When the pandemic hit, many of our lives were uprooted. I, like thousands of others, was laid off from my temporary job at a call center with no promises of a return assignment. As bills piled up and companies were still not hiring, I was at a loss. And while it would have been easy to give in to the despair, I instead took the opportunity to reflect on my life, and make changes. I adored going through the program for a bachelor's in Psychology. I knew that was the field I wanted to go into as soon as I took a psychology course in high school. I knew I wanted to help people. It wasn't until after I graduated and I dipped my feet into the workforce that I realized that perhaps being a licensed therapist was not it for me. In my limited experience, I did not know how to set and keep emotional boundaries, which I knew were crucial in a professional setting. The fact that I did not move on to pursue a PhD or a Master's degree limited my career options, and I soon found that I was not happy. So, I decided to go back to school, and start anew. My decision to study Computer Engineering came after much reflecting and encouragement from my partner, who is a mechanical engineer himself. I never fancied myself a maths student--many of my Psych classmates and I would joke that we were a SOCIAL science major, not a physical science major--but I always had an interest in computers and the science behind gaming. Growing up, it quickly became relevant that the sciences were not my forte, something my parents always brought up. But it was my boyfriend that snapped some sense into me, and told me he believed in me, believed I could do it, and reminded me that my thoughts manifested themselves, so if I didn't think I was good enough, I never would be. The road has been long and hard. I have had to put many of my dreams on hold, and made many sacrifices, but I am proud of my accomplishments, and am proud of the As I got in my Math and Programming courses. Money has always been a constant struggle, for there is only so much that financial aid and a part time job can do, but I have confidence that one day, those dreams that have been patiently waiting will no longer be on hold.

When I met my boyfriend in December 2018, he opened up my whole world. He encouraged me to try different things, from foods to hobbies, and to always look for the next new challenge. When the pandemic hit, I, like many others, was let go from my job, and after struggling to find employment for months, I decided to shoot for the ultimate new challenge: a degree in Computer Engineering. Mind you, I was never fond of math, or the sciences in general. I was pretty bad at those subjects--or at least, that is what I would tell myself. So this career change meant that I would have to challenge myself every step of the way as I ventured into a field that was practically the opposite of my social science background. The idea terrified me and thrilled me at once. What better way to improve oneself than pursue a career that was all about pushing boundaries? My boyfriend, the electrical engineer, was fully supportive of the idea. He knew about my reservations, but assured me that, despite what I thought, I definitely had the brains and the drive to do it. So I took the plunge, and enrolled in a local community college for the Fall 2020 semester. I was hooked with the first coding class I took! I powered through and was able to transfer to a four-year university after two years with a 3.5 GPA. Seeing it typed like that makes it sound so simple, but there were thousands of hours of work, including many sleepless nights, that made it happen. I even managed to get A's in Calculus I and II! That, I think, was my proudest achievement, because it truly showcased how far I had come. Transferring in and of itself was a major hurdle that I am very glad to have overcome. Now, of course, comes the biggest challenge in the form of the upper division courses at university! One obstacle that I have consistently encountered these last few years (as if difficult classes and demanding workloads were not enough!) is having to navigate a male-dominated field as a Hispanic woman. Although society is embracing the inclusion and impact of women in STEM, the reality in academia is much different. Ever since I started in school, I have always had to deal with either a professor or even classmates that didn't think I deserved a place next to them. I think this is partly why I dedicated myself so furiously to my studies--I wanted to prove them wrong. And, truly, I believe I have! This time two years ago, going to a university to study Computer Engineering seemed like a far-off dream, and now, I can practically hear all the doors of opportunities opening up for me. The dream is to make something meaningful for society, and if I keep my focus and my drive, I know I can achieve it!