Finding His Place

Northampton Community College (NCC) computer science major, Daniel Carbone, realizes his potential in and out of the classroom 

Some kids play with Legos, toy cars, or superhero action figures. Carbone played with spare computer parts thanks to his grandmother, who worked at a chip manufacturer.   

He remembers watching his father build a computer and explaining to him how computers could perform intricately complex functions, like create the fictional worlds in his favorite video games. Carbone was hooked and decided in that moment that he would become a computer scientist.  

Carbone’s vision of his future was very clear, but his path to studying computer science at NCC was anything but. It would take about 15 years, living in five states, a series of unfulfilling jobs, unreliable transportation, and a stint in the Army to get here. Once he did, Carbone quickly found his stride.  

“NCC showed me that I’m capable of making my dream come true and has given me a new reason to be happy,” he says. “I’m more confident and fulfilled than I ever have been. I’m developing the skills I need to be successful in my journey toward a bachelor’s degree, my GPA is increasing steadily, and my study skills are solidifying.” 

Even though he loves his major and has worked informally with computers his whole life, Carbone says the program is still academically challenging. Because he has the support of faculty and peers, he sees these challenges as new skills to be learned and not sources of frustration.  

For instance, one of his favorite aspects of his major is working with Assembly, an algebra-heavy, low-level computer language that corresponds to machine code. Though it is hard to understand, Carbone still has fun trying to figure it out: “That could also be because I’m not very good at it yet, like I am with higher level languages, but I love puzzles!” 

Carbone’s interest in computer science isn’t limited to just the classroom. He is president of NCC’s Computer Club and has thrown himself into partnering with other student-run clubs for campus events, providing opportunities for others to learn about computer science and engineering history, and cultivating his project management and leadership skills. 

Getting involved in campus life has given Carbone, who also is a member of the Outdoors Club and Pride Club, a home and helped him expand not just his social circle but his worldview. 

“If we aren’t exposed to people who are outside of our usual demographic, our scope and view of life is extremely limited,” he says. “I’ve always gone out of my way to speak to people outside of my usual social circles, but having it happen organically, has been a really great experience. I feel like I belong here, and that isn’t something I’ve felt before.” 

Right now, Carbone hopes to one day run his own tech company or work on bionic prosthetic software. Either way, he knows he has a lot of education ahead of him. In addition to helping him find his confidence and develop his programming skills, NCC has provided an affordable start to a long educational path.  

He is the recipient of the J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc. Veterans Scholarship and the PC4A: The PA Community College Consortium for STEM Education Scholarship. Scholarship money has helped him focus on his classes without having to work.  

“[Working with computers] always kept my vision in sight; I knew I’d be able to get a proper education in it someday,” says Carbone. “Even at my lowest lows, I just kept telling myself that I would be able to come back to this, and here I finally am.”