How a jam-packed college experience helped one computer science student build a successful career after graduation

Rochester, New York – For many college students, keeping up with classes alone can feel like a full-time job. For Melanie Couillard, however, college life became something far bigger — a carefully balanced mix of academics, music, leadership, mentoring, and career-building experiences that ultimately paved the way to success after graduation.

Unlike most students who rely on digital reminders and phone notifications, Couillard prefers a more personal system to manage her packed schedule. Her days are organized through handwritten notes, color-coded planners, and whiteboards scattered with tasks and deadlines.

“It gets overwhelming to always be looking at a screen, so calendars are one place I don’t,” said Couillard, a fourth-year student from Delmar, N.Y.

That low-tech method helped her navigate an unusually busy college journey at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she pursued computer science while immersing herself in everything from performing arts to student leadership. Along the way, she built the kind of resume many students spend years trying to assemble — one that recently helped her secure a full-time technology position supporting the New York State Department of Health.

For Couillard, the sense of belonging started almost immediately after arriving on campus.

“Everywhere you go there is always a smiling face,” said Couillard. “The professors really care and want to help us succeed. And I made so many friends. RIT has allowed me to do everything I love.”

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That feeling pushed her to explore opportunities well beyond her core coursework. Early in her freshman year, she connected with a professor who encouraged her to join the Honors Program. At the same time, she expanded her academic interests by pursuing a French minor, which later gave her the opportunity to study abroad in France during the summer.

Her academic accomplishments continued to grow. In recent months, Couillard earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award while also completing coursework tied to a theater arts immersion program — another example of how she blended technical education with creative pursuits.

Still, some of her busiest hours happened outside the classroom.

Four days each week were devoted to rehearsals and performances as part of the RIT Concert Band and RIT Philharmonic Orchestra. Couillard plays both the oboe and the English horn, balancing demanding practice schedules alongside her already full academic life.

As a Performing Arts Scholar, she participated in multiple performances every semester, an experience she says became an important emotional outlet amid the pressures of college life.

“Music is calming to me and centers me—it’s a nice outlet to have fun,” she said. “None of us are music majors, but with the amount of dedication we put into practice, it feels good to put on a show for an audience and make someone’s day better.”

Her involvement on campus stretched even further through her work with Women in Computing, commonly known as WiC. What began as participation in a student organization eventually turned into major leadership responsibilities.

Couillard helped organize events for K–12 students, social activities, and gala events aimed at building stronger connections within the computing community. She also played a significant role in expanding the organization’s mentorship efforts for younger students, inspired by the support she herself received as a freshman.

Those who worked alongside her say her influence reached far beyond event planning or club leadership.

“What sets Melanie apart is not simply the breadth of her involvement—but the depth of her character,” said Lana Verschage, director of Student Engagement and Belonging, and Women in Computing in RIT’s Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. “She approaches every challenge with enthusiasm and grace, and her positive influence on her peers is unmistakable.”

Even with her extensive campus involvement, Couillard remained focused on one long-term goal: finding meaningful work that could positively impact other people’s lives.

At one point, she believed healthcare would be the path forward.

“I’ve always wanted to help people, and I had dreamed of working healthcare,” said Couillard. “But ultimately, I realized that I couldn’t deal with blood.”

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That realization did not end her interest in helping others. Instead, it pushed her toward a different approach — using technology to make a difference.

During one of her cooperative education experiences, Couillard worked with Insulet, a medical device company that develops technology for people living with diabetes. The experience showed her how computer science could directly support healthcare and improve lives without requiring a clinical role.

The connection between technology and public service soon became even clearer.

In March, Couillard officially secured a full-time role as an Information Technology Specialist 2 Programmer with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services. Her position will place her in Albany, New York, closer to family, while also allowing her to support the New York State Department of Health.

For Couillard, the opportunity feels like the natural next step after years of balancing countless responsibilities and interests at once.

Her college experience was never defined by just one activity, one organization, or even one field of study. Instead, it became a carefully layered combination of technical learning, artistic expression, leadership, and community involvement.

And while many students spend college trying to choose between passions, Couillard built a future by refusing to give any of them up.