Computers were the right choice

Computer technology was not an obvious chocie for Alexandra Tsampikakis. But she tried, got stuck and doesn't regret her choice.

– Are you the least bit interested - try it out!

After finishing high school Alexandra Tsampikakis decided she wanted to become a civil engineer. Since she likes winter and snow, she chose Luleå University of Technology, she wanted to go north. The fact that she ended up learning computer science, however, was a coincidence, she had no special skills and describes her relationship to computers like nothing but average.

– You can not know in advance what is funny and what's right for you. For me, computer science was right, says Alexandra Tsampikakis.

– I think it's good to be open-minded. The worst that can happen is that you are not happy, jump off and go home again. Then you have at least given education a chance.

What is computer science?

– Do you know how many computers there are in a new car? Alexandra Tsampikakis asks rhetorically.

– Between 80 and 100 and they all talk to each other! That is what computing is all about. Right now, we learn how to build circuit boards for an electronic drum set, we build the communication between the drum and the computer.

In the future, Alexandra Tsampikakis wants to get a job in the automotive industry. During spring 2011, she got a taste of it, when she participated in a student project called Baldos. In Project Baldos, civil engineering students build a fuel-efficient concept car.

– It was a blast and I learned a lot. The students from Computer science programme were in charge of electronics and software.

What do you do when you are not studying?

– I mostly hang out with friends. One of LTU's major advantages, is that it's close to everything. Almost all my friends live on campus, t is easy to be spontaneous and go visit each other.

Name: Alexandra Tsampikakis
Hometown: Östersund
Age: 24
Plugs: fourth year of the M.Sc. program in Computer Engineering