The Beginning.

It is March 2023, I am a senior at Liberté-Jeunesse high school. I took my grades seriously, I was able to pull off straight A's. That lead me to have many options for my CEGEP.I was interested in two completely different fields: either studying Science at Dawson College or studying Computer Science at CEGEP Montmorency, which is closer to home.

Choice 1 : Study in Science at Dawson College.

Choice 2 : Study in Computer Science at CEGEP Montmorency.

Study in Science at Dawson College.

I chose Dawson College to change my environment and become totally bilingual in English. At first, I thought it would be easy to make new friends, but the people in the Science program are too shy or competitive. It made it difficult to feel comfortable in that school, but over time, I’ve learned that I can take the first step towards people. These experiences helped me grow as a person. However, it has drained my energy, and I’m debating with either taking the next semester off and find a job or pursuing directly my university studies at Polytechnic University.

Choice 1 : Find a Job in the Retail Industry.

Choice 2 : Go to Polytechnic University in Montreal.

Study in Computer Science at CEGEP Montmorency.

I loved my time at Cegep Montmorency. I made great friends and some connections for the future. My studies flew by, and I enjoyed my experience. Being in a healthy environment kept me motivated throughout my entire college studies. I could maintain straight A’s which was a huge accomplishment. I developed a passion for my studies in Computer Science, and it led me to apply to Polytechnic Montreal or ETS to continue pursuing my passion.

Choice 1 : Go to Polytechnic University in Montreal.

Choice 2 : Go to ETS University.

Find a Job in the Retail Industry.

The new job in the retail industry felt like a breath of fresh air. The full-time job downtown helped me learn the ropes of the retail industry, like how to deal with customers, keep calm during rush hours, and manage stock. The routine was getting boring, even if the paycheck gave a taste of independence. I felt like I had put my dreams on pause, so I decided to go back to my studies.

Choice 1 : Go to Polytechnic University in Montreal.

Go to Polytechnic University in Montreal.

When I applied to University, I could choose between three programs. My attention was mainly focused on two: Computer Engineering and Software Engineering. The difference is that Computer Engineering leans more toward the technical side, involving hardware and systems such as servers, while Software Engineering focuses on programming and developing applications.

Choice 1 : Study Computer Engineering.

Choice 2 : Study Software Engineering.

Study Computer Engineering.

I eventually joined the Computer Engineering program. Right now, I’m taking courses like Math and Physics, along with some classes in Cybersecurity. Lately, I’ve been hesitating between continuing in Computer Engineering or switching to Software Engineering. On one hand, I dream of becoming a video game designer, which leans more toward software development. On the other hand, I’m also passionate about Cybersecurity and want to deepen my skills in that field. It’s a tough decision, but I’m hoping to find a path that allows me to combine both interests.

Choice 1 : Graduate in Computer Engineering.

Choice 2 : Change to Software Engineering.

Study Software Engineering.

I eventually joined the Software Engineering program, thinking it would be the right path for me. But as the semester went on, I realized I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected. The focus on coding and software design just doesn’t excite me, and I often find myself feeling disconnected from the material. Now, I’m hesitating between switching to Computer Engineering, which might suit me better with its more technical and hardware-related aspects, or dropping out entirely to take time and rethink my goals. It’s a confusing moment, but I know I need to make a change.

Choice 1 : Graduate in Software Engineering

Choice 2 : Drop out to travel the world.

Graduate in Software Engineering.

Piece of paper in my sweaty hands, I thought about the late-night studies group. I'm proud of who I became, and what myself projects to the surrounding people. My life choices during those years built my personality and made me who I am. I was not easy, but it was worth it.

Choice 1 : Work at Google.

Drop out to travel the world.

I was building someone else's dreams instead of mine, so I took a ticket to Spain Barcelona. It was the best decision of my entire life. There were no more late-night studies or dark circles under my eyes. Just me, the sun, and the beach. But everything comes to an end, I have to get back on track. I need to make great decisions about my future to secure it, so I found a job as a Software Engineer.

Choice 1 : Start over

Choice 2 : Find a job as a Software Engineer.

Find a job as a Software Engineer.

Software Engineering opens the door to many career choices. Sometimes they have a better salary than other engineers. You could become a web developer, a database creator, a video game designer, etc. There are many team to be a part of like the AI team which is the most interesting.

Choice 1 : Work at Google.

Choice 2 : Work at Tesla.

Work at Google.

