Charting New Horizons. Reflecting on SoundSoar and My Journey Through Full Sail's Master's in Computer Science Program

This month has been the culmination of months of hard work, as I finalized SoundSoar and prepared for the final presentation. I spent much of the time tweaking the project, refining my paper, and polishing my presentation. After presenting to the committee and successfully passing, I received valuable feedback that will help me take SoundSoar to the next level. Their suggestions on improving feature engineering gave me new ideas to focus on moving forward. The experience has been both rewarding and motivating, and I’m excited to continue refining my work based on their insights.

Lessons Along the Way

This project taught me more than just technical skills; it also pushed me to grow as a problem-solver. Early on, I faced server issues that took far more time than I expected to resolve. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary, and it gave me the confidence to handle similar challenges in the future without hesitation. Along the way, I’ve also learned the value of task scheduling. By breaking down the work into smaller, organized tasks, I ensured that my research and data stay current, which keeps the project moving forward without missing key updates.

One of my proudest achievements was creating a strong foundation for SoundSoar’s algorithm. Still, I’ve realized there’s room to improve by tailoring features to specific models instead of using a single feature set across the board. This is something I’m eager to refine as I continue working on the trend prediction algorithm.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about expanding SoundSoar beyond its current scope. For example, I’d like to implement a neural network that doesn’t rely on historical popularity data and add more AI-powered features, like emotional analysis for songs. Improving the front-end user experience is also a priority—making the interface intuitive, adding filters, and providing better ways to explore information will make SoundSoar more effective for content creators.

The Role of Full Sail’s Curriculum in Shaping SoundSoar

The creation of SoundSoar wouldn’t have been possible without the foundation I built during Full Sail University’s Master’s program. Each course played a role in preparing me for the challenges of this project:

• Research Approaches in Computer Science

  • This course helped me develop a structured approach to research, which was invaluable when exploring data sources and refining my algorithm. It also emphasized the importance of clear and precise writing for ensuring that my work is accepted by others.

    
    

• Advanced Software Engineering

  • This course taught me essential lessons in time management and the engineering process, which were pivotal for successfully completing SoundSoar. My instructor’s guidance helped me refine my approach to software development, allowing me to balance deadlines, handle complex projects, and prioritize tasks effectively. While I entered the course with an understanding of software engineering from my undergrad, I left with a stronger grasp on the processes that make software development efficient and scalable. This foundation was critical when managing the multiple facets of SoundSoar, from coding to deployment.

    
    

• Data Science

  • Although I already had a solid background in data, this course opened my eyes to the broader picture and helped me connect the dots in ways I hadn’t considered before. I gained a deeper understanding of statistical analysis, data processing, and machine learning techniques, all of which were essential for developing SoundSoar's trend prediction algorithm. The course instructor was incredible at guiding me through complex concepts and demonstrating how data science isn’t just about analysis but also about creating meaningful, actionable insights. This experience sparked my interest in data engineering even more, and I’m excited to explore that path further.

    
    

• Machine Learning

  • With a focus on the algorithms that power SoundSoar, this course taught me the fundamentals of machine learning that I could directly apply to fine-tune the model.

    
    

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and HCI App Development

  • These courses helped me design a user-centric interface, ensuring that SoundSoar is intuitive and accessible.

    
    

• Data Visualization and Extended Reality

  • This course equipped me with the tools to effectively represent data visually, which is essential for users to quickly understand trends and insights within SoundSoar. While we explored libraries like matplotlib, seaborn, and bokeh, I ultimately chose to use Plotly in my project. Regardless, the principles of data visualization and the techniques I learned were invaluable in shaping SoundSoar's user experience.

    
    

• Advanced Artificial Intelligence

  • In this course, I gained an in-depth understanding of advanced AI concepts, such as neural networks, deep learning, and reinforcement learning. These concepts are essential as I continue to refine SoundSoar’s algorithm and explore new possibilities for AI-powered features. The course taught me not only how to build AI models but also how to evaluate and optimize them for real-world applications. This knowledge has sparked my interest in implementing a neural network for SoundSoar and exploring AI techniques like sentiment analysis to improve the user experience.

    
    

• Capstone Courses (Research, Dev I, Dev II, and Deployment)

  • These capstone courses tied everything together, allowing me to focus on the development, testing, and deployment of SoundSoar while receiving critical feedback from my professors and peers.

    
    

These courses didn’t just teach concepts—they built my confidence to take on ambitious projects. While I entered the program with a solid foundation in computer science and Python, I left with the skills to tackle real-world problems and the knowledge to create something as robust as SoundSoar. Throughout this journey, I gained invaluable insights not only from my advisor, Dr. Andreas Marpaung, but also from all the course instructors who played a key role in my development. Each instructor contributed uniquely to my understanding of complex topics, and their guidance empowered me to take on the challenges that came with this project. Confidence, something I struggled with before, grew through the unwavering support of my professors. They showed me that my ideas were worth pursuing, and now I approach challenges with a stronger belief in my abilities.

Moving Forward

Though the capstone project is complete, SoundSoar’s journey is far from over. My next steps include refining the algorithm by tailoring features to specific models, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This will enhance the accuracy and performance of the trend prediction. Additionally, I plan to integrate a neural network that doesn’t rely on historical popularity data, allowing SoundSoar to make predictions based purely on song attributes, offering more forward-thinking insights. On top of that, I want to enrich the user experience by adding advanced features like emotional analysis powered by AI to gauge the sentiment of songs. This will provide content creators with an even deeper understanding of the music they’re exploring. I'm also focused on further enhancing usability, adding more filtering options, and making the front-end interface more intuitive so users can effortlessly explore data and trends. The feedback I’ve received from my committee and peers has sparked numerous ideas I’m eager to explore, and these adjustments will be central to SoundSoar’s next phase of growth.

Completing this program has shown me how much growth is possible when you’re willing to take on challenges and push through obstacles. Full Sail University has been an incredible experience, preparing me not just to complete SoundSoar but to carry the skills I’ve learned into future projects. I’m excited to keep building, learning, and exploring what’s next.

Advice for Future Students

Starting this program, you'll face challenges that will push you to grow. There will be moments when you’re stuck on a bug or trying to figure out the next step in a project, but those moments are where the learning happens. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek feedback—it can make all the difference. Also, find ways to connect your coursework to something you’re passionate about. The professors and other faculty members are incredibly supportive and want you to go after something you believe in.

For me, that passion was rooted in a few key areas. One is my love for animal welfare. I co-founded TheDoodPack with my two best friends and business partners, where we rescue and rehome pets—mainly dogs and cats. I created the website for TheDoodPack, and version 4 of the site is now live, which is a huge milestone for us. The experience of running a rescue organization, sharing our mission, and working to help animals find loving homes has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life. The second passion is entrepreneurship and marketing. The idea for SoundSoar was born from countless discussions with my business partner about selecting the perfect songs for our social media posts. We were always asking, “Which song should we use?” and I wanted to make a tool to help content creators like us save time and maximize engagement, ultimately helping our furry friends find homes.

By tying your coursework to something meaningful, you’re not just learning for the sake of learning—you’re creating real-world solutions and making a positive impact, just like I did with both TheDoodPack and SoundSoar.

Reflection Video

Below is a video where I reflect on my journey through the Master's program, the lessons I've learned, and how they’ve shaped the development of SoundSoar and my future endeavors.