Thinking Critically and Creatively: 10 Questions with Vivian Huynh, BSIS ’26
iSCHOOL STUDENT PROFILE
The challenges inherent in information science not only stimulate my intellect but also encourage me to think critically and creatively. Whether it's grappling with complex data structures, designing user-friendly interfaces or developing innovative solutions to information management problems, each challenge presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
Vivian Huynh, a first-generation Bachelor of Science in Information Science student from Casper, Wyoming, is passionate about data science’s societal impact. As someone who changed her major after coming to UArizona, she believes the iSchool experience holds profound significance because “it represents a journey of discovery, growth and transformation towards a bright future.”
What brought you to the University of Arizona to study information science?
The second I toured the University of Arizona, I knew it was a place I could cultivate success and personal growth! One aspect that particularly stood out to me was the university's commitment to fostering student success through various resources such as the Student Success Center, tutoring services and career development workshops. Knowing that these resources were readily available gave me the confidence that I could excel academically and professionally during my time at UArizona. Moreover, the vibrant campus community and opportunities for research and extracurricular involvement further convinced me that this was the right place for me to pursue my degree.
What area of information science are you most interested in, and why?
My particular focus in the Bachelor’s in Information Science lies in the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of data science. What excites me most about this focus area is its interdisciplinary nature and its profound impact across various industries and fields. Data science presents an unparalleled opportunity to extract meaningful insights and solve complex problems by leveraging vast amounts of data. From analyzing consumer behavior to predicting disease outbreaks, the applications of data science are virtually limitless. The prospect of using advanced statistical techniques, machine learning algorithms and data visualization tools to uncover patterns and trends within data sets truly fascinates me.
As part of her BSIS, Vivian developed code to test and train her Python chatbot.
What do you like best about the Bachelor of Science in Information Science?
One of the aspects I appreciate most about my degree program is the inherent challenge it presents. Information science is a dynamic and multidisciplinary field that encompasses areas such as information retrieval, data management, human-computer interaction and information architecture, among others. What I enjoy most is the constant need to adapt and learn in order to keep pace with advancements in technology and information systems. The challenges inherent in information science not only stimulate my intellect but also encourage me to think critically and creatively. Whether it's grappling with complex data structures, designing user-friendly interfaces or developing innovative solutions to information management problems, each challenge presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
What has been your biggest challenge at UArizona, and how have you overcome that challenge?
My biggest challenge has been finding a true passion for learning! Originally, I was pursuing a career in the medical field. I started out as a public health major. As I progressed through the public health curriculum, I realized I had a lot of fun doing biostatistics and working with data. However, I felt unmotivated in every other aspect of it. After looking inwards, I discovered that I was more drawn to the data science facet of public health.
Changing my major was significant; during the transition, I had trouble deciding if it was truly the right choice since I had spent the majority of my life wanting to go strictly into the medical field. Luckily, as soon as I made the change, I knew it was the right degree for me. Since changing my major, I rediscovered my passion for learning and felt more motivated than ever to pursue a career in information and data science!
What has been your biggest challenge outside of UArizona, and how have you overcome that challenge?
My biggest challenge in life has always been change! I’m sure that many people can relate, but I tend to procrastinate. Not so much in my schoolwork, but I procrastinate making difficult decisions. I had always been a little adverse to making big changes to my life, fearing that I would regret them. I think a big part of my growth while in college has been learning to adapt to change and to not be afraid to do it! I’ve now found that there is growth in every aspect of life, even the moments when your world turns upside down.
During Vivian's Reddit mentorship in January 2024, she tracked the number of likes (top) and comments (bottom) on Reddit and then created this graph using Python and R.
Tell us about your professional development experiences while at the iSchool, and your career aspirations.
I have recently been participating in Reddit’s mentorship program. Through this program I have been learning how data science– combined with business— fits into companies like Reddit and other corporations. It has been very eye-opening, challenging and ultimately fun!
My career aspirations are to become a data scientist! I specifically have become fond of NLP (natural language processing) and machine learning. I would love to work closely with these two disciplines in my future.
What student organizations or other extracurricular activities are you involved with? Tell us about that experience.
I am currently a member of WICS (Women in Information and Computer Science) student organization. Being a part of this club has let me connect with other like-minded women who are pursuing similar interests. It has also been super helpful with career development and networking. I also am a part of DataCats, which is the data science club at UArizona. I learn a lot from each meeting about the myriad roles that data science plays in society.
What are your passions beyond school?
Vivian's travels have taken her to South Korea, including the Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, seen here.
Outside of school, I enjoy playing tennis, thrifting, playing video games and most importantly being with those I love.
What advice do you have for prospective iSchool students?
My advice is to be open-minded! There are so many courses and facets within information science. I would say to keep your doors open to all the amazing opportunities that this college has to offer. You may be able to find your passion in a niche aspect that this program offers. Try everything if you can!
What does the iSchool experience mean for you?
The iSchool experience holds profound significance for me as it represents a journey of discovery, growth and transformation towards a bright future! I truly believe that anyone can discover something new about themselves by being a part of this community.
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