Everything lookes perfect from the outside at Google. I joined the AI team full of excitement, but it didn’t take long to realize ideas mattered less than whose name was attached. A colleague started taking credit for my work in meetings, subtly reshaping my narratives to make herself the center of each of my successes. When I brought it up to my manager, he nodded, promised to “look out for signs". Weeks later, she got promoted, and I got silence.

Choice 1 : Start over

Choice 2 : Fight about my intellectual right.

Work at Tesla.

Working at Tesla is a dream. A few months in, something was off. Parts of the group project were being marked as “certified”, in the Excel app without any testing. They were pushing employees to meet the project deadlines to protect the investor. One day, I brought it up, hoping someone would care. Instead, I was told to "focus on my work" and leave the decisions to the people in power. A few days later, I built a file against those managers, and I'm ready to bring it to HR. I can either speak up or stay silent like everyone else.

Choice 1 : Start over

Choice 2 : Speak up about the corruption.

Speak up about the corruption.

I lost my job trying to do the right thing. I spoke up about the dishonesty, hoping to raise awareness among a few colleagues but instead of support, I was met with silence, avoidance, and eventually, a termination notice. Doing the right thing cost me everything.

Choice 1 : Start over

Fight about my intellectual right.

I lost my job trying to do the right thing, but not because I failed. I was outplayed. In a world where backdoor deals and whispered alliances matter more than talent, standing up for truth makes you a threat.

Choice 1 : Start over

Graduate in Computer Engineering.

Piece of paper in my sweaty hands, I thought about the late-night studies group. I'm proud of who I became, and what myself projects to the surrounding people. My life choices during those years built my personality and made me who I am. I was not easy, but it was worth it.

Choice 1 : Find a job as a Computer Engineer

Choice 2 : Drop out to travel the world.

Go to ETS University.

ETS stood out for me because it offered more practical studies. The programs are built around solving real problems of the world with real tools to solve them. It was exactly what I was looking for. The environment is motivating, with students from all kinds of backgrounds. There is a strong connection with industries through internships and projects.

Choice 1 : Enter the Workforce.

Choice 2 : Pursue Graduate Studies.

Enter the Workforce.

The next step was straight into the workforce. I was eager to use everything I had learned during my school years and finally experience the practical side of engineering. The transition was different, with tight deadlines, team meetings, and the pressure to prove myself, but it felt good to make a difference.

Choice 1 : Work at OpenAI.

Choice 2 : Work at Google.

Choice 3 : Work at Tesla.

Pursue Graduate Studies.

I chose my master's studies in Cybersecurity. With cyber threats being in our lives each day, I wanted to deepen my knowledge in the basics to understand how systems are attacked and defended. The more I learned, the more I realized how important this field is too protecting the data and privacy.

Choice 1 : Work at OpenAI.

Work at OpenAI.

Working at OpenAI seems to be a good experience, but I began dreading each day. A colleague flirted constantly, it started as playful, but turned into harassment. His words crossed the red line, and I became closed off. Some others shared similar stories, but fear deterred us from speaking out about it. I wondered if reporting him would change anything or make it worse. Perpetrators like him thrive when nothing deters their behavior. I stayed quiet for too long.

Choice 1 : Start over

Choice 2 : Keep the job as an Engineer.

Keep the job as an Engineer.

I continued working at the same place to pay y bills. I was alone again, working on some group assignment. It was so impersonal and cold reflecting the lack of human beings in the workplace. I was not content with my work, making me feel less productive. I decided to work overtime so that I would feel useful. I had always thought that group work must be eliminated since not all people work on the same rate of time. It is difficult to share a group of four people for a meeting of fifteen minutes since all people have different lives. The only thing that makes it worth it doing overtime is the money that I get to spend afterwards. I can explore different hobbies such as books, movies, and paintings.

Choice 1 : Start over

Choice 2 : The final step Retirement.

The final step Retirement.

After years of waking up in the morning, I could finally sleep endlessly. The drudgery of my daily routines and the drive of work were behind me. I could finally enjoy my pension since I’m mortgage-free. During my working years, I set aside money to experience a freer retirement, because during those last years, work-money-children were my only occupations. I can travel, test some new hobbies, and appreciate my family. I smile, thinking about the savings I can spend and the quiet mornings ahead of me. I’m feeling free for the first time. I realized retirement isn’t an end, it is the beginning of a new experience.

Choice 1 : Sart over