An Unexpected Journey

Post date: Jun 18, 2019 1:47:18 AM

"I can't imagine setting at a computer 8 hours a day programming", the 17 year-old me told myself back in 1984. This was after years of hearing my mother (Frances Ceraolo) telling me "You should be a programmer!"

The stubborn child that I was, was not going to have any of that after spending 2 years in programming classes in High School. Although I did not mind the volunteer work I did for my Mom's employer, KTEH (PBS station in San Jose), helping to process the pledges for the drives and entering the information in their newly created database. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew it wasn't programming!!!

I enjoyed Math & Science, but when I enrolled for classes at Evergreen Community College, I decided to include a course on Career Planning. After many aptitude and personality tests everything was pointing at me to be a teacher.

"Yes!" I thought to myself. I really did like most of my teachers over the last 12 years. I had even stayed in touch with my 6th grade teacher all the way through high school. So I proceeded to spend the next 3 years to earn my Associates degree, then 2 years at San Jose State University to get my Bachelor's in Mathematics. I was annoyed that I had to take yet another programming class there for my degree, but I managed my way through it.

During those years my volunteer work at KTEH turned into paid seasonal work. It was nice to have a little extra money in my pocket during those times, and I certainly knew the system and the process. This was in addition to working full-time as a security guard in the evenings at a medium IT firm that no longer exists.

Once I had my B.A. it was onto post-graduate student teaching. I wanted a part-time job while I was working on student teaching instead of the full-time security position. It was nearly impossible to find any part-time position using my new degree as I went to one job fair after another.

Trying not to be frustrated, I stumbled across a company at a job fair called Computer Sciences Corporation [CSC]. One of the men taking resumes took some time to speak to me about my resume and my current goals. He saw the data entry work on my resume at KTEH. "I think I may have something for you." he said as I watched him put my resume in his briefcase and not with the huge stack of resumes on the table.

Shortly thereafter I got an interview and then was hired as a part-time Data Entry Technician on a contract at NASA's Advanced Super-computing Facility. I was learning about working with a computer that wasn't just about data entry nor programming. I was learning System Administration and Database Administration. It was perfect! I had a part-time job, and doing my post-graduate studies for student teaching.

When I was given a class to teach at one of the high schools in San Jose, I was nervous and excited. But I felt so lost trying to manage a class of 30 students. The teaching in front of a class was way different than I had anticipated. I liked the one-on-one teaching I did as a tutor. The students were great, but this teaching thing wasn't for me.

What do I do now? I spent the last 6 years of my life working towards this goal?!?

Hope was not lost, there were these people who kept an eye on those Supercomputers and spoke with the Scientists on the phone and they usually had openings for positions. They were called "Control Room Analysts". I asked the Control Room Manager about getting one of the open positions. "You need a 4 year degree" was the reply. "I have a 4 year degree, in Mathematics". The surprised look I still remember to this day.

It wasn't very long before I was converted to a full-time employee and my career really launched. I went from the CSC title of "Associate Member of Technical Staff" to "Senior Member of Technical Staff" it what now seems a short few years. I loved all the constant change of what I was working on, and learning so much more as I was doing it.

Oh and the programming I was learning to do and working on, it wasn't so bad because it wasn't 8 hours a day. But the puzzles I was solving with my programming were far more interesting than anything I ever did in class.

I eventually landed into a position as a Database Administrator, on and a new job title.... "Computer Scientist".

How the f*+/! did that happen?!?!!

Mom, you were right.

It only took me about 16 years to figure that out.

I spent nearly 15 years on the NASA contract with CSC. A dream job, and all possible because of volunteer work I started when I was a teenager.

It's been nearly 30 years since I first started that job on the NASA contract. CSC became DXC a couple of years ago after a merger. I've been working for DXC for over 18 months now, in yet another dream job.

But this tale is not quite finished. My unexpected journey, which started with volunteer work, led me to a career.

A few months ago my son Erik Baldassano told me about a job that he got for a company that sets up large tents for events (as well as other equipment).

"All those years of putting up pavilions in the SCA finally paid off" I told him with, both of us laughing.

He went on to tell me that he was the first "new" guy that actually knew what he was doing when it came to putting up these big tents.

Today he was approached by the owner of the company that he was considering Erik for a full-time position as a Production Manager.

I look forward to seeing where Erik's unexpected journey takes him.