Class of 2024: Georgina Keller

Georgina Keller got fully involved in the opportunities offered at Essex from societies to internships and is now set to progress onto a software engineering job in the autumn after completing her BSc Computer Science.

She said: “There are some amazing lecturers and wonderful societies at Essex. I think one of the best things about the University is the student-led societies. I've been on cool trips with the climbing society and had some fun socials with the Computer Science and Electronic Engineering Society.”

And she has also made the most of internships she has completed in between her studies – one has led to a job.

“I have a software engineering job beginning in October with Tradeweb,” she said. “I interned with them last summer, and they offered me a full-time role for when I graduate.”

Originally from Oxfordshire, Georgina chose to come to Essex to study computer science after living in New Zealand for a few years: “I've always been technologically inclined and when I made the decision to attend university, computer science seemed like an obvious choice. It turned out to be a great decision as I love programming, in particular solving problems through code.”

While at Essex, Georgina has supported a lot students through mentoring in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE). “I originally put myself forward to be a Student Rep as I wanted a way to get involved with the university and to interact with other students,” she said.

“Not everyone is good at championing for themselves, and I wanted to make sure student voices were heard. I became a mentor in my second year, as I'm always happy to help other students and I know how daunting first year can be. There is a good community amongst the students in the CSEE department and I wanted to help keep it alive.”

And the encouragement of CSEE lecturers have also made a difference to Georgina’s time at Essex. She said: “I've had some great lecturers that I'll remember. There are two that stand out. Dr Jon Chamberlain, my Capstone supervisor was a source of encouragement when I felt lost. Dr David Richerby who taught Data Structures and Algorithms, did an amazing job at simplifying complex concepts. He seems genuinely passionate about teaching, and always made time for students.”

Now its time to enjoy completing her studies. “Since my last two summers were taken up by internships, I'll be spending this summer enjoying my free time,” said Georgina. “I've got a few festivals, and climbing trips planned and I'm just going to use the next few months to relax.”