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About Me...

Name: Andrea Nickel

Major/Minor: Computer Science / Mathematics

Why am I studying CS?

Why would I want to study anything else?

...just kidding (but only partially!). I find a lot of subjects interesting -- I could have studied English literature or psychology or foreign languages or gone to med school, and I came to Bethel without knowing what I wanted to focus on. I think my fate was pretty much sealed after I took my first programming class, though... I had a lot of fun with the projects and so I took Programming II, which was more fun, and then I went on to Systems, and so forth, and soon it was too late to regain sanity! I really like this kind of problem solving and the fact that there are an endless number of computer things to learn about. But I'll also credit my guide to enlightenment -- the CS prof, Karl Friesen, whose teaching style (and sense of humor) I particularly enjoyed. Except for his exams. He gives Evil Exams. And he knows this, and admits to it, and SAYS he'll try to be more reasonable, but we all know this is never going to happen.

Random stuff about me:

I like being at home in Colorado with my parents and twin sisters, or at home #2 at Bethel, where I lived last year in 'The Nunnery' with eight wonderfully creative and talented women. :) I play some piano and sing occasionally, and prefer Broadway show tunes to opera in most cases. I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy and I also raid my dad's book collection for Frederick Forsyth and James Clavell. I love traveling in Europe with my family and going on dive vacations in the Caribbean (I like colorful fish, which is why this web site has goldfish instead of something actually related to computers...). I also like Renaissance festivals, writing, computer games and theater, and I like it when it rains and floods the grassy area between the dorm halls on Bethel campus, but only if there are ducks swimming on the lawn the next morning.

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Questions/comments? Feel free to send me mail: andreanic (at) bethelks (dot) edu