Part One: Support and Comment on Teammates’ Goals
https://tfarner-csumb.blogspot.com/2025/05/week-4.html?sc=1749020074040#c4050242458246607714
Part Two: Possible Capstone Ideas
1. Personal Finance Tracker with Data Visualization
Inspired by one of the capstone presentations about financial planning apps, I’d like to create a personal finance tracking tool that lets users categorize expenses, set monthly budgets, and view interactive data visualizations (bar charts, pie charts, trends over time). This would help me strengthen my front-end and back-end development skills while working with APIs and data visualization libraries like Chart.js or D3.js.
2. Smart Scheduling Assistant with AI Recommendations
Based on a capstone that integrated AI with productivity tools, I’m considering building a scheduling assistant app that uses basic machine learning to suggest optimal study/work times based on a user’s past activity. This could help me apply what I learn about algorithms and possibly natural language processing while integrating Google Calendar or similar services.
3. Community Service Platform for Matching Volunteers with Local Needs
After seeing a presentation about using tech for social impact, I’m interested in developing a web app where nonprofits can post events and needs, and volunteers can search/filter by location, skillset, or cause. This would challenge me to build user accounts, implement filtering algorithms, and manage a scalable back-end.
Part Three: Keep Up With Your Learning Journal
This week gave me a chance to reflect more deeply on both my long-term goals and the practical steps I need to take to get there. Reviewing my teammates’ educational and career goals helped me realize that everyone is at different stages—some have years of experience and are aiming for leadership roles, while others (like me) are focused on building a strong foundation and gaining confidence in programming and system design. Commenting on their posts was encouraging—it made me feel like I’m not alone in facing challenges or doubts.
Exploring capstone project ideas was another highlight. Watching the sample presentations gave me a clearer picture of the scope and creativity involved. I started brainstorming project ideas that would not only reflect what I’ve learned technically but also connect to my personal interests, like productivity tools or helping others through tech.
I’m also starting to think more seriously about internships. I know gaining real-world experience while still in school would make a big difference when it comes time to apply for jobs. I’m planning to research remote internship opportunities over the summer and maybe connect with career services to polish my resume and LinkedIn profile.
Lastly, the ethics assignment reminded me how complex and relevant these topics are in the tech world. It’s not just about building things—it’s about understanding the impact of what we build.
Overall, I feel like this week helped me zoom out and see the bigger picture. I’m not just going through coursework—I’m building toward something meaningful.