Nicole Colbert has made choices in her life. It has taken a little while, but those choices led her to a new major at a new school in a new state. We sat down for a brief Q&A in the computer science experimentation lab.

Q: Start with the basics.

A: I am from Sacramento, lots of different parts of Sacramento. I majored in computer science. I switched from anthropology to computer science. Originally, when I was in high school I wanted to major in computer science. I made the switch in college because I couldn’t see myself doing anthropology as a career. I will graduate this June.

Q: Talk about the path that led you to SOU.

A: I actually started out going to school in California. I was a good student in high school and I wanted to get into the best college I could. It wasn’t even a question to leave the state, so I attended UC Berkeley for a year and a half and I got incredibly lost and overwhelmed there. Eventually I couldn’t handle it anymore and I came up to Ashland to visit a friend, and I liked it so much here that I withdrew and I applied right away to SOU. I loved the small class sizes and the ability to get to know your professors. That’s been huge for me, especially in the computer science department. Being a female in the computer science department is interesting because sometimes I’m the only woman in my class; usually there’s only 2-3 other women in the classes. I don’t feel intimidated by the men, though.

Q: This is your senior year, how do you feel about where you are and where you might be headed?

A: I think I’m biased against California because I spent so many years there, but I think it has been part of my own personal journey. I love Ashland and I feel more of a sense of community here than I did in California, and I think it is that small town aspect that helps bring that together. I’m finally close to graduating, and I don’t know where I’d be if I were still in California…probably just getting my start at a community college. For some people, that’s a good start, but I’m so happy with my choice and to be where I am. For me, the biggest thing has been getting to know my professors and getting to know the people that they can introduce me to. Networking here has been amazing. That would never have happened at UC Berkeley.