TA Spotlight: Tim West
Tim West is a TA for CS 6515: Intro to Graduate Algorithms. Keep reading to learn more about Tim!
What do you do professionally?
I work as a software engineer, primarily building user interfaces. I previously worked in the medical device industry and contributed to mammography systems and spine surgery planning applications. More recently, I am working on smart TV applications for streaming media.
Why do you TA for OMSCS?
During my time as an OMSCS student, I realized that most of my enjoyment and learning came from interacting with and helping fellow students. I knew I would have more free time after graduating, so I decided to stay on as a TA to reinforce the material in the fundamental topic of algorithms. Plus, I enjoy the learning process without the pressure of being graded!
What is your advice for future OMSCS students?
Make an effort to stay engaged! A fully-online program like OMSCS can feel isolating at times. Staying connected to your peers in the class on whatever platforms you prefer will help both your motivation and learning of the material. In-person is even better: I was lucky enough to have coworkers in the program, and the local San Diego OMSCS group has also been a great way to get registration tips and vent about the challenges of being an OMSCS student.
What's your favorite memory from your time in or working with OMSCS so far?
The small moments of recognition and appreciation that I received were cornerstone moments of my OMSCS experience. A few semesters after I finished CS 6475: Computational Photography, one of the head TAs reached out and asked for permission to use a diagram from my final paper as an example for future students. In another instance at the end of CS 6515: Intro to Graduate Algorithms, a peer reached out and offered an unsolicited referral for a job. If you ever have the opportunity to share gratitude, even a simple "thank you" can be surprisingly meaningful in contrast to the impersonal nature of online interactions.
Find Tim on...
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkwest/