CS373 Fall 2021: Mason Eastman

Where did you grow up?

Dallas, Tx.

What high school did you attend?

Lake Highlands High School.

What was your favorite extra curricular activity in high school?

Tennis! I played for the team all four years of high school, and I loved that it gave me a great group of friends and exercise. I like to think I wasn’t half bad either :)

Why did you come to UT?

It’s not too far from home, but also doesn’t feel like I’m right in my backyard. I was also strongly attracted to the CS program and the swathes of opportunities Austin offers! Having a lot of good friends come here from high school helped my decision too.

Why are you majoring in CS?

I have always loved math and tech, and in high school I was exposed to programming and loved it. Majoring in CS was the perfect way for me to continue learning and follow my passion!

Why are you in this class?

I’ve heard great things about this class through the years, and so I decided to take it not only because I want to get better at web programming and expose myself to new technologies in that regard, but also because I really enjoyed taking OOP with Professor Downing, and am excited to have another class with him.

What are your expectations of this class?

I’m expecting to get better at programming in a more industry-like environment, expand my knowledge of web programming and related technologies, and continue growing my team skills.

How much Javascript/Python/SQL/Web Programming do you already know?

I know some Javascript and Web Programming, a good amount of Python, and no SQL.

How did you like the first lectures?

I thought they were great! Professor Downing is a very straight-forward and clear lecturer, who’s very engaging to listen to. I also know he cares a lot about our understanding and success in this class, so I’m looking forward to continuing on.

How did you feel about the cold calling?

I think it’s a great way to keep students engaged, especially in a virtual format. I really appreciate too how Professor Downing does it in such a way that it’s more of a conversation/learning experience, instead of a “you know it or you don’t” scenario, and since I’ve taken OOP previously I know how beneficial those conversations can be to the whole class.

What made you happy this week?

Being on campus! It was great to just walk around Speedway and (safely) attend some in-person classes. I felt like I dealt with online school ok, but I hadn’t realized how much I missed even the little things in being back on campus until I walked around again.

What’s your pick-of-the-week or tip-of-the-week?

My pick-of-the-week is this really awesome GitHub Repo dedicated to amassing links to project based learning for a variety of programming languages. It’s a great resource to poke around in if you’re bored and looking to learn how to do something in a certain language or wish to get more experience using one through practical projects.