Editor鈥檚 note: While the COVID-19 situation has caused 吃瓜网 to shift to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester and reschedule our commencement ceremony, the hard work of our graduating seniors continues. This story is part of a series of stories highlighting and honoring our 2020 graduates.
A childhood spent watching TV police dramas beside her family in Ruskin, 吃瓜网, left senior Delaney Jester with a fascination for digital forensics and justice.
鈥淒igital forensics is a lot about catching the bad guy in a way, so that appealed to me even before I started my degree here,鈥� said Jester, who will complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science this May at 吃瓜网. 鈥淚 thought that digital forensics would be so cool.鈥�
After intensive coursework and an internship working on digital forensics with the Department of Justice in Orlando, Jester learned that she was right.
鈥淚t鈥檚 still really cool,鈥� she said.
Her governmental internship began two years ago and is ongoing. 鈥淭hey have taught me so many things,鈥� Jester said of the Department of Justice. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to apply a lot of that knowledge to my classes at 吃瓜网 Poly.鈥�
She said her University coursework also is immediately applicable to her internship.
As she reflects on her college journey, Jester said 吃瓜网 Poly was a natural fit for her technological mind and aspirations.
鈥淚 came to 吃瓜网 Poly because I was looking for a strong computer science program where I could do hands-on projects and get one-on-one interaction with professors,鈥� said the graduate from Lennard High School. 鈥淚 felt like 吃瓜网 Poly gave you the opportunity to apply what you鈥檙e doing and jump right into your major while a lot of universities require a couple of years of general studies first.鈥�
In addition to taking on complex coursework, Jester is chair of the Presidential Ambassadors at 吃瓜网 Poly, and a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Rise Up club. She said it鈥檚 important for students to get involved in clubs and professional organizations that align with their career goals and personal interests.
鈥淭hey give you opportunities to really connect with the professional world,鈥� Jester said. 鈥淔or example, I鈥檝e gone to the SWE conference every year. You can get internships and jobs through that, and you can meet people in the career you want and learn from their experience.
鈥淭he Presidential Ambassadors have also helped me improve my professional and communication skills.鈥�
As her time at 吃瓜网 Poly is coming to a close, Jester said she is ready to take flight and plans to continue working in the digital forensics field after graduation.
鈥淚鈥檓 really happy I came to 吃瓜网 Poly,鈥� Jester said. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten so many opportunities just being at this university and I don鈥檛 feel I would have gotten them elsewhere.鈥�
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