
Joseph Fudali

Joseph Fudali
Class Year
’26
Hometown
Park Ridge, Ill.
Major(s)
Computer Science — Game Development Concentration
Minor(s)
Mathematics
Career goal
“After I graduate, I hope to be hired by a software development company after interning there during my later college years, and eventually work at a game development company.”
How have Carthage faculty had an impact on your life or Carthage career?
“The Carthage faculty have taught me that no matter if I’m at the top of the class or struggling with the first assignment, I can find success. Whenever I feel like giving up, I can go to them with my problems and get the help I need. However, the best benefit of the faculty is the feeling of understanding they give you.”
Favorite class
“My favorite class at Carthage so far has been Intellectual Foundations. Professor Marla Polley was always a ball of joy and gave a clear view of how enthusiastic she was to teach us. In the class, I also made many new friends, who became some of the best people I know. Work-wise, the homework was thought-provoking and interesting.”
Toughest class
“My toughest class so far has been Discrete Structures. Taking a math class with more words than math was a rough adjustment. However, even though the work can be difficult, I have maintained my grade in the class with hard work and dedication.”
Campus involvement
“I am involved in Carthage Activities Board (CAB) and Carthage Film Association (CFA) as an E-board member. For CFA, I make sure to send out emails reminding the members about events and meetings and send out meeting minutes. For CAB, I help performers out before their shows, create ideas for events and set them up, and decide the logistics for said events like food, time, prizes, etc. I am also a member of the Chinese Club, which I am somewhat active in.”
Internships or on-campus employment
“While not entirely related to computer science, I have an on-campus job as a member of the Firebirds Broadcast Crew. I have mostly manned the cameras this semester, making sure the output of the live stream or video goes smoothly. However, aspects such as graphics and replay are much closer to my major, interacting with an interface to change the video output.”
Favorite moments and memories at Carthage
“My favorite Carthage memory is going to Six Flags with my friends. Getting to scream your head off on a rollercoaster is awesome, and sharing that memory with friends is even better. Another favorite memory is winning Bingo and hearing my friends cheer me on as I went to get my prize.”
Biggest surprise so far
“The biggest surprise so far is how much little free time I have. Being a part of two E-boards, your workload is bound to get heavier, but adding a job and schoolwork on top of that makes your day filled with events, school, and friends. It may be a bit disappointing not to relax as much, but with all the fun experiences I’ve had, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
What would your 8-year-old self think of you now?
“I think my 8-year-old self would have been awe-struck with where I currently am. I always wanted to be involved in the creation of video games somehow, and I thought coding was a novel idea as a kid. Having both of those dreams realized is something not many people have, so I am grateful for what I have accomplished.”
Why should other students consider your major? What advice do you have for them?
“As a computer science major, any kind of idea I have for a website, game, program, or other electronics is possible. To be able to make something with code and perseverance is something magical. My advice for those who want to follow this path is to make sure to work hard and always ask for help if struggling, as computer science is a very cooperative subject.”
Why Carthage?
“The proximity to home and closeness to Lake Michigan were huge draws towards Carthage, along with the smaller class sizes. Carthage also offers game development courses, creating an opportunity for me I could only dream of.”