I’ve been interested in tech for some time, as our lives have become dependent on it. The constant innovation in the tech industry is fascinating to witness as it changes rapidly and often times seems as though it becomes harder to keep up with as new inventions come up. My passion for tech is interconnected to my love for people. My desire for innovation and protection of people go hand in hand. The way that the internet and technology has made peoples lives easier and has allowed people to stay connected is a remarkable achievement. As such I am constantly inspired to contribute and take part in the development of these technologies that often times by pass underrepresented communities in the development of these technologies. I hope to contribute to the innovation and development of tech that incorporates and considers underrepresented human experiences. Prioritizing people such remain a priority within tech by doing things such as creating more accessible technology for people of all abilities and focusing on creating solutions for the human experience rather than creating further platforms for commercialization. The human need for “Third spaces” is something that we lack in the U.S. and I hope to parttake in the conception of such spaces through tech, with apps and technologies like Meta, Zoom, and others that allow us to connect with community at ease. I am excited to learn about and explore technologies such as Ai, blockchains, and Web3. It has been a bit difficult for me to learn about all these things and become part of these industries as they are often male dominated and not as diversely accessible. And as a first generation daughter of immigrants learning to navigate all these spaces has been difficult without any guidance. Learning to code switch, navigate spaces I’ve never been introduced to before and advocating for myself has been a long journey with many twists and turns, and that is why I hope to contribute positively in any work I am a part of.
Among the many goals I have for myself, one of them is to land an entry level job in tech after the completion of the Codetalk program. I want to be part of work that is mindful and intentional in creating a better future for all. There are many issues in the world that need our attention and I want to be one of the people that works towards a solution for them. Which is why I would love to work for a big tech company as they have the resources and the people for us to create change. Having a team of like minded people with the backed resources for it makes big ideas a possibility beyond dreams. I hope to aid in the creation of a more sustainable planet, society, and communities for the future generations. I would love to bring about innovation, and radical, mindful change for all, through all the avenues I am passionate about from, tech to art, to film, and fashion. I hope to continue will all my passion projects throughout life, as doing so would create a well lived life for myself. All in all I aspire to assist in the elevation of the human experience while also considering the planet and all life on it.
I am aware that part of the journey requires work outside of class and as such I am cognizant of the fact that working on my portfolio is necessary. I hope to include aspects of my graphic design skills as well as the coding skills I will gain to my portfolio as well as any knowledge I have from photography, and film. Attending networking events is another thing I hope to do as it is one of the more difficult skills for me. I plan on working on my social skills so as to be a better candidate for any and all positions I inquire about as I am aware that a big part of the hiring process is the consideration of a candidates soft skills and network. I plan on attending as many networking events as possible as well as obtaining as many new skills as possible and learning as much as I can outside of class. As I understand that becoming a competitive candidate might be essential to the application process as these job fields might be overly saturated.
Among some of the barriers that I’ve had to overcome, and am still working on overcoming, have to do with some of the insecurities that I’ve gained throughout life existing as a first generation Indigenous Latinx and my different learning abilities, along with my social skills. Due to the way that I was raised along with the people I have interacted with I developed a lot of self doubt and insecurities that have been the biggest obstacles to overcome, because, although I may have the talent and skills for many things it is often times difficult for me to believe so, and without that self confidence navigating through life becomes a challenge. As a woman with adhd I often find myself struggling to move past imposter syndrome where I constantly feel as though I am not good enough or as though everyone is judging my every move, from the way I talk to the way I move to the way I think and produce content. So I am working on not allowing my disabilities to define who I am or how that will dictate my life. I am looking forward to what the future holds and I am working on becoming an active participant in all aspects of my life.