Hello there! My name is Monica Collazo-Cofino. I'm a second-year student at York University majoring in Information Technology (ITEC).

My interest in IT began when I was young. Every Sunday, starting from when I was in third grade, my dad would sit me down to teach me how to code using scratch or explain how computers worked. As much as I dreaded giving up my Sunday mornings to do that when I was young, I am incredibly grateful now because those lessons sparked my curiosity for IT. With my love for math and business, IT felt like the perfect blend of creativity and logic, making it the perfect fit for me. In high school, my dad also encouraged me to take a computer science course; little did I know that class would shape my future. It opened up a world of possibilities as I learned Java/JavaScript and created projects, like a functional food menu system and my version of Connect Four. Those experiences gave me the confidence and desire to pursue a career in IT.

While my IT journey has primarily focused on software development and problem-solving, I’ve also had the opportunity to apply my logical thinking and problem-solving skills in other areas. One of my first real-world experiences was helping my parents renovate our kitchen when we moved houses. One of the biggest challenges we faced was determining if we could remove a load-bearing wall, especially since we weren’t sure if it was one of the structural support walls in the house. We also wanted to extend the header that supported the upper structure of the room. This meant we needed to consider structural elements like electrical wiring, plumbing, or HVAC ducts that could be embedded within it, so at the beginning, we spent a lot of time just carefully investigating those areas to make sure we could even proceed with the vision we had.

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Once an electrician confirmed it was okay to remove the wall, the project shifted to framing, where we had to measure and cut the studs, jack studs, and headers with precise accuracy to maintain the structural integrity of the kitchen. This required a lot of careful calculations, including load distribution and proper support for the ceiling above. The photo shown is a collage of various stages of this renovation; one is just investigating the wall structure, another is inspecting the wires and ensuring that the frames were installed correctly, and the wide angle photo is to ensure everything looks aligned and supported.

This experience involved physical labour and applying engineering principles to solve real-world problems. It helped me learn the importance of attention to detail and the ability to plan, which I want to apply to my work in programming and IT.

In the meantime, I’m excited to dive into tech repairs and create guides for the iFixit community. I don’t have much experience fixing computers or hardware yet, but I’m eager to learn about it. As someone focused primarily on programming and software and has knowledge about hardware structures, I think it’ll be fascinating to explore how the hardware side physically works and how it connects to everything I already know. I’m hoping this experience will help me grow my skills and make technology feel less intimidating to others. If I can figure things out and share what I learn, maybe it’ll encourage someone similar to me to give it a try, too.

Skills:

  • Programming (Java, JavaScript, JavaFX, MatLab, HTML, Scratch)
  • Solid foundation in Mathematics (Statistics, Calculus, Vectors, Functions)
  • Microsoft Office (Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, Word)
  • Fluent in English and Spanish
  • Strong team collaboration and leadership skills

Projects/Accomplishments:

  • Created a functional website for a personal fitness trainer using HTML
  • Developed a JavaScript-based food menu as part of a high school computer science project
  • Designed and built various small-scale projects, including a personal budgeting tool and a basic interactive game, as part of coursework and personal learning.

Work Experience:

  • Currently working as a Deck Supervisor for the City of Brampton, managing a team of lifeguards/swim instructors and overseeing pool operations.

Groups/Memberships:

  • LA&PS College Crew Volunteer Team
  • Volunteered at Brampton Venture Zone, a major technology startup event

Accolades:

  • Awarded "Best Swim Instructor of the Session" x3 for outstanding leadership and commitment to team success at the City of Brampton.
  • Received Honours all four years of high school
  • Outstanding Achievement Award - Interdisciplinary Studies: Leadership

Hobbies:

  • Swimming
  • Travelling
  • Playing board games
  • Reading
  • Doing makeup
  • Movies
  • Acting

Fun fact about me: I can't live without coffee. It's in my Cuban blood!!