Storti came to NIC as a Brazilian exchange student with Science Without Borders, studying English and mobile app development at NIC’s Comox Valley campus.
“I was interested in studying computer science,” Storti said. “Luckily, NIC had a Mobile App Development program, which I didn't even know I liked until I started doing it.”
He’s now working as a software developer in Saskatoon for SkipTheDishes, a high-profile tech company that allows users to order food from local eateries using their smartphones.
Storti credits his NIC training for preparing him to excel in the position.
“The challenge was different depending on the class,” he said. “Java was easy, for example, since I had already done that back in Brazil, but Objective-C (programming language) and the design classes were challenging but also fun. The teachers would patiently help us and everything I learned in those classes is useful for my current job.”
Ensuring students are prepared to enter the workforce is a key component of all NIC’s interactive media programs, said instructor Megan Wilson. “We focus on helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in this constantly evolving industry,” said Wilson. “Technology and how people use it is rapidly changing and we want to ensure students are able to adapt and grow in the classroom and beyond.”
After finishing the program, Storti returned to Brazil but coming back to Canada was never in doubt. While at NIC, he met his Canadian girlfriend Jessica. The couple is now married and living in Saskatoon – a city they love.
ThinkSask, a Saskatchewan government initiative to attract investment, businesses and people to the province, recently profiled Storti in its technology careers section. In the video, he discusses the benefits of working in Canada’s tech sector.
Storti says NIC gave him a “solid base” to starting his career and encourages other graduates to keep learning from industry after graduation.
“My advice for anyone that wants to be a software developer is to start working on something as soon as you can, like your own projects or in a company,” he said. “It is when you are working that you face some real challenges and those challenges make you better.”
To watch ThinkSask’s profile on Lucas Storti, visit https://thinksask.ca/work/technologycareers.
For information on NIC’s interactive media programs, visit www.nic.bc.ca/programs.
