@hcohen13

When I was nine years old, my mom walked into my room and asked, "Do you want to program a computer with me?". Being a young kid, I did not understand what programming a computer was, but my eyes lit up with excitement and I jumped up with joy at the idea of quality time with my mom. At the time, my mother was working 4 part-time teaching jobs, working endless hours to afford the roof over our heads. She was also taking computer classes online and had purchased a Rasberry Pi model B. She and I set out to Goodwill to purchase a used computer display, mouse, and keyboard. Although I did not understand what a CPU or RAM was, I enjoyed every moment spent with my mom as she let me help her put all the parts together. We spent hours learning new commands to type in. My mother fostered my love for computers, ultimately leading me to pursue a degree in computer science. I am currently a computer science major at the University of Florida. Right now, my goal is to finish my bachelor's degree and go on to earn a Master's degree in a computer-related field. My dream job after receiving my degree is to be a software engineer. I want to start my own software company. Another major goal of mine in the future is to help other women pursuing the same career path as me. I would love to have a successful software business where one of my main company goals is to help other women be successful in software engineering. At the University of Florida, I had one engineering class last semester, which was EGN2020C. The class had about one hundred students. Of those one hundred, only about ten were women. I sat at a table with just women. With the small number of women who were in my introduction engineering class, I can only imagine how underrepresented they are in the engineering and technology field. This is why I think I must use my resources to help other women achieve their goals. I wish to feel the way that I did when my mom first introduced me to the world of computers and programming, and this scholarship will help fulfill that dream. Not only do I want to achieve my own goal, but I want to help other women who share the same passion as I have since I was a little girl.

When I was nine years old, my mom walked into my room and asked, "Do you want to program a computer with me?". Being a young kid, I did not understand what programming a computer was, but my eyes lit up with excitement and I jumped up with joy at the idea of quality time with my mom. At the time, my mother was working 4 part-time teaching jobs, working endless hours to afford the roof over our heads. She was also taking computer classes online and had purchased a Rasberry Pi model B. She and I set out to goodwill to purchase a used computer display, mouse, and keyboard. Although I did not understand what a CPU or RAM was, I enjoyed every moment spent with my mom as she let me help her put all the parts together. We spent hours learning new commands to type in. I was fascinated by how a small computer board the size of my hand could do so much. My mother fostered my love for computers. She was the first person who inspired me to pursue a degree in technology. As I got older, people in high school told me that I should pursue a different career because computer science is a field dominated by men. I honestly considered it. I doubted myself. I doubted my abilities. I went to my mom for advice, and she told me that I should never let anyone else decide my future for me. She said that she made that mistake and she did not want me to make the same one. This was all the reassurance I needed. I realized that she was right. Just because the field is male-dominated, does not mean I am any less capable. I should not give up the dream of doing what I love because other people don't think I can do it. Computer Science being a male-dominated field now inspires me to continue with this career path. One day I hope to be a software developer. I hope to start my own company. When I do, I want the main focus of my company to be helping other women like me pursue their dreams in computer science. I wish to be surrounded by determined, smart women in this field. I wish to inspire them like I have been inspired. There is a concept in Judaism that I have held with me on my journey thus far: hatmadah. Hatmadah is perseverance. It is believing in yourself and never giving up. It is staying focused on your dreams and goals no matter what anyone else tells you. I thank my mom for inspiring me and for teaching me what hatmadah is. I will forever persevere in this field.

When I was nine years old, my mom walked into my room and asked, "Do you want to program a computer with me?". Being a young kid, I did not understand what programming a computer was, but my eyes lit up with excitement and I jumped up with joy at the idea of quality time with my mom. At the time, my mother was working 4 part-time teaching jobs, working endless hours to afford the roof over our heads. She was also taking computer classes online and had purchased a Rasberry Pi model B. She and I set out to goodwill to purchase a used computer display, mouse, and keyboard. Although I did not understand what a CPU or RAM was, I enjoyed every moment spent with my mom as she let me help her put all the parts together. We spent hours learning new commands to type in. My mother fostered my love for computers, ultimately leading me to pursue a degree in computer science. I am currently a computer science major at the University of Florida. Right now, my goal is to finish my bachelor's degree and go on to earn a Master's degree in a computer-related field. My dream job after receiving my degree is to be a software engineer. I want to start my own software company. Another major goal of mine in the future is to help other women pursuing the same career path as me. I would love to have a successful software business where one of my main company goals is to help other women be successful in software engineering. At the University of Florida, I have one engineering class this semester, which is EGN2020C. The class has about one hundred students. Of those one hundred, only about ten are women. I sit at a table with just women. With the small number of women who are in my introduction engineering class, I can only imagine how underrepresented they are in the engineering and technology field. This is why I think I must use my resources to help other women achieve their goals. I wish to feel the way that I did when my mom first introduced me to the world of computers and programming, and this scholarship will help fulfill that dream. Not only do I want to achieve my own goal, but I want to help other women who share the same passion as I have since I was a little girl.

When I was nine years old, my mom walked into my room and asked, "Do you want to program a computer with me?". Being a young kid, I did not understand what programming a computer was, but my eyes lit up with excitement and I jumped up with joy at the idea of quality time with my mom. At the time, my mother was working 4 part-time teaching jobs, working endless hours to afford the roof over our heads. She was also taking computer classes online and had purchased a Rasberry Pi model B. She and I set out to goodwill to purchase a used computer display, mouse, and keyboard. Although I did not understand what a CPU or RAM was, I enjoyed every moment spent with my mom as she let me help her put all the parts together. We spent hours learning new commands to type in. My mother fostered my love for computers. I am currently a computer science major at the University of Florida. Right now, my goal is to finish my bachelor's degree and go on to earn a Master's degree in a computer-related field. My dream job after receiving my degree is to be a software engineer. I want to start my own software company. Another major goal of mine in the future is to help other women pursuing the same career path as me. I would love to have a successful software business where one of my main company goals is to help other women be successful in software engineering. I came to the University of Florida from my hometown in North Carolina. I am an out-of-state student paying out-of-state tuition. I worked throughout high school to save up as much money as I possibly could for a University that had a great computer science program. I did not receive any federal financial aid for this year because of how much my dad makes, even though I had only lived with my mom from the age of thirteen until I graduated high school. My dad still helps me out with tuition costs for this year, but after this Spring Semester, I will be paying for all costs alone. I currently work 20 to 30 hours a week while in school full-time. This scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial stress I am experiencing. I wish to feel the way that I did when my mom first introduced me to the world of computers and programming, and this scholarship will help fulfill that dream. Not only do I want to achieve my own goal, but I want to help other women who share the same passion as I have since I was a little girl.