Before the pandemic I worked as a bartender, which as everyone knows isn’t the most stable industry. Ironically while everyone suffered from cabin fever thanks to the pandemic, I was finally given the time and stability to re-evaluate my life’s trajectory. I never had the time to think because I was in survival mode for most of my adult life. Money went out as fast as it came in, and living day by day isn’t feasible long-term. I decided to go back to school, and I started research on career fields that are great for people with ADHD. Unlike my peers, I wasn’t a computer nerd or a big gamer. Cybersecurity fell into my lap as I researched ideal jobs for people with my neurotype. My unique mind and background in the service industry made me a good candidate for that career field. Theres’s many reasons why I decided to pursue a degree in STEM, the first reason was both practical and financial. I did not want to waste my time on degrees that weren’t lucrative. I want financial security and with all the cyber-attacks recently the cybersecurity field is here to stay, literally. Unlike other fields within tech, cybersecurity cannot be shipped off overseas thus ensuring job security for the long run. My second reason is because I want to work from home. As a neurodivergent person, I have been targeted for bullying at multiple work places. The social dynamics of the American work place makes it hard for hardworking neurodivergent people to survive and thrive in corporate America. Its has impacted my mental health to the point that I was diagnosed with PTSD. Its as though the world punishes people for being themselves and doing their jobs properly. Its better to avoid the orwellien nature of the workplace then to die young from stress. As a feminist and a proud Puerto Rican, my ultimate goal is to open the hearts and minds of my fellow women of color to the cybersecurity field. I want to encourage organizations to target our vulnerable demographic. Many organizations focus on recruiting younger people who may not yet know what they want. Mothers of color, on the other hand, have a clear need: they require flexible jobs that allow them to work from home and earn enough income to support their families. Cybersecurity can offer that, and with the high cost of daycare, many mothers are seeking remote jobs to offset these expenses. I want to ensure that more women can pursue careers in the cybersecurity field. It’s important to show other women that the tech field is not as intimidating as it may seem. It is one of the few fields that offers job security, and by bringing more women from different backgrounds, we can benefit from a diversity of collective intelligence. As an emerging leader, I would organize events and collaborate with non-profit organizations to generate interest in cybersecurity among new audiences. I would advertise in social services offices, WIC offices, unemployment offices, local community centers, community colleges, and at local festivals. I would directly engage with the most underserved communities. I aim to empower more people to transition from unsatisfactory jobs and pursue certifications that set them on a path to financial independence. Ultimately, I aspire to establish a non-profit organization specializing in assisting women of color from low-income backgrounds to enter the cybersecurity field. This program could provide the necessary guidance and framework to help those who have historically been overlooked.

In the intricate tapestry of my life, cybersecurity became my guiding light in the vast world of STEM. My journey was no cakewalk, balancing the grind of education, the hustle of a full-time job, and the blessings of being a single parent. Late nights digging into the complexities of cybersecurity became my haven, where sheer determination met bone-deep exhaustion, and where dreams and responsibilities collided. Cybersecurity, for me, is more than a job—it's a ticket out, a way to carve a path to a brighter future for me and my kid. It's not just about cracking codes and locking down networks; it's about smashing through barriers and empowering folks like me, who dream big against all odds. The challenges? They weren't just hurdles; they were rocket fuel, propelling me to a space where my unique life experiences transformed into strengths rather than stumbling blocks. In the world of cybersecurity, my story intertwines with countless others who've danced with struggles like mine. We're not just students; we're warriors, battling in both the digital realm and our everyday lives. Every concept I grasp echoes the determination of single parents hustling for a better life, the tenacity of women smashing through ceilings, and the resilience of folks kicking stereotypes to the curb. Navigating the wild terrain of STEM education, I found solace in the idea that my struggles, though deeply personal, weren't unique. Many single parents, just like me, juggle late-night study sessions while their little ones catch some Zs, balancing job demands with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It's a shared tale of grit and hope, where every equation cracked and every theory grasped isn't just a personal win but a victory for the whole crew. In the heart of cybersecurity, my struggles don't alienate me; they link me with a tribe of folks who, like stars in the night sky, shine fiercely despite the darkness. As I dive into the world of cybersecurity protocols and risk management, I don't just bear the weight of my dreams but the dreams of every parent aiming to carve out a better tomorrow for their kids. The digital realm transforms into our shared canvas, where diverse stories converge, weaving a tapestry of inspiration and aspiration. With every challenge crushed and every lesson learned, my bond with the wider tribe of single parents and passionate STEM enthusiasts grows stronger. Those late nights and sacrifices turn into threads weaving a story we can all relate to, where the pursuit of knowledge isn't just a personal hustle but a collective mission for a better life. My journey mirrors the struggles of many, making it a testament to the power found in unity, and the belief that education is the great equalizer, bridging gaps that society throws our way. In the sprawling world of STEM, my story isn't just a tale of perseverance—it's a beacon of hope, a testament to the strength found in resilience and determination. Each of us, myself included, adds a unique sparkle to the night sky, illuminating the path for others. Through relatability and shared experiences, I stand not just as an individual but as a representative of a collective spirit, where obstacles turn into stepping stones, and dreams, regardless of how humble, hold the power to change lives.

