NSC Grad Turns Coding Passion into Career Success
The following first appeared in the Seattle Colleges Foundation’s “The College Minute” newsletter.
In the household where Dureti Shemsi grew up, career options came in just two flavors: lawyer or doctor. “One or the other,” she says with a smile. “I chose doctor.”
Her journey began with pre-med classes at South Seattle College, continued through a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington, and came full circle when she returned to Seattle Colleges for a second bachelor's — in Computer Science.
“Yes, a big plan change!” she laughs. “I graduated from the UW during COVID and lost some of my passion for entering healthcare. Plus, by that point I had a kid.”
The switch was influenced by coding classes she took along the way. She relished the analysis and puzzle-solving required. After hearing positive things about North’s new BS in Computer Science program — launched in 2021 with support from Amazon — she decided to apply.
She’s glad she did. “The classes were small, my cohort felt like a community, the professors knew us by name. And I really liked how [lead instructor] Eric Lloyd put the curriculum together — more hands-on, less theory.”
Emboldened by North’s supportive environment, she also applied for Cornell University's Break Through Tech AI program, a year-long virtual fellowship designed to increase the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Three thousand people applied; nationwide, only 400 were accepted. Just two came from Washington: one from UW, and the other was Dureti Shemsi. “I was so proud to represent Seattle Colleges!” she says.
As she entered her final year in the BS in Computer Science program, advisor Steve Balo encouraged Dureti to capitalize on her momentum and network with local companies. He made introductions, and she embraced the opportunity, quickly making valuable connections.
Before long, she landed an internship at the fast-growing data-cloud company Snowflake. Soon after graduation, she achieved the intern’s dream: an offer for a full-time role — as a solution architect.
“I never thought I would be working at a big company on amazing things like this. I owe it to North Seattle College. The people there changed my life,” she says.
“I may not be a doctor, but I’m doing work I love, learning every day, and building a future for my kids and my family. The prognosis is bright.”