The Daily Herald -Dennis M.C. Ideler

Recap your story: I liked school when I was young and did very well until I got into VWO. I probably thought after making it this far that not much could go wrong and I stopped focusing on school as much as I used to. My grades dropped, but I kept them just high enough to prevent having to retake any courses, I was lazy, but not dumb enough to fail. I now realize that laziness can be a great virtue because it forces you to simplify problems and come up with easy solutions; and this is especially true in computer science, however, don’t confuse laziness with incompetency. I went on to start my post-secondary education at a Canadian university in a small but beautiful city called St. Catharines.

When I entered the computer science (honours) programme, I realized I had a new life. I had left my past behind and started afresh in a new country. I worked hard my first year; it was tough. Classes were taught in English. The math was difficult because I hadn’t paid enough attention during high school. All this computer science material I was learning was completely new to me, but it was just review for my Canadian friends who had learned it in high school. I saw it as a challenge and did my best, but at times I doubted myself and wondered if I was even capable of continuing. I joined communities on campus to become more involved and made lots of friends. I passed my first year, but it wasn’t easy.

At the beginning of my second year, my grades were high enough to enter the Co-op programme. I would advise anyone to join such a program if they have the opportunity. My first work term was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where I worked for a search engine company. While I worked there, a friend and I came up with the idea of starting an online community for our computer science (CS) department, mainly to help out first year students, as CS departments have a 75% dropout rate among first-year students. We brought in an old computer to use as a web server, made the site, and proposed the idea to faculty staff. After a lot of convincing, they allowed us to host on the department’s domain. That web server is still running under a desk in the computer science club today.

I’ve competed in regional programming competitions in university, built a fully functional media centre with a 7-person team, built a full 3D chess game in less than half a month, and I’ve done lots more. I honestly think computer science is one of the most demanding programs in university if you want to do well in it, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. I’ve had countless sleepless nights, even when starting projects weeks in advance, but when you complete it and your solution is beautiful, then it’s all worth it.

What St. Maarten district are you from? Maho Reef.

Where did you go to school on St. Maarten? Hillside Christian School Kindergarten, Sister Magda Primary School, Milton Peters College HAVO/VWO.

What is your favourite St. Maarten memory? Skim boarding.

What was your biggest surprise when you left the island? That St. Maarten doesn’t really live up to its name “The Friendly Island” when compared to other places.

What are your accomplishments? I will only list a few to keep the list short: Competed in the Science Fair (2005) and presented a solution to a major traffic congestion problem – the government soon introduced a similar change and we were asked to be guest speakers on a local cable TV programme; member of the Brock ACM ICPC 2008 & 2009 team (http://www.cosc.brocku.ca/node/354); elected member of the Residence Action Council (RAC) ‘07/’08 of Quarry View Residence; current president and founder of the Brock Chess Club since January; Brock University computer science recruiter at the Ontario Universities’ Fair (OUF) 2009; co-founder of online community BrockBots (March 2009 – present); co-op representative of computer science (2009); creator of Basic Browser Chess (2010) (chess.kicks-ass.org)

What are your goals? I usually set very short term goals but my main long term goals would be to get my bachelor’s degree and then my master’s.

What makes you special? I don’t consider myself special, just a hard and smart worker. Anyone can be successful if their initial conditions are reasonable and they have enough drive. For me, my passion is my work. I enjoy all there is to learn in computer science, and I push my limits all the time. I never want to just complete a project, but to complete it perfectly. I also try to be very involved in my field and I am often working on extra-curricular projects simply for the enjoyment.

Where do you get your drive? From helping the greater good by trying to make a difference in the world, even if it’s a minor difference such as volunteering for events or contributing to an open source project. I also get it from my peers & role models, friendly competition, expanding my knowledge, trying to push my limits to see what I can achieve, and being able to chase my own interests.

How long have you been gone? I left the island at the end of summer 2007, so approximately three years.

Do you have any advice for the young people of St. Maarten? If you like puzzles and computers, consider giving computer science a try. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not doing well in school at a young age. After high school, all the decisions are made by you, so make your decisions wisely and do something you enjoy. Get a hobby now that will be useful in your future, even if it’s just a stress reliever. Get involved; help out a community of your choice. A little kindness can go a long way.

Are you planning to return to St. Maarten in the future? I definitely see myself going back for vacation since it’s my home, however, there aren’t many employment opportunities in my field of interest for me to live there year-round but maybe that will change.