Week 6. Class: CST 300 - Major Pro Seminar

Part 1: Help Your Teammates to Develop Capstone Ideas

Our team met last Friday during our regular team meeting to discuss possible capstone ideas. One thing that stood out during our conversation was how diverse our individual skill sets and career goals are. I am primarily focused on software development - especially full-stack applications with database integration - while my teammates are leaning more toward cybersecurity.

This difference in focus has shaped the direction of our initial brainstorming. While Jose mentioned ideas related to cybersecurity applications, such as tools for detecting threats or simulating phishing attacks, my interests lie in designing and building scalable applications with a strong backend. Maria hasn't finalized her ideas yet, but her interests seem to align closely with Jose's.

Despite these differences, I see a great opportunity for collaboration. I suggested that if we decide to pursue the capstone as a team, we could create a project that bridges both cybersecurity and software development. For instance, we could develop a full-stack application where the front-end and database management are aligned with my strengths, while the backend logic includes cybersecurity features handled by Jose and Maria. This approach would allow us to work on different aspects of the same project while also giving us a chance to learn from each other's specialties.

Although we haven't settled on a specific idea yet, I'm optimistic that we'll find a shared direction that reflects all our interests and helps each of us grow in the process.

Part 2: Keep Up With Your Learning Journal

This week, I continued working on my stakeholder argument essay and focused on developing the argument portion for the second stakeholder. For this section, I used generative AI to help brainstorm and structure my writing. In the process, I learned more about how to craft effective prompts to get more relevant and usable results. While most of the AI-generated content was useful, I had to verify the references and ensure the arguments aligned with the intent of my essay. This is something I've become more confident with since last week - understanding that AI can assist with technical writing, but I am ultimately responsible for the accuracy, meaning, and integrity of the work.

I also learned a lot about preparing for a successful career. As part of this week's activities, I created the shell for my IPL Portfolio website. This gave me a clearer picture of how to structure a personal portfolio and what content it should include. Additionally, I developed both a resume and a cover letter after reviewing the career guide and other resources provided on the CSUMB website. This process was very informative, and I discovered helpful tools and internship opportunities through the site.

One company that caught my attention during this research was Anyware Robotics. I wrote a tailored cover letter targeting them as part of this week's assignment. Although my main interest is in full-stack software development, I found their work with robotics and embedded systems fascinating. If given the chance, I would definitely consider working in that field, as the robotics industry is exciting and full of learning opportunities.

Another highlight of the week was our team meeting, where we discussed our final class project - two videos on the topic of quantum computing. It's a challenging but interesting subject, and we’re excited to get started. During the meeting, we went over some key points and ideas and agreed to begin working on the project as soon as possible.