I chose to pursue a computer science degree because my passion for learning languages aligns with my interest in technology and my desire to be of service. I have found that there are many avenues available to pursue. Currently, my interests lie in artificial intelligence, user experience of apps and websites, and cybersecurity. Although not officially in STEM, I am double concentrating in Organizational Studies as well. I believe that this concentration will enhance my performance in my computer science interests because it will provide a foundation for how to approach my desired audience. If I decide to pursue artificial intelligence, knowing why people make decisions, have specified roles within institutions, and face societal challenges, will provide an additional perspective. This knowledge could be useful in user experience because it can inform how I can design for the appropriate demographic. Working in cybersecurity can not only allow me to protect businesses and the public, but I could also benefit by having insight into potential threats. Because the technology industry is male-dominated, I hope to demonstrate excellence not only as a female but also as a young Asian woman. In the past, I have volunteered for the non-profit Girls Soccer Worldwide to help bring sports, education, and leadership opportunities to girls living in poverty. Being a representative of this mission has further inspired me to use my passions and be a leader creating equality in the workplace, to the best of my ability. To begin in this industry, I hope to add more representation and continue to add value to being an Asian woman by earning higher roles. Eventually, I would like to create my foundation that would offer scholarships, learning opportunities, and networking programs for girls like me. I hope to show and foster the possibility of creating equal opportunity in the workplace through these initiatives and bring the community together by being a mentor for the next generation of girls in tech. Being in STEM through computer science, allows me to help those around me through an industry that will continue to have a strong presence and touch every life around the world. I am grateful to pursue my passions and to feel supported for doing so through my university. I never thought this would be a possible career path for me, but seeing my dreams fulfill themselves inspires me to continue for myself and others entering this industry.

“You are not good enough. I don’t know why you even show up. Every time you step on this field, you [expletive] everything up. Get off the field.” On my fifth dive, I missed fielding an unreachable ball. I now stood on the field staring into the eyes of a woman I was supposed to look up to as my coach. Two minutes of her yelling at me in front of teammates and parents went by, pausing practice. Viewing commitment as a core value, so unwavering that I placed it over my happiness and health, I was challenged by my perspective. Another coach told me that I handled the situation perfectly by simply nodding my head and replying “yes coach.” Yet, I drove home questioning my worth, dreams, and identity. This experience encouraged me to reflect on how I defined commitment in relevance to my well-being. My commitment to fitting the mold, created by my coach that forced me to tolerate her poor treatment, left me feeling lost. The coach had received child abuse charges which should have provided me with a reason to leave the situation. However, I still felt responsible to stick to my commitment. I began an internal change that allowed me to define the line between valuing commitment and still respecting myself. This particular experience led me to discover that a line does exist. I learned to recognize that when one side of a commitment fails to uphold values, I need to re-evaluate my commitment. My level of commitment is apparent in my dedication to community service. I am now deeply involved in the non-profit Girls Soccer Worldwide which gave me another experience of growth. I traveled to Paraguay during Thanksgiving Break (2022) to bring sports, education, and leadership opportunities to girls and families living in extreme poverty. This trip allowed me to have conversations and build relationships with the community so that I could use that knowledge to share with the rest of the world why it is so important to get involved. It was important for me to realize that my time can be spent on things that bring me joy. The community in Coronel Bogado, Paraguay further demonstrated why I love what I do. They taught me to live in the moment and to enjoy the life I have. My journey began with difficulty at the beginning of the year, but when I shifted the energy I used for someone that didn't value me toward the people I love to work for, I realized that happiness was attainable. Now, I am on a team that values me for who I am, and I am able to pursue serving the people that I love.