Blog One - Introduction

    Hi, my name is Ryder Reed. I am currently a student at UMBC and am majoring in computer science. I have always had an interest in computers and program since I was little. Because of this I learned to program (poorly) around age 13 - 14. I immediately fell in love with the subject and knew that it was what I wanted to do as a career. As I have grown up, that hasn't changed much but the specificity of the career has. At some point I also fell in love with space and rocketry. At the current moment I hope to combine the two and enter the field working as a software developer for an aerospace firm. Other than my career interests, I also have an interest in mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and video games.


    As for the question of "What an American is?", I think the answer is quite simple. An American is a person who participates and is a part of American culture. The real question is actually what counts as American culture. The United States is extremely diverse and with diversity comes a wide range of beliefs, communities, and cultures. This wide range makes it hard to narrow the meaning of American down to just one thing as the American experience is different for different people and evolves with time. Given this, I would say that to be an American is to be a part of your community, be it a city block, a school, a club, or part of a larger community, like political parties. Connection with those who are also living the American experience is what makes a person an American.

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