Emma Bostian is an outgoing senior with big things ahead of her. When she’s not programming in the RB 350 Lab, Emma can be found working with Admissions or cheering on Siena Basketball, playing trumpet in the Pep Band. Having already accepted a job with IBM in Austin, Texas, Emma’s future is shining bright. Get to know this lovely Saint as she reflects on her experiences at Siena.
Minor: Business
Year: Senior
Hometown: Red Hook, NY
Favorite Spot on Campus: Roger Bacon 350 Lab
Favorite Class: Web Application Development
Her Campus Siena: What is your favorite class? Who is your favorite professor?
Emma: My favorite class is Web Application Development, and we basically learn to build websites from scratch. I got to learn several different languages, whether it’s HTML, CSS, PHP, and using databases within web apps, which is really cool. I’ve definitely learned a lot there.
My favorite professor, that’s a hard one. I’ve had so many good professors. I really, really liked my first-year seminar professor, Joseph Fitzgerald. He was awesome, I had him for Public Policy and it’s impact. He was the greatest, and he told us the best stories. He taught me a lot about life, and he’s actually the reason I stayed at Siena, he really pulled for me on that, so that was good. As far as CS professors go, I think Professor DiTursi because I’ve had him for four classes, and he’ll take the time out of his day to sit with me. He doesn’t care if I take up a lot of his time, he works with me and he’s just awesome. I really like him.
HC Siena: What made you choose to major in Computer Science? What do you like most about it?
Emma: I chose Computer Science because I took Intro to Computer Science and I loved it. It combined creative aspects of my thought process with the logical side, because I’ve always been very creative with music, but I also like math and technical and logical thinking. I really like that.
What do I like most about Computer Science? I like the fact that we’re taught both the low level things about how computers run, we get to learn hardware and software, and make games. I like that it’s fun, there’s no one way to do something. We have the ability to program a video game in whatever way we want, as long as it works, which is really cool.
HC Siena: What are your plans for after graduation?
Emma: After I graduate, I’ve accepted a job offer down in Austin, Texas to do Java web development with IBM. So that’s my plan, moving to Texas!
HC Siena: What extracurricular activities are you involved in on campus?
Emma: I manage Pep Band, and I’ve been involved with Pep Band for three and a half years. I work with Admissions, so I started out as a Pathfinder, and I moved up to Ambassador giving tours, and now I’m a McGuire and I give interviews three times a week to high school seniors who want to apply here. Those are my two main things I’ve done on campus.
HC Siena: What have you enjoyed the most about being involved in Pep Band?
Emma: I’ve just enjoyed the friendships I’ve made, and the memories. I was not a sports fan when I came here, I actually hated sports. Now I’m the biggest college basketball fan, to the point where I stayed up until 3 a.m. in London to watch the UAlbany game, which is insane. But I would say the memories I’ve made and the friends I’ve made for sure have been the best part.
HC Siena: You mentioned London, you studied abroad there last fall. How was your study abroad experience?
Emma: It was the most incredible experience. I actually never wanted to go abroad when I came here, and just on a whim I decided to do it. I got to see the world, I got to see different cultures that I’d never experienced before. I got to try new foods that were outside my comfort zone, and meet people from all over the world that are so different but so much alike, and we’re best friends. Absolutely the best experience of my life.
HC Siena: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Emma: In my spare time, I like to read a lot. I read books for fun. Obviously I watch a lot of Netflix! I like to play music, I play piano and trumpet. I like to just hang out with people, while doing the reading and music are fun, it’s kind of nice to just hang out with people. So it’s kind of a mix of both. Oh and I work! I still work with IBM interning for them.
HC Siena: What is your favorite memory from Siena?
Emma: That’s a tie between study abroad, which wasn’t really at Siena, so I guess I’d have to say winning the CBI, when we rushed the court I definitely cried. It was the best thing, because you watch them for three years and you get so attached to them and emotionally involved, then they don’t win. Just watching the three game series, especially against Fresno State. When they beat Fresno State in California that was crazy, but when they won the CBI here it was the best moment. I’m so excited for this season.
HC Siena: What will you miss most about Siena?
Emma: I’m going to miss the family I’ve made here. They told me when I came here that you didn’t just come for the education, you came for the experience. I am definitely walking away with a family of people that I am going to miss when I go how many thousands of miles away. I’m also really going to miss the professors a lot, because I look up to them. I’m going to miss having that, but I’ll keep in touch. And I miss learning, I really like the classes here!
HC Siena: What advice would you give to your younger peers?
Emma: Don’t be afraid to try something new, whether that’s maybe looking into a major you didn’t consider, because if you told me three years ago that I’d be Computer Science, I would’ve laughed at you. I never would think that I’d be here. Or whether it’s going out of your way to be nice to someone that you don’t know. Especially at Siena everyone has a good heart. If you take time to go out of your way to say something nice or do something nice for someone, it’s going to impact them. Don’t be afraid to do something of your comfort zone, do something to get involved for sure. That’s how you make friends and make experiences. And explore your options early, I wish I had looked into study abroad earlier so I could do another semester, stuff like that.