One technology that I am extremely excited about is the concept of Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs for short. These pieces of innovation have been a byproduct of the larger blockchain movement and allow for people of all backgrounds across the globe the opportunity to bid for collectible products such as sports memorabilia, autographed music records, special photographs, and so much more. Similar to physical antiques, these are meant to hold value and appreciate over the long run, enabling people who otherwise might not have access to this type of vehicle the chance to have an asset which can grow over time. This excites me not only for the aforementioned reason of economic equality but also for the fact that it allows fans all over the world a chance to collaborate and work with one another to preserve valued artifacts of their commonly-held passion. NFTs enable to the exchange of fandoms and the ability of economic equality worldwide; however, they also signal the 4th Industrial Revolution where the information economy will soar and where digital items will mean the just the same or even more than the physical. This will also open up new opportunities for vendors of ticket platforms such as StubHub and Ticketmaster (among the thousands of others that exist) the ability to entice customers through the ability to offer such valuable tokens of their participation in various events. It could not only have the ability to create new jobs but could stretch to include even new movements or trends in the hospitality industry. Finally, NFTs signal a larger shift in the global economy where the digital realm is here to stay. Regardless of the outcome of this relatively new experiment, it demonstrates that there is indeed a demand for non-physical items and objects to help everyone across the world achieve more.

One practical solution for helping more people who struggle with mental health would be incorporating more education about these sorts of challenges into institutions such as schools, workplaces, and more. As someone who struggles with a mix of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and panic disorders, I have seen the effects of having the knowledge that is needed first-hand. I have been able to better take care of myself during my episodes by understanding my triggers and building an action plan. Likewise, friends and family in my life have been able to accurately support me in a way that is beneficial rather than hurtful by learning about the illnesses and ways to cope. Unfortunately, I have seen the exact opposite of this as well. Some acquaintances and even authority figures have made it seem irrelevant and that all mental illnesses are fake. The above reasons and more are exactly why education is incredibly important, and it can be implemented in a myriad of ways. For example, schools can include a module on mental health during the standard health classes to teach students about common illnesses and how to support themselves and others going through challenges. Additionally, workplaces can ensure that employees receive a short yet impactful training on how mental illnesses impact workers and what to do about it during their orientations and trainings throughout the year. Religious and other institutions can incorporate mental health support into their teachings and activities. I not only believe that this will lead to a more understanding and accepting world but also that people will be more compassionate, kind, and inclusive in all facets of their lives.

My academic advisor, Dr. Chung, was integral for helping me to stay on the path towards excelling in my studies and ultimately completing my bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) at Chatham University. I can clearly remember the day when we first met. It was the summer of 2017; this was about two months before I was to begin classes. I remember being super nervous, even trembling with the thought of meeting her. I thought that I was not worthy of studying technology, especially given my background as a first-generation, biracial college student. I thought that I was not smart enough compared to my peers. And I thought that above all, I would never be able to get that dream job in Big Tech like I had seen so many inspiration people do online. However, my fears were immediately diminished when I met her. She exuded a radiance and a confidence that I had never seen before in my life, let alone from a woman in a male-dominated field. She spoke to myself and my parents about her background and the opportunities that she was able to help her students attain, including great internships and full-time jobs after graduation. I knew then that we would be able to develop a wonderful relationship that has lasted even after graduation. During my time at Chatham, Dr. Chung was integral in helping me to realized my best potential. Two other students had wanted to create the first club for our major and reached out to her; she had ended up recommending me as the third founding member. Over the next year, we successfully planned out and launched the MIS/Analytics Club which had over 50 members from all majors at our university. The events included Google Cloud Jams where students were taught how to set up their own VPNs and speaker series to encourage students to use technology no matter where they decided to go next in their careers. As a result of our efforts, the club won the Best New Student Organization of the Year Award at the conclusion of our first year of operations. On top of helping me with this opportunity, Dr. Chung enabled me to receive other opportunities such as winning scholarships from Google, free passes to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration two years in a row, and internship offers from top banks in the Pittsburgh area. Through these events that were presented to me, I was further able to explore my interests, network with others in my chosen field of study (tech), and gain even more chances as a result. This ultimately led to me receiving and accepting the offer for my current role at Microsoft as a Business Program Manager. Even though I have graduated, Dr. Chung and I have stayed in close connection with one another through various social media platforms, including LinkedIn. I am able to help her and her students through sharing opportunities at Microsoft, and she was instrumental in helping me get into my top choice graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania called MCIT (Master's of Computer and Information Technology).

Diversity has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a biracial daughter of an immigrant from Colombia, I oftentimes struggled growing up by not seeing others who looked like me or had come from that background. This has led to many challenges that have started in my childhood and has continued well into adulthood, too. During my time in college as a Management Information Systems major, I was one of the only females in my entire class. I felt extremely distraught as some of the male students in the classes would put me down by saying such statements involving comments that men were superior to women in the technology field. My first internship that I ever did after my first year of college had related struggles, as I worked in an office filled with white, middle-aged men who made disparaging comments about my looks, ability to work, and even my soft-spoken voice. However, I have been very fortunate to have had a great mentor, my academic advisor for the first two years of my studies, that inspired me to continue and ultimate graduate with the degree. She was a well-established researcher and professor in the fields of business and technology, and her accomplishments and guidance set me up in a way in which I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. She guided me towards several scholarship opportunities with Facebook and Google, which helped me to explore my interests. Similarly, I worked in the Dean's office, and the Dean was incredibly supportive and helpful towards me getting the opportunities to go to prestigious events such as the Grace Hopper Celebration, Forbes 30 Under 30, and more all for free to meet likeminded individuals. At these conferences, I had the chance to network with others which led to my current role at Microsoft as a Business Program Manager; this would have never happened if not for the diversity of my network and the mentors that I had. I now help to give back to others through various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to mentor first-generation, Latinx, and other minority students towards getting a job in the technology industry. Through these organizations, I have seen the power of diversity, as the company overall has a great culture of respect, compassion, and kindness for others. Additionally, having the opportunity to be able to speak up and share ideas leads to more successful projects and initiatives overall. I currently work in the digital marketing space; however, I am starting my graduate degree this fall part-time online through the University of Pennsylvania. The MCIT (Master's in Computer and Information Technology) that I will begin at the end of August will enable me to pivot into the technical product management space. I aspire to build products that enable everyone, regardless of what they look like or where they come from, to achieve more in their lives and accomplish their own dreams.