Student Spotlight: Madi Morse

When Madi Morse completed her bachelor's degree in Screenwriting in just three and a half years, she was confident she was on the road to a successful career. She had done an internship at a television network in New York City and loved the experience. She had big dreams which wound up colliding with the real world. "For a year I sent out hundreds of applications a month. I had all of this experience! I even applied for jobs at local television stations and was stunned by the low pay. It was all a harsh reality for me."

The experience led the Cicero-North Syracuse High School graduate to consider other career options. "I always had an interest in computers and gaming, and my brother is a software engineer in Boston. I had dabbled in coding. After a year of rejection, I decided to go to school for something completely different from what I did before. That's how I ended up here."

Morse decided her new career goal was to become a software engineer. In the fall of 2023, she began taking classes in Onondaga Community College's Computer Science program. She excelled, earned membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and became one of its Board members. She also became a Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholar. The program brings in community representatives regularly to speak with students. This semester's speakers have included Andrea Jacobs from Interfaith Works and Syracuse Common Councilor Rasheada Caldwell. "They've had very interesting stories. The program has exposed me to people I might not have normally met."

She's also been gaining new experiences by sharing her knowledge outside class.. She ran a 5-day boot camp at the Liverpool Library during which she helped young learners create a video game from start to finish. She also taught another class there titled 'Girls Who Code.' "I decided I wanted to get involved, do better for my community, and be a part of things I'm passionate about. I think gaming is a great entry point to get kids interested in tech and coding."

Morse will complete her degree next May. She's working to land an internship in the summer, then transfer to a four-year school in the fall.