Special student of Computer Science tells his life history to the UNISAL

Translated into English by: Gustavo Costa (Duolingo: gusbemacbe)

Original source: http://unisal.br/aluno-especial-de-ciencia-da-computacao-conta-sua-historia-de-vida-ao-unisal/ (in Portuguese)

You also can see another interview with Gustavo Costa at Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/translation/873fe361f7c9be29f501c2728004ce72

In the classroom, the student of computer science of the UNISAL – Salesian University Center of São Paulo – Lorena – Campus São Joaquim, received the journalism team for an informal chat, but full of surprise.

Gustavo Reis, 26, student of the 1st year of the course, is a native of Aparecida, the Marian capital of faith, a fact that he did get used to be around people in Brazil and around the world. Perhaps for this reason he has transformed his house room in a universe of contacts and information. Gustavo is different of the other students, right away he introduced us to the world through the eyes of a special boy. The professional future was born with hearing loss, after the mother had rubella during pregnancy. Not only that scare, he presented the so-called PAC (blood persistence channel), and had to be operated. During the procedure, he stated that there was a medical mistake, which led to the loss of vision in one eye. But these hurdles only boosted him up.

The interview with the UNISAL student had to be made in written form because, unlike Gustavo, there are few who dominate the number of languages and language he knows, including sign language. See below.

UNISAL: When you became interested in computer career, specifically, the Science Course Computer?

GUSTAVO: I got interested in computers in 1998, at 9 years of age. At that time, I saw a computer of my uncle who had Windows 95 and I could not resist. It was my passport, in 2009, to explore the world and decide for my initial professions, as the graphic designer, typographer and iconographer.

UNISAL: To be a professional future you have to be connected to different cultures and languages. The Course Coordination revealed to us that in this regard you will not sin.

GUSTAVO: I can speak very well Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian sign language. Still studying German and Dutch, in addition of Hebrew, Japanese, Romanian, Russian and 4 foreign languages signs. In 2004, at age 15, I was a teacher of French and Italian at the farm “Desafio Jovem Ebenézer, in Jacareí (SP). I have also acted as translator.

UNISAL: One of your teachers, Luiz Carlos Rosa, told us that you have a greater sense of awareness that many students do not. How and who taught you to explore the world in other ways?

GUSTAVO: My challenges were and will always be self-taught and persistence. Charles Chaplin said: “Persistence is the way of success.” I think this saying is all about me, but I quickly tell my career. I started learning English when my aunt gave me an English book at 10 years old. My stepfather also had an English dictionary and photos of trips he made to Chile, the Caribbean Islands and the United States. Also, I had a teacher who introduced me to the first English classes in the 4th year of primary school. Soon my family discovered my interest in other cultures and, from there, my gifts were always dictionaries and books, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. I started studying Spanish, French and English when I started 5th year, at age 12. At age 13, I began to study German and Italian. In 2008, I started the Japanese studies.

UNISAL: How do you practice the language on a daily basis?

GUSTAVO: It depends on a person’s language, skill, time, determination and limit. I always started with the dictionaries and then with the grammar. Then I practiced the writing of various countries in order to improve and become fluent in every language. I managed to study many languages at the same time. But it depends on the person and the tongue. I have a family that supports me, not only in the projects but also in the sign language. My world is not silent.

UNISAL: What are the plans of Gustavo for the future?

GUSTAVO: I want to be graduated to be a programmer and to return to work as a translator and graphic designer. Also, I think about graduate school and master’s degree in Computer Science. In the future, I also want to study Astronomy and Aerospace Engineering.

UNISAL: What reasons led you to choose the UNISAL?

GUSTAVO: The UNISAL is a clean and organised educational institution.

UNISAL: You can leave a message for our readers?

GUSTAVO: It does not matter if you are poor, black, white or brown. Always remember the saying to which I turn too: “If you think there’s no use, because your life is difficult. Even hard, but insist and be persistent.” (Augusto Cury)