In the challenging landscape of the workplace, I stood out like a sore thumb - a Puerto Rican woman, uniquely intelligent, and driven by the beat of a different drum, thanks to my ADHD. My distinctiveness, instead of being celebrated, became a target. I endured relentless bullying, facing false accusations, mobbing, verbal abuse, and even physical altercations. The cruelty of others, their malicious motives, and their relentless envy left deep scars, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of PTSD. Every day was a battle, a relentless struggle to be heard and valued. My creativity and talents were overshadowed by the hatred and discrimination I faced. The American workplace, instead of being a space for growth, became a hostile arena where I constantly felt threatened. The competition was fierce, and the atmosphere was toxic. Those who perceived me as a threat did everything in their power to eradicate me. Amidst this darkness, I found resilience within me. I adapted, realizing that to preserve my sanity and protect my fragile trust in people, I had to distance myself from the cruelty of those with malicious motives and their relentless envy. I chose remote work, not out of convenience, but out of sheer necessity. I couldn’t afford to give people the power to hurt me anymore. I yearned for a sanctuary where my skills could be my voice, where I could be judged solely on my abilities, away from the piercing eyes of judgment. The cybersecurity field became my refuge, a place where my talents found solace and where remote opportunities allowed me to escape the prejudice that haunted me. In this realm, I discovered the anonymity I desperately needed - a shield against discrimination, a haven where my creativity and skills could flourish without the weight of constant scrutiny. My choice to delve into cybersecurity is not just a career decision; it’s my way of reclaiming my strength, my identity, and my voice. Each keystroke echoes with the energy of a survivor, a soul tired of battling, yet still standing tall. Remote work became my lifeline, a chance to transform sorrow into determination, the scars into badges of courage. In this field, my differences are not liabilities but badges of honor, tokens of a relentless spirit that refused to be broken. Through the sorrow, I emerged a survivor, resilient and unwavering, ready to conquer a future where my unique brilliance would not just be acknowledged but celebrated.

