Soaring Beyond: Patrick Melville 

MEET PATRICK! He graduated from UNT with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a minor in Music in December 2005. He is currently working as an Independent Web Developer. In fact, he recently completed a micro-internship with Parker Dewey.

Click here to learn more about Parker Dewey. 

We asked Patrick some questions about his experience with Parker Dewey, his advice for current students, and how UNT helped him to succeed and SOAR BEYOND!

When you started at UNT, what were your plans after graduation? How have these plans changed? My plan was to be a teacher. I did that for years and now I am looking for a career change.  

What advice do you have for prospective or current students as they decide what they want their next steps to be? Don’t wait until you are “ready.” The best time to start something is 10 years ago or today. One of those is out of your control.  

How did your program(s) at UNT help you to feel prepared for this project? The programs at UNT helped me feel prepared for this project and everything else I have done professionally because they taught me how to think. I can apply that skill to any project. Oddly enough, I never took a course in computer programming but doing this project, I still remember things from a biology class or a physics class that help me every day. I value the soft skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and organization that I gained from the professors and their courses. 

How did you find your current project? I found this opportunity through the Parker Dewey website while searching for jobs that can help build experience.  

What was the most challenging part of the Parker Dewey project for you? Nothing was too challenging. I enjoy the work I am doing and the company I am working with is very helpful and supportive.  

Tell us a bit more about the project you worked on and how you approached it. This was a web development project from a company in the service industry. They needed help in transferring and updating their website. I approached the task by requesting specific changes that the company needed. I made sure I understood what was needed first. Then I organized those tasks by similarity and importance and began work. Some of the tasks that I performed include general site modifications using HTML/CSS, site performance improvements, Database modifications, and Search Engine Optimization. I kept the company updated on how the work was going as I completed tasks and they did the same for features or issues that arose during the process as well.  

What about the project did you enjoy? I enjoyed the flexibility and positive relationship with the person that hired me. We were able to work together well because of this. There was a clear understanding about what was needed and that there was benefit on both sides. I was able to gain experience in the field of my professional interest while solving the specific needs of the company.   

How was your work helpful to the employer? The employer needed this work in order to find new clients and grow their business. As the project continued, they would notify me any time this goal was achieved. It was a nice feeling to know that I was directly affecting the success of their business.  

Have you received any additional projects from this organization? This was my first and only project with Parker Dewey so far. I do intend to continue searching for more projects until I can find a full-time position. 

 Would you like to be featured in our Soaring Beyond Success Series? Email Jeanette Hickl. We’d love to share your story!

By Jeanette Hickl
Jeanette Hickl