Stella Ross

My mom has always been one of my biggest influencers since my childhood. Her favorite subject in school was math and that influenced me to take interest in math was well. She would have me practice math problems outside of my assigned school work. This experience eventually led me to discover more about my personality. I learned that I enjoy challenges and problem-solving and I knew that whatever I decided to study, it would need to involve both of these things.

I initially planned to study microbiology with hopes of attending medical school post graduation. However, after recognizing that chemistry at OSU was an obstacle quite difficult to hurdle over, I decided to switch career paths and study math instead. I realized that this degree could be used as a segue into a variety of career pathways and also feed my passion for problem-solving.

I believe that studying math has taught me resilience, tenacity and how to think outside of the box in all aspects of my life. I credit my studies to my ability to approach challenges in life with a multidimensional thought process and even being able to understand others though lenses of multiple perspectives. Most people think math is just about numbers and while in some cases this is true, I personally believe the subject as a whole extends far beyond figures. It's the study of thinking beyond the scope of what's in your point of view and expanding your mind in all directions using logic and a bit of creativity to formulate viable solutions.

Upon graduation, I had intentions of furthering my education and eventually teaching at a university level. However, after working in higher education for some years, I decided to pivot into technology instead as it is more inline with my passions and overall career goals. Earning a certificate in software development is an accomplishment that I am proud of and I am hopeful to see where this journey leads me both personally and professionally.