CS 373 Fall 2020: Harrison Gross

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Boerne, Texas, which is right outside San Antonio.

What high school did you attend?

Boerne Samuel V. Champion High School

What was your favorite extracurricular activity in high school?

My favorite extracurricular was definitely basketball. I had a lot of fun playing for my high school team and I still try to play somewhat regularly. I met some of my best friends playing basketball and it was a rewarding experience developing my skills alongside them.

Why did you come to UT?

UT was always the goal as just about my entire family went here; I’ve been wearing burnt orange since I was in diapers. Luckily, UT also happens to be one of the best computer science schools in the world, so it was a no-brainer.

Why are you majoring in CS?

I was always interested in video games and computers growing up so I took a computer science class in high school. I enjoyed the problem-solving nature of programming and appreciated that I could approach a problem from a million different ways.

What are your expectations of this class?

I took OOP last semester so I am familiar with the structure of this class. I expect to become more skilled in SQL, Python, javascript, as well as programming workflow in general.

How much JavaScript/Python/Web Programming do you already know?

I’ve done a couple of online tutorials, but I would still consider myself a novice.

How did you like the two lectures?

I enjoyed both lectures; I appreciate all of the different resources that Professor Downing provides so that we can review what we learned outside of class.

How do you feel about cold calling?

Having already taken OOP, I am less nervous about cold calling, but it still keeps me on my toes and engaged.

What made you happy this week?

I just recently got moved into my new place in West Campus. It made me happy to be settled in, living with my friends. As much as I love living with my parents, it’s nice to have some independence in a place as fun as Austin.

What’s your pick-of-the-week or tip-of-the-week?

My pick of the week would have to be Honey. It’s a popular browser extension that automatically applies coupon codes to your online order. It just saved me $15 on a pair of headphones!