As a Senior Software Engineer at Amazon Web Services, my work now revolves around solving complex real world problems through theoretical knowledge and practical implementation. Much like building a trebuchet, software development requires breaking down big abstract problems (how to fling a pumpkin) into small components (the Trebuchet base, sling, length of the arm, counterweight, etc), pushing things to the limit to see what breaks and troubleshooting to fix it. The school gave me the mindset to approach challenges with curiosity and creativity. It encouraged me to deconstruct problems and figure out how things work—a mindset that was essential when I transitioned to high school and beyond