Alumni Spotlight is back! Check out CHP’s latest interview with 2011 alumnus, Jonathan Masukawa.
What have you been up to since graduating from UCI?
“After I graduated, I went to work. I was a civil engineer at the time, which was my bachelor’s degree. I was working for a while and didn’t really like what I was doing, so I decided to go back for a masters [in computer science at UCI]. … Now I am working at Google as a software engineer. I am still pretty active in volunteering. There is a non-profit organization that I help out with from time to time from when I was an undergrad up until now. … I’ve also been teaching … an intro to computer science class at Santa Monica College, the local community college. I’m always on the side working on different things … one day maybe one of those ideas might be able to make a startup or get funding, [I’ll] actually have my own company.”
What was your ultimate takeaway or favorite memory from your time in the CHP?
“Favorite memory is definitely Variety Show. There are a lot of good moments at those types of events, like Battle of the Brains and the Iron Chef event. Those were all really fun. … Being in the CHP … you’re surrounded by a lot of people who are smart and always doing awesome things … and surrounding yourself with those people who are typically high achievers who want to do something with their lives was a big takeaway. Like not settling for the ‘ok,’ [but asking] ‘what more can I do.’”
How did your experience with the CHP prepare you for the career path you have chosen?
“One of the things that CHP provided was a lot of different opportunities. … There is so many different things you can do and there is so much you can be involved with … You have to figure out the most important things to you … I feel like that kind of environment, where as much as you put in, you can get out is very much what I am experiencing now. Working at Google and having worked other places is the same thing — as much as you put in, is what you get out. … Being in that environment carries naturally to the working world.”
Thinking about your time at UCI, what were you involved in? Did you have a job or internship? Did you hold any leadership position(s)?
“When I was at UCI, I was in a few different clubs. … I was the Vice President of Institution for Transportation Engineers (ITE). I was on the board of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). … I competed for UCI Karate Club. I had internships in the summer. One of them was in Hawaii, which was super cool. … [I had] school jobs throughout pretty much all four years. I worked for an IT department … So if you lived on campus or used any of the on campus housing computer labs, [I was a] student employee that maintained that. I had that part time job working 15-20 hours a week throughout [my] entire time. [I also] did some tutoring.”
What goals did you set to get where you are today? What goals have you set for yourself recently?
“A goal for myself is to … seek like an egg-shape for your character. … An egg shape means you have a focus or something you’re really passionate about or something you like, maybe something you’re better at, but you also try to not have any weak points. For me as a goal, that was something that guided my career trajectory and even though I did civil engineering, I also was interested in computer science, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering. I had a lot of different options for me when I realized that civil engineering wasn’t the thing I wanted to do. That made it easy for me to pivot and adjust my little egg to go from civil engineering towards computer science and software.”
“For tangible goals, it was just to get a job after I graduated. Once I got my master’s degree, [my goal] was to get a job at a top tech company. … Now [my goal] is to do well at my current job. Short term goals, [include] promotion and long term goals [include] wanting to start a company someday.”
What motivates you?
“My mom was a teacher and my aunt was a teacher throughout my whole life. It was cool to see the impact that a single person can have on a lot of people. My mom’s students keep coming back to her. As they grow up, she gets to see all the awesome things her students have done over the years that she has helped and contributed to. … I feel that is one thing that motivates me. … If I invest my time and effort to things that not only help people directly, but also help people help people, you can have that chain reaction. That’s one thing in terms of passion that I work on. … At some point in time I do want to settle down. I feel like the amount of freedom that I have right now being someone who’s in my twenties not having too many long term responsibilities — I don’t have a mortgage, I don’t have any loans, not married, I don’t have a family. Knowing at some point in my life I do want all that is a time pressure in the next 10 years for me. It keeps me honest about trying to achieve those things.”
What advice would you have for current CHP leaders?
“Leading by example is a very powerful thing. People get inspired by seeing people do awesome things. Especially people who are in leadership positions. … My advice for CHP leaders is to encourage people to challenge themselves and not make people feel like they can’t be as awesome as you.”
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