In the unforgiving terrain of life, my story stands tall alongside countless single mothers—warriors in a world that often underestimates our strength. Behind the battles and triumphs lies an unyielding determination, a steel resolve to carve a path of stability and opportunity for myself and my child. In the realm of career choices, cybersecurity became my designated battleground. Armed with unyielding determination, I delved into extensive research, exploring its intricacies and potential. Fueled by my instinct for pattern recognition and passion for problem-solving, I immersed myself entirely in this domain. No shortcuts, no compromises—just unwavering dedication. I earned my Associate's in Applied Science with high honors, showcasing my unwavering determination. Now at Roosevelt University, a sanctuary for non-traditional students like me, I stand with pride, benefiting from the support we deserve. Let’s confront the harsh realities head-on: society often overlooks the resilience of single mothers. Childcare is prohibitively expensive, exacerbated by a severe shortage of providers, and the costs of childcare and commuting often nearly outweigh the income earned, leaving us with minimal resources despite the hours devoted to work. Government assistance, often touted as a safety net, is far from reliable, as it places numerous hurdles that make it hard for people to access it. But amidst these challenges, cybersecurity stands as armor, liberating us to be both providers and protectors. Society might attempt to label us, but we defy those stereotypes. We stand strong, unyielding against adversity. I'm not here to boast or provoke. I'm here to command respect. Cybersecurity isn’t just my career choice; it’s my armor, showcasing that single mothers aren't defined by struggles; we are fierce, resilient warriors. And here’s the twist: I don't just want to change my life; I'm committed to changing lives around me. My ultimate goal isn’t just personal success; it’s community upliftment. I believe in paying it forward, ensuring that no single mother ever struggles in poverty or feels as alone or underestimated as I once did. Through my journey in cybersecurity, I have discovered the power of resilience and determination. It's not just about breaking barriers for ourselves; it's about dismantling the systemic obstacles that keep single mothers in a cycle of poverty. Cybersecurity, my chosen path, is more than a career; it's a fortress of opportunities. Just as I've found my strength within its realm, I am committed to guiding others. I envision a future where no single mother is confined by financial hardships, where each of us can stand tall and proud, providing not just for our families but also for our communities. My mission transcends personal success; it's a call to action. By empowering single mothers with the knowledge and skills to thrive in fields like cybersecurity, we can rewrite the narrative. I plan to create mentorship programs, accessible workshops, and educational initiatives tailored for single mothers, offering them the tools to overcome financial struggles and societal biases. Together, we will bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement, ensuring that every single mother has the chance to build a prosperous future. I stand firm in my conviction: no single mother should bear the weight of poverty alone. Cybersecurity, my armor and ally, will not only shield us from digital threats but also pave the way to financial stability. Let us stride forward, not as victims of circumstance, but as architects of our destiny, transforming challenges into stepping stones. Through our collective efforts, we will not only uplift single mothers today but inspire a legacy of empowerment for generations to come.

Growing up on the shores of Long Island, I wasn't handed a silver spoon, and cybersecurity wasn't exactly on my radar. I didn't have the luxury of being a child prodigy coding on a computer by age 12. No, my introduction to the digital world was anything but glamorous. It started on a clunky old Windows 97 computer, the kind everyone had to take turns using. It wasn't cutting-edge, but I devoured every bit of it, from files to folders. I fell in love with the internet. That dull, dial-up connection was my lifeline to a world beyond my neighborhood. I didn't just surf the web; I dissected it. My early foray into HTML was a side effect of customizing my MySpace page. When I got interested in something, I dug deep—no half-measures, no compromises. Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball. At the age of 20, in the midst of the 2009 recession, my father decided it was time for me to hit the road. Having a part-time job, being a full-time student—it wasn't enough for him. With no safety net, I had to make a brutal choice: education or survival. The financial aid I depended on required my father's tax information, which I couldn't access. My dreams of higher education seemed like a distant mirage. My journey took an unexpected turn as I entered the world of bartending. It was a world of quick cash and no-nonsense, where success was measured in dollar bills. But it was also where I stumbled upon skills that would become my secret weapon in the cybersecurity arena. Bartending isn't just about mixing drinks; it's about reading people, uncovering their truths, and deciphering their motives. In that dimly lit bar, I became a master of psychology, and alcohol was my truth serum. These are what some people call "soft skills." But in my world, they're "soft skills with a side of street smarts." I can read between the lines, catch what others miss, and think on my feet like a sly cat, stealthily maneuvering through challenges and ready to strike at just the right moment. My post-graduation vision isn't just about personal success; it's about unleashing a revolution in cybersecurity. I want to shatter the glass ceiling that keeps women, especially those from backgrounds like mine, from dominating this field. People who grew up in poverty, where life moves at its own pace, have untapped potential. Our unique experiences make us adept at navigating the chaos, spotting threats, and staying one step ahead. These qualities aren't liabilities; they're assets, and it's time we put them to good use. I see myself as a rebel with a cause—breaking down barriers, challenging the status quo, and creating opportunities for others. My plan is simple yet audacious: champion initiatives that provide hands-on training, real-world exposure, and a pathway into cybersecurity for individuals who've been overlooked for far too long. My journey from the unforgiving depths of poverty to the realm of cybersecurity stands as a testament to resilience and resourcefulness. I'm not just a survivor; I'm a warrior, armed with the skills and determination to make waves in this field. My mission is clear: defy the odds, empower others, and prove that rebels like me can thrive in the world of cybersecurity. It's time to lead the charge and rewrite the rules, New York-style.

