Corrine Whipple, an alumni of the class of 2021, spent the last part of her time at Winthrop taking classes online due to the COVID–19 pandemic.
“I did not mind being home and doing my classes from there because I was introverted and enjoyed being able to do my classes online,” Whipple said.
Whipple majored in computer science with a minor in web design and took classes such as cybersecurity and project management. The further she got into her degree classes, the more interesting the classes seemed.
“One class that was very challenging was the capstone class that was two semesters long,” Whipple said. “We had a real client that we worked on the project for. During the first semester we were planning the project and then in the second semester, we were implementing the things that we planned. It was very challenging and really rewarding.”
“The major was male-dominated, but I never felt intimidated because of that,” Whipple said. “It helped that there were other women in my classes and I had women professors who were confident in the field. My advice for other women wanting to major in computer science is to work hard and stay focused and confident.”
Whipple’s computer science classes helped her figure out what she wanted to do after she graduated.
“I majored in computer science because I was tech-savvy and believed that I was built for the major because I had the skill to work in a technical way,” Whipple said. “Clarity on what I wanted to do after graduation did not happen until about six months before I graduated.”
Aside from her computer science-based classes, Whipple took several physical education, sport and health (PESH) classes, such as volleyball and a walking class. She also took a few art history classes.
“The art history classes were fun and interesting classes to take that were outside of my major,” Whipple said.
Before the COVID–19 pandemic sent all Winthrop students home in March 2020, Whipple lived on campus in Wofford Hall and Phelps Hall.
“Living in Wofford was like a regular freshman experience,” Whipple said. “Especially since I was living in a small dorm with someone I did not know.”
Whipple is not sad about the future demolition of Wofford Hall, as she believes whatever is built there next, if at all, will provide a better living experience for students.
“The communal bathrooms on the halls were not ideal,” Whipple said.
Now Whipple is working in sales at a software startup company that is not yet public. Although she is not using her degree, she is able to use some of the skills she learned in her computer science classes.
Her favorite thing about her job now is getting to lead a team of about 15 other people and getting to work alongside other leaders.
“My side job as an influencer helped me in getting the job as well because I already had experience and understanding of sales,” Whipple said.
Whipple still lives close to Rock Hill and hopes to begin attending some Winthrop sporting events to get involved in the Winthrop community again.
