaud my professors for adapting so quickly and enabling such a seamless transition to an online learning environment.
How did you find your program experience? Any highlights?
Besides the incredible amount of knowledge and skills I have gained through my experience in this program, the number one thing that stood out to me was the dedication our professors have to their students. Throughout my time at Niagara College, I always felt supported by my professors and could tell they truly wanted their students to succeed. I am grateful for the various group projects in my program as well, because these allowed me to meet and work with some incredibly talented peers whom I have learned so much from and formed amazing friendships with.
