A network is like a group of people having a conversation. Ideally, each person listens to what everyone else is saying, everyone eventually has a chance to speak, and at the end, everyone might come out of it learning a little bit more about each other. The Internet is a lot like that, but on a far larger scale. Us computer networkers are "ice-breakers"; we introduce new people to the group or new groups to the global conversation and ensure that people can talk to the new members with minimal error and interruption.

Originally, when I was choosing a field to study in high school, I was set on programming because that was the field I had the most experience in. However, I decided that I could learn programming on my own time and try a new experience for the next two years. This decision ended up changing the way I look at computers and even made me reconsider what field I want to eventually find a job in.

One thing I learned quickly is that networking is a completely different atmosphere from programming; while programming is more isolated, networking is more dependant on teamwork and communication. Just as networks connect together, people might have to connect together to solve an obscure problem. By breaking out of a traditional programmer's mindset, I developed not only a new method of problem solving, but also became more sociable and met many new people.