As the Class of 2023 crosses the stage in the University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall throughout June, we caught up with five graduating Computer Science students for their reflections on their time as undergraduates.
These spotlights showcase the diverse journeys of CS students and the unique pathways they forged at U of T and beyond.
Ramzi Dajani
College: New College
Program: Computer Science Specialist with a focus in Artificial Intelligence
Ramzi Dajani couldn’t see himself studying anything else but computer science ever since he developed an interest in programming as a teenager through summer camp. Through hard work and perseverance, he pursued a specialization in CS with a focus in Artificial Intelligence.
“Don’t ever doubt your own abilities,” he says. “I can’t count the number of times where I’ve called friends and family telling them I didn’t think I could finish an assignment on time or pass a certain exam. At the end of the day, I always pulled through and always managed to make up for any mistakes.”
Ananya Jha
College: University College
Program:
Majors: Computer Science and Statistics
Minor: Mathematics
Ananya Jha was attracted to U of T’s multidisciplinary approach that would allow her to major in both computer science and statistics and minor in mathematics. Outside of her coursework, she led U of T Women in Computer Science (WiCS), a student-run club, for two years.
“It has been the highlight of my college life and an enriching experience,” she says of her time leading WiCS. “As the president, I led a team of passionate individuals who shared my dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in computer science. Working alongside these talented individuals, learning from them, and collectively positively impacting the women’s computer science community at U of T has been an absolute joy and source of fulfilment for me.”
Affan Siddiqui
College: Victoria College
Program: Computer Science Specialist
Affan Siddiqui credits the Technology Leadership Initiative (TLI) and its faculty mentors as a way to bridge the gap between academics and industry setting him up for success at U of T and beyond. The program gave him real insights into what the industry looks like and helped guide his education toward a path of success.
“The skills that I learned from the CSC207 tutorials helped me succeed in my internships and helped me get a job after graduation,” he says. “I also got to meet and become friends with a lot of really cool people. The overall experience from those TLI tutorials is something that I will always cherish and look back on fondly.”
Hudson Yuen
College: University College
Program:
Majors: Computer Science and Statistics
Minor: Geographical Information Systems
Hudson Yuen explored various academic paths before landing on computer science. He got involved at U of T outside of his coursework through both academic initiatives and athletic clubs including a student consulting club, dragon boat racing and completed an internship as a Data Analyst.
“What’s next for me is a phase of more exploration,” he says. “I’ve been working on a few ventures since last summer when I was a part of the Next36 accelerator, and I’m planning on taking a few more months to explore that path. I’ve narrowed my interests to the fields of transit tech and sustainability in the built environment, but beyond that? We’ll just have to see!”
Jenny Zhang
College: Victoria College
Program: Computer Science Specialist and Statistics Minor
Jenny Zhang made a deliberate effort to take project-based CS courses. The experiences that stand out to her all involved working on a team to build a software application prompted by a real industry problem with topics ranging from environmental advocacy to health care reporting to marketing tech.
“Working on these real applications and challenges of software development allowed me to see the power that we, as developers, have to change and dictate the way people work,” she says. “Ultimately, we have our own social responsibility as we can potentially influence (for better or for worse) many people everywhere through the technical systems that we design.”