Daniel Xu

Background

About Daniel Xu

Before completing my master’s degree at Penn in 2022, I worked full-time as a public accountant at PwC. While working, my interest in programming developed during one of our firm’s digital upskilling sessions. I became familiar with scripting tools and basic programming to help streamline tasks that require hours to complete. I was captivated by the added value of having programming experience. I was fascinated. I learned about programming languages and coded basic programs in my free time. Recognizing the versatility of these skills and my growing interest, I was confident to switch careers to software engineering. Enrolling at Penn was the best place to begin this new undertaking.Since enrolling at Penn, I have had hands-on experience with programming languages using Java, Python, C/C++, and other areas such as Database/SQL. I also have had experience in Big Data Analytics using distributed frameworks like Pyspark and Python libraries like Pandas to process, clean, and analyze large datasets. I recently expanded my skills in single-web applications using HTML, CSS, and Javascript.I am currently seeking opportunities to start my career as a software engineer.Outside my studies, I spend my free time playing board games, exercising, and visiting art museums (the Louvre Museum ranks as my #1 museum experience).