15 Minutes with Hannah Yost
2019 Graduate of Bluffton High School

Interviewed by Derek Swartzlander
Icon: You graduated from Bluffton in 2019. What have you been doing since then?
I’ve been attending Cedarville University, pursuing a degree in computer science. I am a member of the SGA (Student Government Association), worship band, and work for the coffeeshop on campus.

What are your goals after you graduate?
I’m hoping to move to a city, likely out west, and get a job in my field. As to what that job might be, I’m not completely sure where exactly I want to end up. I’m currently considering some kind of crossover between computer science and aerospace. That’s bound to change in the coming years though, so I won’t be placing any bets on it right now.

What makes you interested in computer science and aerospace?
That’s a toughie because I’m still not completely sure how I ended up where I am, haha! I chose computer science because I love problem solving and puzzles, and that is exactly what you do in computer science.

You’re given a problem that needs solving, and you need to write a program that solves that problem. There is no room for error because one thing wrong can cause your code to not work. While this can be annoying, it fits in perfectly with my perfectionist tendencies.

As for aerospace, I would say my interest in that is just because space and space travel is super cool. I don’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day coding, and working in the aerospace industry, or really any engineering discipline, is going to be a lot more hands-on than sitting in a cubicle.

Was there a teacher at Bluffton who really inspired you?
Oh wow, that’s another tough one. I would have to say Ms. Riffle. While in the moment I thought it was kind of crazy to love math to the extent that she did, I am now so thankful for the love that she displayed.

It reminds me to this day that it is okay to love math and be fascinated by it on the daily, which really does happen to me. Also, just seeing another woman in STEM is a huge inspiration that really encourages me to keep going.

You mentioned that you’re in the worship band at Cedarville. What is that like and what led to you becoming interested in music?
So my parents are actually what got me started in music. They both got music education bachelor’s degrees and so you can see why my sisters and I really had no choice in whether or not we learned music, We all started off on the piano with my mom teaching us, and picked up different instruments as we got older.

Honestly, I can’t really imagine my life without music. It’s an amazing outlet that allows for creativity to flow, yet there are still general rules to follow − my ideal hobby.

Being on a worship band at school is so much fun! It’s allowed for me to meet a whole group of likeminded people that I wouldn’t have otherwise. And being able to lead the student body in worship is one of the most humbling things I’ve ever done.

It’s this constant reminder that I am not perfect, but the One who created me is, and He deserves all of our praise. Any little bit that I can do to contribute to the corporate worship of God, I am more than willing.

Speaking of music, I heard you built a bass guitar over the summer. Tell us a little about that.
Oh, my gosh, that was so much fun.

 So, I’ve been playing electric bass since 7th grade and I’ve gone through several basses in my time playing, but I never got exactly what I wanted out of my bass.

I talked with my brother-in-law, who’s built several guitars, and we determined what parts I needed to buy. So, I ordered every individual part separately, like the electronics, the pick guard, screws, strings, etc.

Then I just assembled it all with a power drill, a screwdriver, a soldering kit, and lots of insight. Finish my bass and hearing it work was one of the proudest moments of my life.

I thought to myself, “I just built that! It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful! And it’s exactly what I wanted!” Seriously one of the best decisions I’ve made in my musical career.

Thanks for talking with us! Keep rocking on!