Elizabethtown College houses tons of unique people and personalities, and it can be challenging to find the time to meet them all. This week I would like to introduce Chris Mensah, a third-year computer engineering major here at Etown.
Mensah came to Etown for a multitude of reasons, from the instate tuition to the personable professors.
“I chose Etown because it checked all my boxes,” Mensah said. “Engineering Program? Check. In State? Check. Short drive? Check. Truly, it all sort of fit. I was not really into the big college scene, the thought of not feeling connected with my professors drove me towards a smaller school like Etown.”
His favorite thing about Etown is always being able to find a place to work. There are so many options around campus to just sit and work.
“My favorite thing about Etown is simply having a place to go while you work,” Mensah said. “If I wanted to grab some coffee while I work, I would go to the Blue Bean or the Jays Nest if I wanted something to eat.”
Coming from Mountville, Pennsylvania, Mensah is just a short journey away from home, although his journey did not begin there. Mensah was born and raised in Kumasi, Ghana, moving to Lancaster at the age of nine. It was his time in Ghana which sparked his interest in computers.
He had very little access to computers before moving to the states, and when he got the chance, taking them apart and putting them back together captivated his attention.
“In Ghana, I did not have internet or a personal computer and the few times I had used them were in class sanctioned library visits months upon months in between,” Mensah said. “Those were good experiences but what motivated me was my uncle who had left these broken CRTs and system units laying around, the Dell Dimension, or some other early 2000s brand. I remember taking them apart, dismantling and reassembling them, not sure why I guess I just found it amusing.”
Curiosity and boredom can be quite the motivator, and for Mensah, he was able to turn his curiosity into passion. He intends to move on to get his master’s degree in computer or electrical engineering after graduating from Etown in 2027. After which, he hopes to land his full time career.
Mensah noted his career goals as “PCB Design, Embedded Systems or Verification Engineering, specifically focusing on reliability and verification of embedded control systems in automated food processing.”
Outside of his passion for embedded systems, programming and PCB design, Mensah is passionate about art, cinematography, Unity game design and music, which he utilizes to unwind. Even when doing what you love, everyone needs time and space to relax.
“After classes when I want to unwind, I boot up a show, movie, or listen to music and relax. If I want to do something fun but stay productive, I work on coding while listening to music,” Mensah said.
Every student has a story to tell, now that you’ve heard Mensah’s, allow it to inspire you to introduce yourself to your fellow Blue Jays.
