About Me
Hi, my name is Callum and I am currently a student in the University of Reading. I am studying BSc Computer science and am really enjoying it. I grew up in Cornwall studying for GCSE's, and studying for a BTEC Level 3 diploma in IT. I achieved Distinction* Distinction Distinction for this.
Other than computer science, I have also previously loved doing photography. I had a Canon EOS 550D DSLR camera. I also had a DJI mini 2 SE and a GoPro hero 8. These were for personal use to take pictures of the sunset down the beach for example.
A teacher in my old school once said that if I signed up to do GCSE computer science, I wouldnt be able to do it as its too hard. I am now in the University of Reading. I am very happy with the effort I made and the outcome this gave me.
My Experience
I have gained experience for computers in several different ways. I completed GCSE computer science, then studied BTEC L3 Information Technology in college, and I am now studying Computer Science at the University of Reading.
The section to the right highlights my experience, including programming languages along with other topics I have learnt.
In college, I completed a 3-day long work experience project with the company of Rowe IT. As a team of 4, we had to create a website about renewable energy. Our group placed first amongst all the groups participating and won a £20 voucher. I was the website front end developer, responsible for creating the main structure of the website.
• Level 3 BTEC Diploma Information Technology - Distinction* Distinction Distinction
• Student (2nd year) in University
• Work experience with Rowe IT
• Programming Languages:Python, Java, C#, HTML, CSS, SQL
• Project Management
• Databases
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• 3D Design and Development
• Git
Why did I choose the University of Reading?
Now the question is, why did I choose the University of Reading? I'll start from the beginning. I was at college not originally thinking I wanted to go to university. This is the reason I chose to do a BTEC instead of A levels. But after the first year of college doing IT, I changed my mind of going to university.
Anyways, after realising I did want to go to university, whilst still doing my IT diploma, I tried to get some help with which university to choose and looked online for different ones available and found some. I hadn’t even heard of the University of Reading at that point. I then went up to Cardiff University, but unfortunately I wasn’t sure if that place was for me.
One day, my mum said to me about the University of Reading, and there was an open day. I looked online at this University and saw about the Computer Science Degree they had available and then saw the open day coming up. I went to this and as soon as I arrived in the university, I knew this place was for me. All of the people showing us around were so nice and supportive, and having an introduction to the course proved to me that the degree I looked into was the degree for me.
But that wasn’t it, the green environment around the university itself was another thing I loved. Based on I’m from a beach town in Cornwall and love doing photography, green areas are something I love.
I started this degree and as I am writing this, I am currently halfway through the second year of university. I have found Computer Science not an easy subject to do, but am pushing my way through, and getting good grades.
My Achievements
I have had 3 days work experience from the company of Rowe IT. We were all in groups of around 4 people and had to create a website about renewable energy. This website had to include lots of different information, including statistics. I was set on the front-end development of the website, coding how the website was to look. I am happy to say that we won that project out of all of the groups.
Previously at my old school, there was a Christmas photography competition where you had to submit a photo of something to do with Christmas. I submitted a photo I took of a squirrel looking right at the camera. I took this using my Canon DSLR Camera. I then won the competition not only just out my year group, but out of the whole school. I am proud of this.
This website was designed and developed by Callum Piper-Gilbert