Human life is a journey, so let me tell you a little about mine.
Hello, my name is Yaneli.
I'm a lifelong creative and an early-career technologist. Before undergrad, I explored the culinary world through a vocational program in hospitality. Over two years, I earned ServSafe Food Handler and Allergen certifications, participated in cooking and baking competitions, and developed the skills needed to succeed in the hospitality industry.
I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science and a minor in Art. During undergrad, I focused primarily on web development, computer game development, mobile device development, database principles, and digital media. My projects include the website you're on right now, a browser-based game built in Unity, small applications for Android and iOS, a hypothetical bookstore website and database, interactive artworks using creative code, and videos for YouTube. Check out my Projects page to see more!
As an upperclassman, I was selected for an internship as a Python instructor for a summer course and webmaster for a local school. The opportunity was ultimately canncelled due to the impact of COVID-19.
After graduation, I joined a year-long new graduate program as an Associate Technical Consultant. There, I gained exposure to enterprise software development and participated in a Java development bootcamp, where I created a Spring Boot application for managing a personal library. I also gained experience with application testing, including developing test cases and automations using enterprise tools. After three months, my position and the program were affected by company layoffs.
I later turned my attention to opportunities with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, volunteering at the Detrtoit River International Wildlife Refuge in several roles, including stewardship crew, front desk and visitor services, Science Saturday events, and educational program support. I particularly enjoyed working with the stewardship crew, where I learned about invasive species and contributed to their removal and management. Supporting educational events and visitor services was equally rewarding, giving me opportunities to learn more about the natural world around me while helping others do the same.
Recently, I have gained more experience in hospitality and retail. I currently work as a barista trainer at a popular coffeehouse. To date, I have trained four people across two stores. Through this work, I've continued to develop my skills in communication, teaching, teamwork, time-managment, and adapting to changes and fast-paced environments.
Outside of work, you can usually find me spending time with my cat, learning about and managing her diabetes, somewhere down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, on an adventure in a video game, drawing in my sketchbook, bullet journalling, or cooking up a vegetarian meal.
This fall, I plan to expand my horizons by pursuing substitute teaching as well as renew my focus in technology by continuing my education through online courses.
The journey continues, and I look forward to what's ahead.