Bea Verin, a junior from the Philippines, is an iSchool ambassador who is passionate about the intersection of technology and business. Now pursuing a degree in information sciences, Verin appreciates that the iSchool has allowed her to tailor her education to her interests.
Why did you decide to pursue a BS/IS degree?
When transferring universities, I wanted to pursue a major that combined technology and business, and I found information sciences to be the best fit. Additionally, the iSchool curriculum allowed me to tailor my education to my interests, which encouraged me to minor in business. My interests in tech and business stemmed from a computer principles class I took during my sophomore year of high school, which led to my attending a conference called GirlCon. Hearing so many powerful women speak about their experiences in the industry truly inspired me. The computer principles class was such a great class, in terms of getting to play with cool tech like a raspberry pi and being introduced to programming.
Why did you choose the iSchool at Illinois?
I chose the iSchool because of the course offerings and different pathways. I was able to select the most relevant courses for my interests from the program's four pathways and excel. Above all else, the curriculum allows me to expand my knowledge of data analytics and data science. Plus, the amount of resources available to students is incredible.
What areas of information science interest you the most?
The topics that interest me the most are data analytics and data science because I enjoy using technology to examine data sets to find trends and draw conclusions. For this reason, Data Storytelling (IS 457) was one of my favorite courses! I got to work on unique data visualization toolkits, which involved variable levels of coding. Not only did we get to code, but we also learned storytelling techniques that improved our data-driven decision making.
What career plans or goals do you have?
After graduation, I hope to find a job with a sports-related company and in the future, work for the government. I have always been passionate about sports—both playing and watching—so it would be amazing to use my knowledge in a field that interests me!
What do you do outside of class?
Currently, I serve as a Student Alumni Ambassador, iSchool Ambassador, and Illinois Student Admissions Representative. I'm also involved with the Gies Disruption Lab, Kappa Delta Sorority, and Traveling Illini. I enjoy being an iSchool Ambassador, because it provides me with a sense of community and allows me to help prospective students. We host events that inform fellow/future students on the different courses offered at the iSchool and this provides an opportunity to socialize.