13T THUNDER THE ANVIL MARCH What did you see for the future of computers and tech- nology when you were in high school? I was fascinated with the idea of machines that could calculate and process information. I didn’t know how far technology would evolve or how large the industry would become. I don’t think any- one did at the time. When I was in high school we used 5 1/4-inch floppy disks that stored about 160 KB of data and we thought that was great. Today, Dell XPS computers have up to a terabyte of hard-drive space: 10 terabytes would hold the entire printed col- lection of the U.S. Library of Congress. If you could have known one thing back in high school that you know now, what would it be? That I would have a won- derful wife, four amazing children and live relatively close to my parents and brothers. Family matters most. Is being a CEO of a major computer com- pany what you saw for yourself or hoped for in high school? No, it never occurred to me that I would be a CEO when I was in high school, nor did I even think about working for a large com- pany. I wanted to be a doctor, or I thought I did until I saw the opportu- nity that led me to start Dell less than a year after graduating from MHS. What was it like earning an income of $18,000 a year when you were in high school? It was sweet! Ms. Miller was our Government and Economics teacher. One of our assignments was to complete our tax return. When I turned mine in Ms. Miller handed it right back to me and said I must have made a mistake. She said to me in front of the entire class it wasn’t possible that a student earned more than she did. What was your favorite part of attending Memorial and living in the area? Without a doubt, my favorite teacher was Mr. Saathoff who taught Physics. He was the best. I attended every class of his that I could, and I also became his teacher’s aide. I also remember the economic volatility Houston was experienc- ing at the time with the boom and bust cycle in oil and the stock market, not unlike now. I saw how important it was to have a strong financial foundation and it’s probably a big reason why this has always been a priority at Dell. What would you advise to Memorial kids who are interested in computers and technology? Learn everything you can now, you’ll need it later. I would look to new areas like clean en- ergy sources and the intersection of the compu- tational and biological sciences for new oppor- tunities. Continue your education, and focus on how people and businesses can use technology to solve social and business issues. Students should be prepared to chase opportunities wherever they lead. They may be in the U.S. or take you around the world. In any case, it can be quite an adventure. By Bailey Henry Editor-in-chief I n 1983, the Reata yearbook featured a young man gifted in everything relating to computers. He owned the latest technology of the ‘80s and earned a higher salary than some of his teachers. Fast for- ward twenty-six years, and now that young man is the founder and CEO of Dell Computers. Mi- chael Dell began his long journey to the top in the same hallways that we walk today. His start dur- ing his teen years proves that what we do today can affect tomorrow. The billionaire has definitely moved up, but not too far away. Now currently re- siding in Austin, Texas, Dell catches up with his alma mater about how far he has come since his teens years. Courtesy of Dell INC. Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Computers Photo and article courtesy of 1983 Reata yearbook. Michael Dell looks back at technology, teachers, and life at Memorial in the ‘80s. A Dell of a Guy
thefutureofcomputersandtech-nologywhenyouwereinhighschool?IsbeingaCEOofamajorcomputercom-panywhatyou
Mar 12, 2016
What did you see for the future of computers and tech- nology when you were in high school? Is being a CEO of a major computer com- pany what you saw for yourself or hoped for in high school? If you could have known one thing back in high school that you know now, what would it be? That I would have a won- derful wife, four amazing children and live relatively close to my parents and brothers. Family matters most. Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Computers By Bailey Henry Editor-in-chief
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13TTHUNDERTHE ANVILMARCH
What did you see for the future of computers and tech-nology when you were in high school?
I was fascinated with the idea of machines that could calculate and process information. I didn’t know how far technology would evolve or how large the industry would become. I don’t think any-one did at the time. When I was in high school we used 5 1/4-inch floppy disks that stored about 160 KB of data and we thought that was great. Today, Dell XPS computers have up to a terabyte of hard-drive space: 10 terabytes would hold the entire printed col-lection of the U.S. Library of Congress. If you could have known one thing back in high school that you know now, what would it be?
That I would have a won-derful wife, four amazing children and live relatively close to my parents and brothers. Family matters most. Is being a CEO of a major computer com-pany what you saw for yourself or hoped for in high school?
No, it never occurred to me that I would be a CEO when I was in high school, nor did I even think about working for a large com-pany. I wanted to be a doctor, or I thought I did until I saw the opportu-nity that led me to start Dell less than a year after graduating from MHS.
What was it like earning an income of $18,000 a year when you were in high school?
It was sweet! Ms. Miller was our Government and Economics teacher. One of our assignments was to complete our tax return. When I turned mine in Ms. Miller handed it right back to me and said I must have made a mistake. She said to me in front of the entire class it wasn’t possible that a student earned more than she did. What was your favorite part of attending Memorial and living in the area?
Without a doubt, my favorite teacher was Mr. Saathoff who taught Physics. He was the best. I attended every class of his that I could, and I also became his teacher’s aide. I also remember the economic volatility Houston was experienc-ing at the time with the boom and bust cycle in oil and the stock market, not unlike now. I saw how important it was to have a strong financial foundation and it’s probably a big reason why this has always been a priority at Dell. What would you advise to Memorial kids who are interested in computers and technology?
Learn everything you can now, you’ll need it later. I would look to new areas like clean en-ergy sources and the intersection of the compu-tational and biological sciences for new oppor-tunities. Continue your education, and focus on how people and businesses can use technology to solve social and business issues. Students should be prepared to chase opportunities wherever they lead. They may be in the U.S. or take you around the world. In any case, it can be quite an adventure.
By Bailey HenryEditor-in-chief
In 1983, the Reata yearbook featured a young man gifted
in everything relating to computers. He owned the latest technology of the ‘80s and earned a higher salary than some of his teachers. Fast for-ward twenty-six years, and now that young man is the founder and CEO of Dell Computers. Mi-chael Dell began his long journey to the top in the same hallways that we walk today. His start dur-ing his teen years proves that what we do today can affect tomorrow. The billionaire has definitely moved up, but not too far away. Now currently re-siding in Austin, Texas, Dell catches up with his alma mater about how far he has come since his teens years.
Courtesy of Dell INC.Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Computers
Photo and article courtesy of 1983 Reata yearbook.
Michael Dell looks back at technology, teachers, and life at Memorial in the ‘80s.
A Dell of a Guy