I am a full believer in tough love. We live in a time where we need it more than any other time before. People today are far too sensitive and easily offended. They are entitled and short-sighted. When I look at Generation Z I see a generation that never had any discipline and as they become adults reality will hit them harder than any other generation before but this problem started with my generation, the millennials. We had good intentions but now we have people who bully people in silence when they have a differing opinion. Now I know people think empathy is being nice to someone, but what empathy means is understanding other people's emotions and intentions. I don't think you'd be nice to someone if you can sense they have malice towards you. Empathy has nothing to do with how to treat other people, I can empathize with murderers but still think they deserve to rot in jail. Empathy is a tool not a feeling. It can be used to see right through people's facades. I can be used to get down to the root of the problem. The problem with today is not that we have too much empathy, we don't have enough. A lot of people fall for sob stories, or fake outrage all the time. If they had any form of empathy they would have sensed the deception a long time ago. I understand what drives the average person, everyone wants to live a decent stress-free life, but how do we achieve that? How do we help people live better? The answer is tough love. Yes, calling people out on their behaviors, flaws, and lack of talent is a good thing. We don't want a society full of people who think they all deserve to be a billionaire CEO just for existing. People need to be brought back to planet Earth and mediocrity should not be seen as a negative thing. Being average should be something we strive for, it's realistic and attainable. If we want a better society we have to stop calling people special and focus on what the person is truly capable of. So how will I bring my philosophy to life, as I move up in my career I want to mentor young people and help them learn the reality of the world that no one is special. We all have flaws and we all have limitations. Your feelings aren't more important than other people's feelings. You aren't entitled to tell people how to think or speak. Everything can be achieved when you move in silence and don't cause problems. Generation Z has a lot to learn and frankly, I feel sorry for them as they enter the workforce and they realize the hard way no one will cater to their whims and their lack of resilience will be their undoing. Young people need help, and hopefully, some tough love will help them thrive.

My future self will have control over my own life, no one will be able to control me or manipulate me or have power over me. I will have power over my fate!

My name is Madeleine Gonzalez and I'm a 34-year-old single mother trying to get a better-paying job with security and opportunities. My main motive is to be able to afford a home for myself and my son. It is very difficult for me because I had to give up primary custody of my child to get my education. I currently live with my mother, I need to move out because my son cannot be around my mom. She recently had a stroke and she cannot tolerate any loud noises or any conflict. My son is a rambunctious boy with severe ADHD. I wish he could spend more time long-term with the whole family but my mom is a shell of the person she once was and everything makes her nervous. I returned to school in the fall of 2021 to get my degree in cybersecurity. I was tired of working in the service industry and not having enough job security to survive. It's very easy to get fired from a typical bartending job. Just be good at your job and there's a target on your back. It's very stressful and nerve-wracking to work in such a toxic environment. You learn very quickly to NEVER trust your co-workers and to always watch your back. Pretty much like Game of Thrones in the sense that firing is the equivalent of death on the show. You have to be one step ahead of your rival co-worker. I chose my major based on multiple factors. The first factor was job security, I needed to be in an industry that's desperate to retain people and unwilling to fire people over frivolous things. Secondly was the pay, I wanted the most bang for my buck. I was not getting a worthless degree that won't ensure I will make six figures within 10 years. The next factor is the amount of remote work available within my field. I have workplace PTSD, I get very paranoid around my co-workers and start thinking everyone is my enemy. All this stems from a lifetime of bad experiences working around people who will through anyone under the bus to save themselves. Beautiful women tend to be targeted for workplace bullying and physical attacks. Unfortunately, society has the bad habit of trying to humble beautiful women instead of uplifting us and seeing us for our intelligence, skills, and talent. Everyone assumes we used our looks to get ahead. This is why for my mental health and ability to survive I need to distance myself from people. Remote work is a godsend for people like me who are traumatized from past jobs and cannot deal with workplace politics anymore. I chose Cybersecurity as my major because it's an up-and-coming niche in the tech industry. It's in very high demand especially now with all the new AI technologies available and online scamming running rampant. Not only it's a niche that pays well, but it also has many different career tracks, I can go down the management track or the back-end track or even become an ethical hacker. It's a very broad field and there are many job titles available. I'm very excited about my future, I was accepted into roosevelt university and I start next semester. I have my first remote job and I love it. I like not having someone breathing down my neck or having envious co-workers stalk me. I can feel at ease knowing no one is out to get me. Without my degree and field of study, this peace of mind would not be available.

