For Makayla Lomax, a senior majoring in Computer Science at Bowie State University, joining RITA was an opportunity to apply what she’d learned in the classroom to real-world research. Through hands-on coding, collaboration, and learning new programming languages like Python, she’s gained valuable experience and the confidence to pursue her goal of becoming a data scientist.
Can you state your name, major, year, and school?
Makayla Lomax: My name is Makayla Lomax. My major is Computer Science, and I’m a senior at Bowie State University.
What inspired you to join RITA, and how did you first hear about it?
I first heard about the opportunity through my supervisor. I was doing a summer internship at my school, and he let us know that we had an opportunity here and that we could choose if we wanted to do it. I chose to do it. I wanted to apply the tools that I’ve learned.
What drew you to your field of study in general?
So my passion and goals… I’m introverted, so I feel like this would be the best field for me with coding.
What is something fun, interesting, or intriguing that you’ve experienced so far at RITA?
I would say figuring out a problem that I thought would cause me a lot of problems, but it turned out to be really simple. It gave me a lot more courage that I can do it.
What skills have you picked up that you didn’t expect to learn?
I didn’t expect to learn how to code as good as I am. I’m learning a new language, which is Python. I’m used to learning Java, and Java is way harder than Python to me.
What’s a typical day working on a RITA project?
When I’m working on a RITA project, it’s mainly a lot of research and writing things in my notes, just making sure that I fully understand everything and that I’m doing the right thing. I’m also coding and making sure that whatever technique I’m using is the best for my research.
How has your time at RITA shaped how you see your future career?
I would say that it gave me a lot of valuable experience, a lot more than you would get in a typical classroom, because it’s a lot more hands-on. So it gives me more experience when I want to step out and start applying to jobs.
Who has been a mentor or role model for you here?
I would say my supervisor, Dr. Yang. He’s really understanding, which is refreshing. We can always go to him if we need any help.
How has collaborating with others influenced the way you work or think?
It honestly makes it a lot easier than I expected. You hold each other accountable, and you can rely on each other when you need help. As I said before, I consider myself to be an introvert, and it kind of makes me more extroverted and gives me the opportunity to step out of my shell more.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself as a data scientist, hopefully in Chicago.
What advice would you give to another student considering RITA?
I would say to relax and make sure that they know they are in the right place. It can feel overwhelming, and you can feel like you’re out of place, like you don’t know what you’re doing or that you’re not good enough. But I promise you that you are good enough, and that this experience is only here to help you.
