Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father. 

“Growing up, my father taught CS at the high school level,” Tai’Re said. “He never pushed it on me, but I’d visit his office and see what he was working on. Just being around it got me interested.”

Now a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, Sababu Barashango remembers his son’s early creativity well.

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“He loved music- listening, dancing, even writing rap songs,” said Sababu, a fellow at the Constellations Center for Education in Computing. “He performed one at his elementary school that became their unofficial theme song. He was also active in sports like basketball, cross country, and track.”

That creative energy extended to technology. Tai’Re began building robotic animals and catapults in middle school using Lego Mindstorm kits, some of which were passed down from his dad. “I gave him my programmable Lego sets,” Sababu said. “And, during summers in high school, I would enroll him in free online courses for coding to complement his CS course.”

At Union Grove High School, he took his first digital technology class.

“Once I started coding, I realized this is kind of my thing,” Tai’Re said.

Outside the classroom, Tai’Re was deeply involved in community service. As a first-year college student, he earned the A.D. King Foundation’s Outstanding Youth Leadership of the Year award. He was recognized for completing over 100 hours of service and for his leadership as a JROTC battalion commander. He also delivered a speech on youth empowerment at the ceremony.

“It was powerful being in a room with people connected to the Civil Rights Movement and others breaking barriers in education,” Tai’Re said. “I think it’s important to give back and inspire kids to be ambitious.”

His father shared how proud he is of his son’s accomplishments. “Tai’Re has grown into a young man with compassion, intelligence, and maturity. He’s a great problem solver, in school and life.”

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Now a graduating CS major, Tai’Re has made the most of his time at Tech. He’s been active in research and student organizations. He’s worked as a long-term student assistant in the College of Computing and interned as a software engineer with Genuine Parts Company, tackling real-world technical challenges.

Among his many memorable moments at Georgia Tech, one standout experience for Tai’Re was a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) with School of Literature, Media, and Communication’s Joycelyn Wilson. His team created a digital archive focused on hip-hop culture.

“We built a website where you could look up songs, watch videos, and even view AI-generated lyric analysis,” Tai’Re said. “It was amazing to merge my love of music with CS.”

He credits CS 1332: Data Structures and Algorithms and other early courses in the School of Computing Instruction for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed.

“That class gave me core skills for technical interviews,” Tai’Re said. “Project-based classes helped me build a strong resume.”

Outside of academics, he was involved in groups such as the African Student Association, African American Student Union, and the Black Student Computing Organization (BSCO).

“BSCO was especially helpful. They host events, share our resumes, and connect us to recruiters,” Tai’Re said.

All the preparation has paid off. After graduation, Tai’Re will begin his career as a software engineer with Cargill in Midtown Atlanta.

His advice for students is to be patient and stay curious.

“Computer science is broad; it might take time to find your niche. But it’s worth exploring. Georgia Tech is rigorous, but you grow a lot as a person and a coder.”