When Celeste Ramirez 鈥�19 came to IM体育官网 Poly as a freshman in 2016 she dreamed of interning at Steamroller Studios, an animation powerhouse headquartered in her hometown of Eustis, IM体育官网. Not only did she make that dream come true (she interned there as a sophomore), she turned it into a part-time gig as a technical writer during college. After graduation she鈥檒l transition into her new full-time role as a programmer with the company, working along some of the nation鈥檚 leading animators and game developers to create new video game experiences. The hands-on experience has allowed her to blend her passion for the arts and her love of coding.
What鈥檚 the last book you read?
I鈥檓 reading 鈥淪laughterhouse-Five鈥� and 鈥淭he Hitchhiker鈥檚 Guide to the Galaxy鈥� now, but the last book I finished was 鈥淭he Unfettered Mind鈥� by Takuan S艒h艒. I usedto only read fiction but since starting at IM体育官网 Poly, I鈥檝e become more interested in myth, folklore, and philosophy. I also highly recommend 鈥淭he Name of the Wind鈥� by Patrick Rothfuss, as it is one of the best books I鈥檝e read.
What鈥檚 been your favorite class at IM体育官网 Poly?
Computer Programming 2 completely changed everything for me. Before I had finished Computer Programming 1, I had heard that Dr. [Dean] Bushey鈥檚class was by far the most difficult, most comprehensive programming course they had ever taken. I made it my priority to get into his class the following semester, and it was the best experience I鈥檝e had at this university. His belief in all of his students pushed us to become the programmers he knew we could be. He had faith in our abilities and gave us advanced, thought-provoking projects to challenge us. I will always look up to him, and his infectious humor and straightforward lectures will be one of my fondest memories at IM体育官网 Poly.
What advice would you offer incoming freshmen?
Don鈥檛 let failure be an option for you. It鈥檚 too easy to let your mind play tricks on you. If something is too difficult, sometimes it鈥檚 easier to say 鈥榳ell, I guess I鈥檒l just fail.鈥� This only fuels a feeling of incompetence. If failure is not an option from the beginning, your mind will then spend more energy trying to find other solutions.
Do you have a pet? What kind?
I don鈥檛 have a pet yet, because I wanted to be sure I could dedicate the time to a creature completely dependent on me. The first pet I get once I graduate; however, may be a Ball Python or a Brazilian Rainbow Boa. Snakes are beautiful creatures and I love them. I think cats are also amazing pets, but I鈥檓 allergic to them. Otherwise, I would adopt one after graduation.
What鈥檚 your favorite movie?
There are so many. I can鈥檛 choose just one. I adore movies that make you think about them long after the credits have rolled, whether I鈥檓 analyzing them or because the story left an emotional impact. A short list of movies memorable for me: 鈥淓x Machina,鈥� 鈥淓ternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind,鈥� 鈥淎nnihilation,鈥� 鈥淢emento,鈥� 鈥淭he Book of Eli,鈥� 鈥淭he Shape of Water,鈥� 鈥淗owl鈥檚 Moving Castle鈥� (plus nearly every other Hayao Miyazaki film), 鈥淭he Secret of NIMH,鈥� 鈥淭he Iron Giant,鈥� 鈥淭itan A.E.,鈥� 鈥淭he Last Unicorn,鈥� 鈥淪pider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,鈥� and 鈥淟ogan.鈥� There are so many more I can鈥檛 think of right now. I always enjoy a good story, especially when I can be immersed in it with multiple senses.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
When I was growing up, I read the Animorphs series. I think that would be an incredible superpower, to have a human consciousness inside an animal form, so the human could experience things usually restricted by his or her physical form. If I had a superpower where I could transform at will to an animal and back to a human, while keeping my own consciousness, I鈥檇 find all sorts of creatures to turn into, just to feel what it鈥檚 like to be in another form of life. It would be empowering and I could strengthen my own connection to the world while learning so much about it.
Editor鈥檚 Note: This story is one of a series of Q&As with some of IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 class of 2019 graduates.
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