Hi, I'm Russel
he/him
A 24 year old software developer
Based in Edmonton, Alberta
I graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)'s Digital Media and IT - Computer Software Development program in September 2022.
During my time there, I learned a multitude of languages, skills, and a foundation of knowledge surrounding the software development life cycle — from programming languages such as C#, SQL, and JavaScript to project management, communications, and agile/scrum methodologies.
After school, I decided to work part-time while in pursuit of a software career. I took on some projects that I would work on during my off-days, which gave me more software experience and a sense of direction career-wise.
Outside of software development, I enjoy music, going to the gym, and video games.
Music has always been an important part of my life. It can serve as a form of expression, a mood enhancer, and can bring people together. I also believe that music and sound, or a lack thereof, can help portray expression in other forms of media. Movies like Baby Driver and Guardians of the Galaxy wouldn't be what they are without the accompanying music.
I took up the guitar at the age of 10, played trumpet throughout junior high and high school, and have touched a drum kit once or twice in my lifetime. Today, the only instrument I continue to play is the guitar (albeit terribly).
Music has also taken a more physical form in my life, as I have recently started a vinyl record collection. I currently have 21 records, all of which are hung up on my bedroom walls. Eventually, I wish to plaster my entire wall full of records.
Around August 2021, I started going to the gym. Initially, it was a half-baked attempt to change how I looked while going out with my friends. Now, it has become a routine that has improved my physical and mental health.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other life events during that time brought my life to a standstill. My days felt both mundane and hectic at the same time. I dropped school for a semester, wasn't working, and was taking care of my parents due to injuries, meanwhile trying to adjust to the restrictions placed due to the pandemic. Once I started going to the gym, I felt like my days had purpose again. I started working on myself most days of the week and had goals I would work towards.
Video games have always been prevalent in my life. Growing up, my cousins and I would play my grandfather's games almost daily. I vividly recall playing GoldenEye 007 on the N64 after eating dinner every night. Eventually, I would get a computer at home, and I could play games whenever I wanted to.
To this day I enjoy playing games when I have time. Recently, I have been playing Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and first-person shooters like Valorant now and then. My mental health will not let me play those last two for extended periods of time.