Life can be cruel, and it is very cruel to my mother. She recently had a stroke and has not fully recovered. I am legally her caregiver until she recovers. I am seeing her deteriorate right before my eyes. My mom is a shell of a person. Everything overwhelms her, she has panic attacks over nothing and she has explosive mental breakdowns over frivolous things. She has lost her mind. Her temper tantrums are very disruptive and often over trivial things like a dish or not wanting to talk about a conversation topic. She can't control her impulses and pretty much is an emotional mess most of the day. She locks herself up in her room and pretty much has given up on life. All these expectations are taking a toll on me, I am expected to be the head of the household now. Her OCD about cleaning is unrealistic since I have to take care of her and my son, work and go to school full-time. Not only has she had a stroke, but she also has multiple autoimmune diseases that render her bed bound. She is constantly having flare-ups but the reality is that if her brain does not recover and stays in an unstable mental state; she will continue triggering flare-ups thus causing a deadly feedback loop. She's slowly becoming self-aware of her irrational fears and delusional thinking. I keep reminding her that her mind is playing tricks on her. I have to be a nurse and therapist to her, she is slowly making improvements. For the time being, I live with my mother, my son lives with his father primarily while I take care of my mom. My son has ADHD and he is very loud and rambunctious. My mom cannot tolerate the whims of children. My son also has the bad habit of taking advantage of her emotional fragility.I decided to find a happy medium, I will move close to my mom once she recovers physically and emotionally and I will continue to pursue remote work to ensure if an emergency happens I'm only five minutes away. I was going to move back to New York, but that seems like it won't happen. My mother needs me and she owns a home here in Chicago. I have no problem adapting for the sake of my son and my mother. This education will ensure I can take care of everyone and earn enough money to make life easier for everyone. I will be able to afford my own home and be able to have my son primarily live with me. It's hard for me, and this stroke was all of a sudden she will recover but now I have to take another path that can ensure everyone has their needs met. I can handle being sandwiched between two generations.

There's only one reason people join the military and that's to escape poverty. My mother joined the army in 2000, she was an older soldier joining when she was 34. My mom wanted to escape her life and get away from her failed marriage. If my mom never joined the military, she wouldn't be able to help me today. The pain and suffering she endured in such a toxic misogynistic environment was compensated with VA benefits, no property taxes, and a GI bill that enabled her to get a bachelor's degree in homeland security. Now she owns a home that I will inherit and she's helping me while I get an education. Something she would not be able to accomplish without joining the military. I cannot join the military unfortunately and fortunately at the same time. I am disabled and I did meet the physical criteria for the military. They want healthy people, not someone who has four autoimmune diseases. I'm also a very sensitive person and cannot tolerate bullying of any kind. The military is full of bullying and misogyny. The horror stories I heard made me fear ever joining the military. It left my mom with severe PTSD and she never went to actual war. The military is a good ol' boys club and not a friendly place for women. Sexual assault is brushed under the rug and the perpetrators never receive the punishment they deserve. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Thankfully, my mom made the sacrifice for me and I have the stability to focus on my education. During the pandemic, I went through a crossroads in my life; I was tired of working in the service industry with a lack of stability and low income. I wanted a career where I could work from home and not deal with people in my personal space. I started doing research and found out that many Information Technology jobs were remote and paid very well. I assumed you needed to be a genius coder or know how to build computers to get into any tech career. I did not know that there were non-coding jobs that paid very well. I decided to pursue cybersecurity which is the most in-demand field in tech at the moment. I realized that I have transferable skills, that only life experience can teach you. Many people who generally work in tech don't have soft skills, which are necessary for the cybersecurity field. Understanding human nature and common patterns of behavior is very important for any security tester, ethical hacker, or cyber forensics investigator. I worked as a bartender for many years and working in these dangerous environments forced me to read people. I had to notice tension before it burst into violence. Knowing warning signs, such as erratic behavior at the bar, belligerent cursing, or posturing. I would simply call security over and they escorted the problem person out of the establishment. That same skill of being able to discern situations and predict outcomes is very necessary for cybersecurity. Now I just need technical knowledge, so far I have learned a lot and got my associate's with high honors. I was recently admitted into Roosevelt University and will be joining its honors program and STEM programs. What I know is the tip of the iceberg and I can't wait to finish my education. I look forward to the future and I thank my mother for sacrificing so much.

