From Wood to Code: My Journey as a Carpenter
Before immersing myself in the world of computer science and machine learning, I was raised in the construction industry as a carpenter. My journey began early – working alongside my father, a carpenter and contractor, I was on job sites before I was in my double digits. I remember my first hammer had a hollow aluminum shaft that completely bent when I tried to pull out a nail and moving lumber with a Gradeall before I could even consider getting a driver’s permit!
I’m profoundly thankful to my father for those early years on job sites. He not only taught me the technical skills of carpentry but instilled in me a work ethic and value system that has served me well throughout my life. The discipline, attention to detail, and perseverance I learned from him continue to be foundational to my success as I’ve matured and changed career paths.
I worked my way up through the trade, starting with building garbage piles, sweeping job sites, and clearing ankle-rolling cut-offs. Over time, I progressed to packing out walls, helping with plumb and line, framing, sheeting, installing hardware, and performing pickup work. Eventually, I developed the skills to read plans and shear/hardware schedules.
My experience spans residential track homes, multifamily apartment buildings, school remodels, prefabricated wall assembly, and custom homes – including finish work in kitchens, bathrooms, and room additions. This hands-on background taught me problem-solving, precision, and project management – skills that continue to serve me well in my current research.
When I returned to school in 2019, my construction background helped me land an internship as a project engineer at Otto Construction. I’m grateful to John, Jose, Rick, and Brian for that opportunity which helped bridge my transition from carpentry to academia.
The gallery below showcases some of my past carpentry work – a different kind of building than my current research, but one that shares the same foundations of creativity, precision, and technical skill.
