Hannah Hart: future database administrator

Editor's Note: This is one in a series of articles highlighting the diverse group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory summer students.

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The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) student internship program is designed to allow students to engage in work-study employment opportunities in relevant science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and administrative fields during the summer academic break. This year, LLNL is proud to welcome more than 600 students from universities nationwide and around the world.  

Introducing Hannah Hart…

Full name: Hannah Christina Hart

Hometown:  Rock Hill, South Carolina

University attending/educational background: I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Major: Computer Science

Minor: Mathematics

Graduation year: 2017

LLNL Directorate you are working in: Computation

What interested you in pursuing a summer internship at the Laboratory?

I was interested in pursuing an internship at the lab because I thought working at a national laboratory would be a good experience. I also thought it would be interesting to see how computer science is used in research.

What are you working on at the Laboratory?

This summer I worked in the Cyber Defender Program. My project was based on geotagging and location services used on social media applications. I spent my time testing how easy it is to track someone’s location and activity using location data from their social media posts.

What do you enjoy most about interning at the Laboratory?

As an intern I love getting to meet other employees and talk to them about their journey and how they came to the lab. I also like meet other interns from the area and learn all the fun things to do locally. The one thing that has surprised me most about the lab is the homey environment. Everyone is so friendly and helpful it’s like one big family.

What have you learned (or are learning) that has made a difference to you?

This summer I learned a lot about cyber security and networking. The one thing that has impacted me the most is how security works. Because technology is always changing nothing is ever 100 percent secure. We can only do our best to defend and protect our information.

Where do you see yourself after graduation? What is your dream job?

After graduation I plan on attending graduate school to get my master’s in computer science. My dream job would be to work as a database administrator and work with kids that are interested in the computer science field.

Who/what has inspired you to pursue an education and career in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field?

I wouldn’t say that any one person has inspired me to be in the STEM field. I developed an interest on my own at a young age, mainly because my parents always wanted me to fix the computer or any other form of technology that broke in the house. So I guess I have them to thank for that.

What has been your biggest challenge to overcome?

The biggest challenge I have had to overcome so far would be moving out here for an entire summer and not knowing anyone. This is my second summer here. The first summer I came out here I had never been on a plane or across the country so I was nervous.

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far?

My biggest accomplishment has been obtaining a full scholarship to attend Claflin University.

As a college student, what is the most important lesson you have learned?

I have learned that networking is everything. Making connections with people is the most important thing you can do to succeed. I have also learned that money management is an important aspect in life.

What advice would you give a high school student?

The advice I would give high school students would be to apply for scholarships and go to a school where you can receive scholarship money because college debt can be a huge burden.            

What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?

I love the outdoors. In my spare time I like to go running, workout or do anything that is adventurous. As far as hobbies I like do-it-yourself projects and photography.

What is next for you/what are you looking forward to?

Within the next few years I am really interested in learning more about databases and security. I am also looking forward to grad school and all the opportunities it will bring. 

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To learn more about summer internships and the Laboratory’s scholar programs, visit the scholars@llnl website.

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