Curb Spotlight: Nick Ma
Curb Scholar Nick Ma has a passion for computer science, visual arts, and music. Writing Fellow Becca Kantor caught up with Nick to talk about how he balances his academics and creative pursuits and his experiences with computer science.
Becca Kantor: You’ve chosen to major in Computer Science. What drew you to that major, and what do you enjoy about computer science?
Nick Ma: I got into computer science through my brother, who just recently graduated from UCLA with a degree in CS. He’s always been a huge influence on me since day one – I remember watching him code and being absolutely amazed with how the small scribbles on screen soon turned into lines of code, which then turned into fully-fledged, engaging websites.
Even though I was clueless at first, I took every chance to learn from my brother as he created all sorts of programs. My brother was kind and patient enough to teach me the basics of code until I was able to help him out on the tiniest tasks for small projects. Whether it was a basic shopping cart simulator or a simple maze game, I was intrigued by how programming could allow anyone to create whatever they wanted! Eventually, this soon blossomed into side projects I’d initiate and complete by myself. It was only after two years of primarily academic CS that I realized my love for web development–– it was through an internship where I helped a small startup create a web application to allow users to easily sell items online. I particularly love web development because of how it allows me to combine creativity with problem solving. Through web development, I am not only able to design, but also build intuitive web applications to enhance the user experience.
However, web development is not the only area of CS that I love. In fact, the various CS electives that are offered at Vanderbilt allow me to continually grow my love for computer science as I learn more about how applicable it is for real problems in the real world, from cybersecurity to artificial intelligence to social networks!
BK: You have a wide array of interests, from painting and illustrating, to piano, to computer science and engineering. How do you balance all these interests? How do you think each one serves your creativity? Do they ever influence each other?
NM: The method I found helpful in balancing out my interests in visual arts, piano, and programming was to join student organizations that align with my said interests. Without these organizations and without having this opportunity to connect with people who share my passion in the arts, I feel like I would have spent most of my college career prioritizing programming over my other interests, especially as I am preparing for a career in CS. For example, I briefly joined the Jazz Ensemble as their pianist. I also joined WRVU, a student-led radio station, where I am able to write biweekly articles about my musical interests. Both of these organizations have helped me immensely in balancing out my interests as well as serving my creative side. Taking time off to enjoy drawing or playing piano really helps me to relieve stress, relax, and just help my brain to expand further from the usual CS space I’m usually occupied with. From painting acrylics to jamming out with a band, I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity to round out my interests.
Although my interests do not explicitly overlap, my visual arts experience has helped motivate some of my practices in the design process for the layout of web applications. I also hope that in the future, I’ll be able to discover an even stronger intersection between my (theoretically) contrasting areas of interest.
BK: You grew up in Franklin, TN, not too far from Nashville. How has coming to Vanderbilt influenced your relationship with the larger Nashville/TN community?
NM: Before I came to college, I was definitely excited for the chance to explore a newer and larger city outside of Tennessee. Although the Franklin community was always warm and welcoming, it is limited in terms of cultural diversity, which hindered my opportunities to explore my Asian American heritage. However, I still made my decision to stay near home, and as soon as I got to campus and met the people at Vanderbilt, I realized that I wanted to instead spend my four years in college connecting with, learning from, and growing with the Vanderbilt community. The Vanderbilt bubble is a place where I can feel truly connected to the people around me and also learn about communities that you don’t see very much in the Nashville area. In a sense, this might have hindered any opportunities for me to connect with the greater Nashville community, but I still do not regret having spent the best four years of my life leaving an impact–– a footprint, you might say–– at Vanderbilt.
BK: How has being a Curb Scholar shaped your experience at Vanderbilt?
NM: Before coming to Vanderbilt, I didn’t know that I could share my college experience with a group of like-minded and talented individuals. It was amazing to me how although we all come from starkly different backgrounds and academic interests, we are able to come together and bond over our shared interest in exploring our creativity. The Curb Scholars program has given me a space to explore my creative side and collaborate with students who are passionate in their own creative endeavors. The program has given me multiple opportunities outside of class to engage with the Nashville community, apply my creative practices to meaningful projects, and explore other creative fields through guest-led and student-led workshops as well as art-focused community events.
BK: What else should we know to get an understanding of who you are as a student, artist, and individual?
NM: As I’m sure other students may resonate with, it can sometimes feel like I’m not doing enough whether it’s in CS or arts. Although the title of “engineer/Curb Scholar” may paint a picture of a well-rounded individual who excels in both, that is not exactly the case. Lying right in the middle of the intersection between the technical and creative fields, there have been countless instances where I felt like I wasn’t “good enough” at either. Maybe it’s feeling like I’m not working on meaningful CS projects, or that I should evolve from painting to graphic design. But the important thing is to not fixate on these insecurities, but to start with one thing at a time. For me, I’ve been able to step out of these holes by writing that first line of code for a project or finally learning that one song on piano. I’ll continue to apply these practices of “taking initiative” to future endeavors in the arts or STEM, and I hope others who may have experienced my hesitation can do the same.