Computer Science trip San Francisco
For anyone with a passion for technology, Silicon Valley is the ultimate destination — a global hub where innovation is born, ideas become reality, and the future is written in code
I n October, we had our first-ever Computer Science trip to San Francisco. From exploring Silicon Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, to visiting UC Berkeley, Stanford, and the Intel Museum, the experience was packed with unforgettable moments. Yet, the true highlight of our journey was meeting successful Old Alleynians who inspired us through their stories and achievements. We had the pleasure of visiting the office of the Lending Club, a fintech service provider that specialises in peer-to-peer lending, at the invitation of Lukasz Strozek OA, the Chief Technological Officer at the company. We were warmly welcomed by Lukasz and his team, who gave us a tour of their communal workspace before leading a workshop where they shared their diverse academic and career journeys. Their stories — from backgrounds in computer science, finance, and engineering — revealed the wide range of opportunities available in the tech world. We asked questions about working in Silicon Valley and how key life decisions were made. The team responded with honesty and insight, offering advice that left a lasting impression on us all. It was a rare and inspiring opportunity to step into a real tech environment and imagine our own potential futures. At UC Berkeley, we met OAs Zoir and Vasyl, who shared their university experiences, project work, and advice. “Lock in now,” said Zoir, “and your career will shine.” We also had a chance to briefly meet OA Victor near Pier 39, who offered encouraging words and shared his own journey. It
Gliding through the city without a driver behind the wheel felt like something straight out of science fiction
was around this area that we took our first rides in a fully driverless Waymo taxi — gliding through the city without a driver behind the wheel felt like something straight out of science fiction. It was a surreal and exciting experience that perfectly captured the cutting-edge spirit of the trip. This was an amazing inaugural Computer Science trip to the United States and we look forward to visiting again very soon. ◎
by Suren Grigoryan, Year 13 and Gordon Chen, Year 12
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THE ALLEYNIAN 713
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