Being a single mom has impacted my life negatively, not because I don't love my child but because of the hardships endured. There's very little support in this country for single mothers. Unfortunately, we get blamed for our situation when many of us don't choose to be single moms. We have to make heartbreaking choices that cause permanent trauma. Many mothers have to make the choice to either live in poverty or temporarily give primary custody of the child to the father or another relative to get an education. I had to make the sacrifice of giving my son to his father to further my education. The loss was gutwrenching and the depression was unbearable. I had to do it, I had to endure it because I needed to become stronger for my son. I chose a career that is in demand, paid well, and ensured I could land a work-from-home job. I want to ensure I can make up for lost time with my son by not having to commute or get ready for work. I want to have an income regardless if I am sick or my son is sick or I would rather be at home cuddling with my cuddle bug. Technology has allowed many mothers to work from home and never have to worry about daycare. I wanted a career that was in a fast-growing industry with job security. I googled great jobs for single parents. Out of all the jobs I found, cybersecurity caught my eye. I realized that it was an emerging field in the IT industry, and there are many roles open. There is a deep need for people with these skill sets since most businesses operate online and conduct transactions online. Not just businesses need cybersecurity specialists, but also government organizations. The government is desperately looking for people to fill the many positions they have open. Many women are intimidated about working in tech, yet the word is getting out that you don't have to be a coder to get a well-paying career in the tech industry. You can work in Information security, be a cyber forensics investigator, an Ethical Hacker, a security tester, a cybersecurity architect...etc. There are so many paths you can take and if one job doesn't work out, there are others in different industries, in the private or public sector. Options are abundant, and the more experience a person has in cybersecurity the more opportunities become available. I made this career choice because I want stability and to soften the blow of being a single parent. Parenthood is wonderful if you have all the necessary resources to ensure your child can thrive. It's great if you have a social network. It's not easy when you're alone without friends or family, and don't have the income to support a child on you're own. The fear of failure because you cannot afford housing, transportation, and necessities. I want to have a work/life balance and be able to enjoy quality time with my son. Once I attain my bachelor's and master's degrees, I want to be on the path to becoming a cybersecurity architect. All the planning and designing necessary for many organizations is a natural skill most mothers have, we have hands-on experience figuring out how to manage our lives and our childrens lives. We have a plan A, B, C,... down to plan Z. A mother's intuition is an advantage along with the technical skills I acquired through my education will ensure I have a career that will make my son proud.

As a quintessential millennial, I had a hard time finding decent work because after the recession jobs were picky and started lowing wages and benefits. I ended up working in the service industry because I needed money quickly. I didn’t have the luxury of living with my parents. I had to work, and make enough to afford rent. I had to work in clubs, bars, and restaurants. I dealt with a lot of angry customers, immature co-workers, and slow nights where there was no money. There was no job security because many places operate like high schools. If you not popular with your coworkers the likelihood that you will lose your job increases significantly. Even though I am traumatized from working in the service industry, I have learned a lot about human nature. I learned how to manipulate people so I can make better tips. I know exactly what to say and I am somewhat of a body language expert. I never knew that in the cybersecurity field, those are very good skills to have especially when security testing. That ability to pick up information about people while interacting with them is a very valuable skill that is useful in social engineering. That ability is called street-smarts. When the pandemic happened, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I was receiving unemployment benefits and I had a lot of time to think. I realized that my life was going nowhere working for an industry that did not care for its workers. As soon as the pandemic happened, we were all tossed away like garbage. I needed to change the trajectory of my life and soon. I wanted to go back to school to finish my degree. I did my research and realized that my personality and abilities are better suited to working in the cybersecurity field. My divergent thinking, and my ability to understand human nature. I would make an ideal candidate for security testing. I am very adept at gathering information, in-person or online. So, I decided to make a career shift and change the course of my life. I plan on becoming a cybersecurity architect which is a very ambitious goal. My mind is built for this, I have ADHD and can think of millions of possible ways that attackers would want to invade networks and steal valuable data. I can close every loophole available to hackers. I will be a lifelong learner to continue my ambitions of one-day designing an organization's cybersecurity infrastructure. For now, I need to continue my education so I can attain my goal. I am currently admitted to Roosevelt university and plan on fast-tracking to attain a master's degree within 3 years.

