秘密研究所

South Intern Picks Web Development Job

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Posted on August 8, 2023

Thomas Becnel

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#MyFirstJob is a series focused on recent graduates of the 秘密研究所.

Diego Salas Polar began his computer career as a 7th-grader enrolled in Cyber Camp at the 秘密研究所.

He鈥檇 always made good grades in math and science, but didn鈥檛 know much about computers. In one summer, all that changed. He began coding his future.

鈥淭his was like my introduction to programming,鈥� said Salas Polar. 鈥淟ike a kickstart to get me interested in studying computer science.鈥�

At Davidson High School in Mobile, he participated in a robot-building program that has won state and regional championships. At home, he paid for online classes that taught him basic programming languages.

Salas Polar studied computer science at South and earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree with a minor in mathematics. During his junior and senior years, he worked as an intern for USA Health, the region鈥檚 academic health system.

After graduation this spring, he accepted a full-time job in web development at . Salas Polar works on many of the same systems he did as an intern. In the office, in the USA Technology & Research Park on the north side of campus, he moved from one row of cubicles to another one.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not far,鈥� he joked, pointing at his old desk. 鈥淗onestly, it still feels like I鈥檓 school. I was an intern here for two years.鈥�

While working full time, Salas Polar plans to attend graduate school at South. He gets a break on tuition as a USA Health employee. In the fall, he鈥檒l begin studying for a master鈥檚 degree in computer science in the School of Computing.

One of his main responsibilities at USA Health is developing and maintaining a parking management system.

鈥淚t was a pain in the beginning, but that鈥檚 how I got this job, doing that application,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a big project for me. I鈥檇 never done anything like that before.鈥�

Louis Wright, director of technology and IT infrastructure, is happy to have Salas Polar begin his career with USA Health.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been a great asset to the team,鈥� said Wright. 鈥淗e went above and beyond what you鈥檇 expect from an intern. More like what you鈥檇 get from a full-time employee.鈥�

From Office Khakis to Grunge Guitar

Salas Polar tends to be quiet, even shy, but he has an alter ego as a grunge guitarist who plays for fun with a local band. The group has a few original tunes to go along with a repertoire of Green Day and Blink 182 cover songs.

In workplace khakis and a button-down shirt, Salas Polar doesn鈥檛 look much like an alternative rocker.

鈥淚 get that a lot,鈥� he said, laughing. 鈥淚 like to try new things, so I taught myself to play the guitar. It helps keep my mind occupied in a different way. And I like the energy, the punk vibe.鈥�

A few years ago, Salas Polar started putting up fliers for band mates at the Guitar Center store in Mobile. He met a lot of musicians. Not many are web developers.

鈥淥ur bass player is from Fairhope; he works at the zoo in Gulf Shores,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he drummer is a waiter at Bonefish Grill. The singer is a construction worker.鈥�

After starting work at USA Health, Salas Polar knew just what he wanted to do with his first paycheck. He went out and bought a signature Gibson guitar with a sunburst finish.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a good feeling,鈥� he said, beaming. 鈥淎nd it sounds great. A classic rock-and-roll sound.鈥�

From the Mountains of Peru to the Gulf Coast 

Salas Polar鈥檚 parents came to the United States from Peru when he was four years old. His father is a welder. His mother is a housecleaner.

鈥淚鈥檓 the first member of my family to go to college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big thing.鈥�

His family is from Arequipa, a mountain city more than 7,000 feet above sea level. After moving to the U.S., and living at sea level, he enjoyed one of his first impressions of America.

鈥淵ou could breathe more easily here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n Peru, the air was very thin.鈥�

Along the Gulf Coast, Salas Polar enjoys some of the same seafood, especially ceviche, that he ate as a boy.

During his first two years at South, he worked part-time as a skycap at Mobile Regional Airport. He enjoyed talking to people while loading and unloading their bags. His best tip?

鈥淔ifty bucks,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 expecting that.鈥�

Working full-time in the Technology & Research Park, he usually brings his own lunch. Sometimes a group of people will go out to a Vietnamese restaurant for a hearty bowl of pho.

Salas Polar enjoys the quiet of the USA Health office. He works on a development team of five programmers. He鈥檚 comfortable doing his own work in own cubicle.

The key for him is breaking down big assignments into smaller tasks.

鈥淛ust meeting deadlines,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how projects get done. And I don鈥檛 like to be late.鈥�

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