When I was around ten, my mother pushed me to enter STEM programs at school. She would say STEM was a "gateway to gold," and a promise of a brighter future. I never understood what she meant until I was faced with the internal teenage desire for a job. The idea of becoming financially independent was tantalizing. The urge to prove that I could support myself financially as I emerged into adulthood was utterly irresistible. The way I saw it, there was a sort of pride and freedom that came from having the ability to support yourself financially.
As an adult, I believe financial independence allows you to make your own decisions and live the life you want. Having the ability to financially support yourself allows you to attain personal growth and success in life. As you manage your own finances, you learn about the value of money and budgeting. You also learn to plan for the future and reach your financial goals, which helps you build your self-esteem and confidence. Having the ability to support yourself financially as an adult can be both freeing and empowering. Not only are you not reliant on others for your basic needs, but you also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can handle unexpected expenses and emergencies. As I've come to learn in my 18 years of living, being financially independent can help you make more informed decisions about your life and future, giving you the confidence to take on new experiences and challenges. Overall, I believe a major benefit to financial independence is feeling more in control of your life and your decisions in a very chaotic and out-of-control world, giving you the freedom to accomplish anything you set your mind to in life.
Like my mother said when I was ten, a future in STEM is like a gateway to gold. Having a career in STEM can provide you with the financial security and stability you need to live an independent life and achieve your goals. It can also give you the skills and knowledge to be capable of providing a significant contribution to society, making you feel fulfilled in life and as an adult. A career in STEM can also offer you the ability to make a difference and create something greater than yourself. Although financial stability is rewarding, making a difference to those around you is far more gratifying. You can use your knowledge to work on research or development that can lead to new innovations and solutions to society’s problems. You can use your skills to help others and make a positive impact on people’s lives. While the financial rewards of a career in STEM are certainly attractive and can support financial independence, the ability to make a difference in the world is perhaps the most compelling reason to pursue such a career.
Once I get to my own "gateway to gold," I hope one day I can create my own scholarship fund to help African American women like me pursue their dreams in STEM because nothing is more powerful than an intelligent and independent woman.
“There’s food in the fridge.” Those were the words I heard on some occasions when my craving to dine out got the best of me. I understood the importance of saving money. However, I wanted to make healthy and sound financial decisions on my terms instead of having to move funds around due to heaps of bills. Growing up in a family of nurses and medical professionals, I witnessed firsthand how being financially comfortable didn’t always equate to financial freedom. Aside from the financial aspects of nursing, there was a toll that the profession could have on people long after they left the hospital or worksite and stepped into their homes. However, every morning my mom would wake up and head to work passionate and invigorated to interact with her patients despite the long commute. Although I don’t have a passion to pursue nursing, I’m inspired to weave those traits and life lessons into my own life as I embark into the realm of technology and politics.
I desire to pursue computer science and political science so that I have the tools to achieve my career and financial goals. I believe it’s pertinent to have both of these fields intertwined because of how they affect each other. I want to build our understanding of technology on a global scale by entering politics. There needs to be understanding on both ends of the regulatory and technological community so they can influence each other for the better. Understanding concepts like human-computer interaction and individuality in user interface while learning about subjects like international relations will ensure that my programs and outlook on technology serve people first and foremost.
A career that has piqued my interest for some time has been technical diplomacy. I know this job sounds made up. However, this profession entails establishing relations about technology with other countries on behalf of your home country. While it’s a new field, it’s gradually growing; I want to be a part of developing this field as it expands. Since I was young, I was taught that the best way to learn is by meeting others. For instance, my mom was a nurse who interacted with various patients from veterans to older nursing home patients to children in group homes. Constantly hearing stories from their different perspectives helped her broaden the way she approached nursing. Her treatment for a veteran was not the same as a patient with dementia. Technical diplomacy will allow me to experience different perspectives as well. Traveling, and meeting people from different cultures will help me expand the way that we understand technology. Traveling is a huge financial component that must be factored into people’s “discretionary” expenses. Unfortunately, many people aren’t able to explore different regions with ease because it’s financially inaccessible. It’s why I appreciate technical diplomacy because traveling is built into the job. I also gravitated toward the field of computer science because of how flexible it has become. In the technology world, people can work remotely, hybrid, or in person. This flexibility would allow me to cut expenses in areas such as commuting. I would redirect the excess funds towards retirement and savings, doing activities with family and friends, and trying new restaurants (because dining out occasionally never hurts).
I plan to advocate for those who aren’t given a say in how they are represented. Technology was created to improve people’s well-being, not behave as a hindrance to our community. As I venture forward in my continued technological and political journey, I do so, motivated to chip away at the detrimental disparities that undermine technology’s full promise.