I am a tomboy, something that made me the target of ridicule in my traditional Puerto Rican family. I was always made fun of for not being graceful, tactful, reserved, quiet, calm, or feminine. I never did anything right and I always felt like the black sheep of the family. I felt shame for being different and for being incapable of doing things that came naturally to most women. I was impulsive, rambunctious, bold, assertive, opinionated, rough, rugged, aggressive, loud, and very angry. Emphasis on very. I still am very angry, because all my life I was reprimanded for being myself. When I was growing up I thought there was something wrong with me. After a while I realized there was nothing wrong with me, I just have ADHD. This means that by nature I will never conform to something as unnatural as femininity. How can minimizing and reducing yourself be natural? How can being societies doormat be natural? It's not natural. It feels demeaning, dehumanizing, and toxic, I realized this as a 7-year-old girl but I did not have the words to describe what my animal instinct told me was wrong. My instincts of self-preservation were kicking in at a young age. I realized that the world purposefully takes away every woman's agency through indoctrination and violence. At such a young age, it amazed me how women were willing to follow a man down a cliff. As a burgeoning feminist, I didn't even know what feminism was, but I knew even as a child that it was wrong to have double standards. It was not fair. I was very envious of the freedom boys have, and it made me so mad that boys could be rude and disrespectful towards me and no one would reprimand them for bad behavior. My family was extremely religious at the time, so my cousins would get away with bad behavior that I would get punished for because I am a girl. My growing resentment towards the forced gender roles women had to play was the nail in the coffin for my belief in god. I questioned why would god make women suffer so much. Why would god allow men to have so much power over our lives? I realized that all this was made up to benefit men, so men can do what they want and women have to simply accept it. I realized the game was rigged and these so-called Christian people so me as nothing else but a broodmare. Today, my childhood still clings to the back of my mind because even though religion has lost a lot of its influence over the years, the same double standards persist to this day. Especially in male-dominated fields like tech. There's an extreme shortage of women in the tech field and it's because of the hostile work environments and lack of support for women. I want to start a consulting company with like-minded individuals that specializes in teaching employers how to make their workplaces hospitable for women. We will use demographic data provided by employers to scrape the internet for any misogynistic activity over the internet. Since misogyny is rampant in the tech world employers have a right to protect themselves from employees who have misogynistic views against women. This will be an apolitical consulting firm focusing on bringing more women into the tech world and educating employers on how to ensure misogyny is not rampant in the workplace.

I have always had digestive problems ever since I can remember. I always went to the bathroom with frequency and pain. Until recently, I didn't know I had irritable bowel syndrome and that my irritable bowel syndrome was caused by all the autoimmune diseases that I was diagnosed with. I was recently diagnosed with four autoimmune diseases. FOUR! (Lupus, Sjogren's syndrome. Rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis). I had half of my thyroid removed because I had a benign tumor and that also affected the way I tolerate certain foods. Along with these medical issues, I asked to be tested for lactose intolerance and celiac disease. I tested positive for lactose intolerance and thankfully I don't have celiac disease but I was gluten-sensitive which means that I had to be careful with anything containing gluten because it triggers my IBS. I thought my life as I knew it was over, which it was and I had to make changes in my life to ensure my diseases don't get worse. I realized with the way America treats disabled people, I needed to choose a career that was recession-proof and had many benefits. I needed to find a job where the likelihood of working remotely is very high. I need to work for companies that accommodate disabled people because as I get older the stress of the typical American workplace can trigger a flare-up. These diseases progress as I get older, and my immune system is slowly killing me. The best way to slow down progression is to choose a career that pays well and requires only my brain. My body is very sensitive to everything I put into it, especially dairy, fish, and gluten. After I got a diagnosis I realized I needed to change my life and eat healthily. I adopted a modified version of the Mediterranean diet minus fish, dairy, and gluten. I started going to the gym regularly and now I feel much better. I still have digestive issues but it's not as bad as before my diagnosis. Especially now, that I avoid foods that my digestive system cannot process. Currently, I plan on transferring to a university that offers degrees in information technology, getting as many scholarships as possible is my goal to be able to pay for my education and not have to work a full-time job and burn myself out. I am not healthy like most young people, I am very lethargic and have frequent muscle and joint pain. Any amount of money will help me be able to fully focus on school.

