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Opportunities were very scarce when I was growing up in Haiti, but I never stopped dreaming big. As a child, I was always curious about anything too complicated for my young brain to comprehend. I would ask myself the following questions: What makes it possible for me to see those images on my TV? How is it possible to listen to someone speaking from the box that is called the radio? How is it that this machine called an airplane can fly above my head?
Many years later when I moved to the United States, the seed of curiosity that was planted in my childhood grew and I knew that I wanted to learn about technology for my higher education. It was during my senior year in High School in North Carolina, that my High School invited many local professionals to speak about their respective professions. It was done to introduce to the High School junior and senior students to different types of bachelor’s degrees they could pursue at their chosen universities. But it was one speaker, in particular, a Computer Scientist, that caught my attention. As he started explaining how machine languages are used to teach machines to perform certain tasks, I was hooked.
After I graduated from High School, I did not go to university to become a Computer Scientist like that speaker. I simply could not afford it. However, my hope to pursue my aims never faded. That seed of curiosity surrounding technology was still planted firmly. Therefore, I did the next best thing. I joined the United States Navy to serve and access the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) educational fund. This fund is for eligible Service members and US Veterans to attend university, Technical or vocational school, and for flight training.
After serving for four years in the US Navy, I attended Florida Gulf Coast University where I acquired a few Bachelor of Science Degrees: Finance, Economics, and Computer Information Systems. I did say I was always curious! Although it took me many years to finally get where I wanted to be, I have learned to be relentless in the pursuit of what I consider to be important to me and to be patient. My fascination and passion to learn about different aspects of technology are still burgeoning and unending. I will never stop learning.
It was only a few years ago that I completed my master’s studies in the Strategic Finance and Business Analytics program from the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology. During the study process, I learned to use Excel to an advanced level and became familiar with different programming languages and tools such as MATLAB, R, Python, Stata, and SAS.
I continue to read a variety of books about tech for self-improvement to help sustain this long-lasting curiosity. Many of those books are about Tech for self-improving, and they are ranging from Advanced Excel for Business Analytics to Machine Learning with Python programming language. My favorite so far that I would recommend is Machine Learning with R: Expert techniques for predictive modeling, 3rd Edition by Brett Lantz.
Recently, I accepted an internship position offer with AirFaas. AirFaas is a software company that facilitates digitalization for procurement services. At AirFaas I feel at home. The team allows me to be involved in different meetings with existing or potential clients, participate in different projects, and take part in major software specifications for new features. I truly feel like a part of the team. Not just an intern. They also help me to feed my unending curiosity!
I do not know what the future will hold for me, and I know that today is the only day that is guaranteed. Therefore, I make sure to use every opportunity to keep learning, growing, and chasing my goals. Time is too important to waste on old ways that may consume most of your precious time. Feed your curiosity with AirFaas and adopt a simpler way of digitalizing your procurement process.
My name is Frantz Desvallons, and I am the new intern at AirFaas.