10+ Years of Experience in Graphic & Web Design for Beginner and Intermediate Level Students

Find out more about Kevin

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  I recall I was about 4-years-old when I first used a computer. It was a Compaq computer setup that my parents had bought, and it was situated in their bedroom on one of those desktop desks that were specifically made for desktop setups. The monitor was a yellow-ish, muted grey and definitely reeked of that 1990's curvy aesthetic: silver trim, conspicuous power button, and an aerodynamic airflow grate in the back. Did I mention it sounded like a weak vacuum upon power-up? I recall the first thing I did on the computer was play some sort of bowling ball-bouncing, brick-breaking game. My parents had bought this CD that had like 5-6 different games on it. Pacman was one of the games, there was a game where you had to shoot rockets out of the sky and protect your structures on the ground.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  The technological evolution that has marked me the most would probably be the accessibility of no-code website builders catering towards the masses. The turning point in this field is already happening with the advent of AI and the mass accessibility of AI. However, I am already seeing a shift in the tides with this trend: people are too dependent on AI for building their websites and will soon realize that only having sole entry-level knowledge of website building will not be enough to maintain their website in the long run.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  I am a front-end website designer and a graphic designer first. Front-end website designers mainly focus on the visual part of the website and what visitors can see upfront. Graphic design is the overall umbrella term for any design work that solves a problem or conveys a message in an effective, visual manner. I wanted to pursue a field where I just needed a strong portfolio to prove that I could do the work, something technology-related, and something where I can express some creativity as well. Graphic design checked all of those boxes. With the advent of digital marketing, it's increasingly more important to have an online presence AND make that online presence easily digestible in a visual sense in order to convey what your business does.

• 4) Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I used to look up to people like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, but then I realized their success was more about being lucky and being born under the right circumstances than it was about hard work and determination. Sure, their products are effective, but it's hard to find such people inspiring when you realize how much wealth they have and all of them have the ability to "buy" their way out of any problems that come their way. I have more admiration for those who work at a grassroots level: my high school teachers, mentors I've encountered during my adolescence, my mother, volunteers at the local homeless shelter, to mention a few. It's those who serve others who also live happy, fulfilling, humble lives that are the real rockstars in my world.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I can't think of an anecdote specifically, but I do recall a quote that came to mind by Maya Angelou.
  
  "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
  
  When I reminisce about my time in academia, it's rather difficult to quote what my favorite teachers have said to me. However, I never forgot how they all made me feel. The impact teachers have had on me is immense, inspiring, and life-changing. That's something I hope I can invoke in the students that I tutor and the clients I teach. It's one thing to teach a subject to a student for them to "get it", but it's another to invoke confidence, resilience, and fortitude into a student's mind in order for them to take action and actually utilize the knowledge I've introduced to them. All the knowledge in the world is at our fingertips, but without self-esteem, a student's true potential will always be locked away.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I don't blame them. IT is, indeed, complicated. And if you don't spend the time to learn and take your time with it, it definitely can be frustrating. I was fortunate enough to grow up using computers and technology that now I am very privy to knowing how to troubleshoot computers if needed. I grew up installing the software for the family computer and learned how to touch type and use software as part of my school curriculum. That's a very fortunate, lucky benefit that I've been blessed to have received solely due to the times and the circumstances of where I was born.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  I love going to the gym to work on weightlifting, cardio, and flexibility. I also love to cook Mexican and Chinese food, hang out with my friends, and read Wikipedia articles. I am a taiko (Japanese drumming) performer and I love spending time with my dog, Bethany.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  I'd love to know what makes me a Superprof, too! I was always a student who loved school, even if my grades didn't always reflect a similar enthusiasm. What I hope to bring to the table for my students is a new perspective on learning and to not stop their "education" even though they've left campus. I've learned from some of the best teachers in the country and have even learned lessons from some of the not-so-good teachers. What I've noticed in some of my peers is that learning, in general, stops after school and in some cases, is avoided altogether, unless someone is heavily incentivized to do so. I strive to invoke curiosity and creativity in my students when possible so that they become life-long learners beyond the subject I've taught them. It brings me true joy when I see my students strive and thrive from my lessons, not just with knowledge, but with confidence and resilience. I hope one day that the people I teach will continue the chain of inspiration and encourage others to become life-long learners, as well. I'll end with a quote by James Keller, "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."