My Life In Bytes
Background🌲
Hey, my name is Gordon Huang. I'm a first-generation college student studying computer science at the University of Washington. I am born and raised in South Seattle. I am also a researcher in the Make4All lab exploring the potential of multi-agentic systems on fabrication.
Since I was a kid I had always known I wanted to get involved with tech in an impactful way. What really pushed me to think about tech was the thought of being able to create any application or website I wanted. This sparked my curisoity and led me down the YouTube rabbit hole where I would watch channels like Mark Rober, Michael Reeves, and Stuff Made Here. It became a source of inspiration and excitement just watching inventions and creative gadgets come to life. One of my favorite ways to get a hold on my curiosity is to write my thoughts down. Often this comes in the form of an idea I had for a project and want to execute later on.
I'm currently actively pursuing a career as a software engineer and I am particularly interested in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. I'm open to and looking for new roles and positions to expand on my skill set and contribute to meaningful projects. After graduation, I hope to land an entry role where I can focus on refining my skills and expanding on the knowledge I obtained through my degree.
Education🎓
I would like to highlight my past experiences and how it led me to where I am today. I went to a STEM high school where I got most of my exposure to computer science. However my journey began much earlier in middle school.
Around 6th grade, I had participated in a program called Zero Robotics, run by MIT which taught me how to manipulate robotic spheres aboard the International Space Station. This program allowed me bond with many different kinds of people and introduced me to the concept of a "boolean" for the first time. During another summer I also participated in Capital One's Coders program. I would say that during middle school, I pushed myself to get involved and to find something that I was passionate about. It led me to eventually joining a robotics club at my middle school and ACRS (Asian Counseling and Referral Services), an after school program. In these early years of my education I learned how to get involved in communities and take initiative by reaching out of my comfort zone.
When I reached high school, I had to make a decision, to choose the engineering or the computer science pathway. The classes that I took were crucial to my professional development and the large emphasis placed on STEM propelled me forward in thinking about my future career goals. In connection with my first-generation college student background I made the decision to join University of Washington's Upward Bound program, a college preparation program. Higher education was always something that my parents had envisioned for me, but with the encouragement of mentors in this program I realized that I needed it for myself. I remained socially active as well, ocassionally joining in on discussions about civil service with the ACRS program. Curiosity drove me to join two clubs, the Green Team club and my high school robotics, before the COVID-19 pandemic had put a stop to that.
Through this long journey, it led me to the University of Washington's Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. This is where I currently stand, a culmination of my past experiences and continued exploration of my interests. Many of the lessons that I learned and opportunities I had over the years are part of who I am and still influence my personal decisions and goals to this day. For instance, my part as a board member in GEN1, a registered student organization dedicated to uplifting first generation college students. I'm currently also involved in undergraduate research, where I'm working on a multi-agentic GAI fabrication system.
Work Experience💼
My career has been a major focus for me throughtout my young adult years, where I mainly worked minimum wage jobs as a teenager. These jobs taught me how to manage responsibilities and was where I acquired many of the soft skills I rely on. I started my journey in the pursuit of software development as a junior year of high school student through a program called Launch-206 and landing an internship through a company that specializes in VR/AR called Simulated Immersive Experimental Realities. That was my first experience where I gained exposure to common real world work practices and leading a team. With impending deadlines, I received vital support from industry professionals and developed a VR game using the Unity game engine that was playable using the Oculus Quest 2.
As I continued to search for new opportunities in high school I stumbled upon Computing For All, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing students for a career in tech. I decided to join the pre-apprenticeship program and gained valuable insight into the tech industry from guest speakers and mentors. The program began with Scratch and a focus on UI/UX design, however with college applications around the corner I decided to prioritize my education and decided not to move forward with the program.
My most recent internship was the most unique experience I have ever had, a study abroad internship at a start-up tech company in Tokyo, Japan! Interning in the center of one of the largest cities in the world in a vastly different culture than that of which I am normally used to was a major shift culturally. It offered me a fresh perspective on working outside of the city that I grew up in and challenged me to adapt quickly. Applying to this program was terrifying for me, as I knew no one and had no friends going into this program. However, by the end of this internship I built many connections and friendships which helped me make strides towards my personal and professional growth.
Hobbies🏸
I have a deep passion for trying and finding different kinds of foods and drinks from restaurants and cafes which I developed partly because of my sister. As a result, I track the places that I visit on Google Maps and take lots of pictures of my food to post on my Instagram. In general, I enjoy playing board games, watching movies, and playing video games with my friends. As a Washingtonian, I also indulge in the typical but occasional hiking around the state. I don't play many sports but when I do I enjoy playing badminton. For larger group activities I like playing billiards, bowling, and singing karaoke with my friends. I often listen to music a lot, when I'm studying or during transit.
I have some hobbies that I used to enjoy but may not do as much of currently. Reading is something that I used to do a lot of and enjoy as a kid, typically I would read a book for an hour or two every night before I slept. Another activity I used to do as a kid is swimming, I used to take swimming lessons. I don't enjoy bouldering as much as my friends do but I would go with them and have fun nonetheless.
Some activities that I find interesting for me right now and I'd be open to trying would be learning an instrument like the guitar, professional photography, and blogging. I found myself usually deterred from this because of the time and money commitments but I would find it especially fulfilling.
Photo Gallery
