Nathan Byrer

I was a year out of high school, starting my first year at IUPUI. I was a first generation college student, not really sure what I wanted out of college. I started thinking I wanted to be an electrical engineer, but the courses really were not interesting me. Having had years of music education, I decided to take a course called M110 Computers in Music to fill an elective.

Through that class, I met Doug Smith, the faculty member teaching the course. Over the semester, Doug got to know me and I him. I think he realized that I was a little lost and decided to help me out. He and I talked and discussed that I found the computer part of the course very interesting. He took a chance on me and made me a lab attendant in the computer music lab.

From there, Doug mentored me regarding my goals in life and how to attain them. At the same time, he kept putting challenges in front of me both to allow me to try different interests and to give me real world experience. Without my chance encounter in an elective course about music, I never would have met Doug, and I doubt I would have found computer technology as a degree and career. I cherish that encounter to this day. Twenty-six years later, Doug is still my mentor. He now lives in another state, but we try to get together a couple of times a year just to talk.

For me, IUPUI has been a place to discover my interests and make connections with others. I loved it so much, I decided to work here, helping other students make their connections at IUPUI and find their goals in life.