Confessions of a drama queen on life without the ACM

November 6, 6:33 PMMiami Technology Careers ExaminerFrancine Adams

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I'm having a La Salle University moment recalling my graduate and undergraduate years with my favorite professor, Dr. Jane Turk, of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.  Jane, as she prefers to be addressed, is meticulously academic.  Students who wished to coast through their courses could not fathom what she must be thinking.  "Dr. Turk wants you to actually 'live' the material, they would cry. 

It was Jane, my Capstone advisor, who introduced me to the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) as a reputable source of literature for the thesis paper.  She encouraged her students to register for membership with the ACM while they could take advantage of the student membership rates.  I developed a lifetime affinity for the research methodology she taught me.  Today,  I often conduct my own research projects for the sake of the experience, reveling in the MLA or APA writing styles students love to hate.  Or perhaps,  I have developed a perpetual student mentality.  Long after earning my Master's degree I maintained an addiction to the ACM.  Oh how I loved those fringe benefits that accompanied my student membership. 

 Sometime after graduation I began receiving notices that my student membership was going to expire.  I developed a panic that gradually grew in momentum as the deadline approached.  It was becoming an obsession.   I would pace back and forth biting my nails in distress.  How could I function without Special Interest Groups(SIGs) like SIGART - Algorithms and Computation Theory, SIGARCH - Computer Architecture or SIGART - Artificial Intelligence, just a few of the 34 SIGs that were all at my fingertips?  How would I get through my daily cup of Starbucks without being able to browse the journals and magazines in the Digital Library?  I envisioned long lonely nights without Skillsoft courses, which were all included in my membership fee.  I was terrified,  once the reality set in that I would lose access to dozens of courses in the IT Professional Certifications section:

Cisco, (ISC)2, Microsoft, ComTIA, Project Management Institute (PMI), Oracle, Macromedia, IBM, Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB), EMC, Linux Professional Institute(LPI), Sun Microsystems, CIW, Novell

There were ACM videos, Safari Books Online and Books 24x7 that were no longer going to be a part of my life.  By this time beads of sweat were forming on my forehead.  Was I insane?  Nervously, I extended my fingers and curled them around my mouse.  My hands shook uncontrollably as I clicked on the address line in my browser and typed the letters www.acm.org.   I had to do something...and I had to do it now.  Firmly grasping the mouse with both hands now,  I navigated to myACM where I could register for the first time as a professional member. 

There it was, the membership form.  Empowered now, without hesitation, I boldly completed line by line until finally I entered my credit card information. Coming down full force on the left mouse button with all my might  I clicked 'Submit'!  I had done it!  For a mere $99, I had secured a basic professional membership.  Exhausted, I flopped down on the sofa and slowly recovered, regulating my breathing until my heart rate returned to normal.  Life has not been the same since. 

I repeat this ritual every year now and have not looked back for a single moment with regret.  I get to spend endless hours happily completing my Skillsoft courses.  My lovely portfolio of certificates will one day grace the walls of my descendants.  Today,my personal Customer Service Representative,  Rosemary Rodriguez emailed me.  She wanted to know if I was enjoying my ACM 2nd Anniversary mug.  I am.  Join me in celebrating two years as a professional member of the Association for Computing Machinery.

This is the first in a series of articles especially composed to encourage high school and college aged students to pursue careers in technology.

 For more info: Contact ACM to become a member.