I have always been different from most people. I grew up in a single mom household in a very large extended family of uneducated immigrants from Puerto Rico. I've always known I was different from everyone in my family, I am neurodivergent after all. They just did not understand what it meant for me to be neurodivergent. I was diagnosed with ADHD quite early on, a rare feat for a girl. Normally, girls go unnoticed and are underdiagnosed but two factors set me apart. The first thing that set me apart was that I am a person of color. Not just any color I'm a multi-racial Puerto Rican. I look like your average biracial person in America, thus I am a black person and a Latin person at the same time. I went to a primarily white school in long island, I stuck out like a sore thumb. My behavior was far more obvious because I look different. The second factor was that my mom was on welfare and there's extra discrimination against single mothers who collect government benefits. They scrutinized my mother a lot. As a kid, I knew I was different because I was always interested in computers and video games. I simply knew how to use a computer just by exploring and playing around with different applications. I would go to the library to get on the computer. I have always loved computers. I begged my mom for a computer for Christmas. I was always into nerdy things and had the habit of being a tomboy. At the time I knew nothing about careers in IT or my future. I knew I was meant to be in a STEM field I simply didn't know I was destined for this until much later in life. I've always been a big science and tech nerd, as a kid I was fascinated by computers, biology, astronomy, and geology. I loved the outdoors and exploring and of course, I love computers and playing games on them. I've always wondered how fast technology would advance and how easy would it make life. My future job will be in the cybersecurity field of IT, with the current war happening in Ukraine, cybersecurity is a very important component in domestic defense. We need people to protect our country's assets, financial institutions, and infrastructure. Currently, we are vulnerable to malicious cyberattacks that could disable the whole country. Imagine an attack that cut off electricity and water processing plants are poisoned. Imagine a virus that makes financial transactions impossible. The nature of war has changed in many ways, and our nation needs to invest in cybersecurity. One of my biggest challenges is overcoming my ADHD, in many ways, it's difficult to adapt when your mind wanders too much. I've always gotten myself in trouble and I usually end up being fired for simply being different. My ADHD is my greatest strength and my worst weakness. It's very difficult for me to get respect from people and many people overlook my abilities because of my child-like nature. I am an easy target for bullies and I had to learn what caused people to treat me in such as way. I learned that my eye contact avoidance made me seem like an easy target. I was easily made uncomfortable when people stared me in the eye. I had to learn to adapt and look people in the eye without any fear. Another thing I had to learn how to do is to stop giving people too much information. In the context of the workplace, this can be inappropriate, even if it makes time go by faster. It's better to not give people too much information about myself that could be easily used against me. I realized very quickly that my personality isn't suited for traditional service industry jobs, as a woman with ADHD people expect me to behave in certain ways. It's very hard for me to be feminine or to conform. Working in restaurants customers want you to behave a certain way. It was very difficult for me to keep up the mask of femininity for long. I had to overcome this inability to conform by finding a career field that is full of neurodivergent people. I wanted a job where my creative mind would be an asset, not a weakness, where I can work from home and not be distracted by co-workers. My contact with co-workers will mostly be via zoom and that makes me feel less uncomfortable with eye contact. I adapted and realized I was working in the wrong field most of my life. My weakness is strengthened in another environment. I simply needed to realize what I was meant to be.

My best skill is my divergent thinking. I have a very vivid imagination. When I close my eyes I can imagine different worlds, technologies, different cultures, and different ways of doing things. I'm a natural-born problem solver. I'm always thinking, always coming up with ideas and solutions. Right now the only way to improve this is to write down whatever is on my mind at that moment. I'll write a part of a story, that just popped in my mind at that moment. Over time the story keeps building in my mind. Evolving, changing, and morphing into something unique and interesting. Since my mind works differently than others I see things for what they are, and not for what I want them to be. In the field of Cybersecurity, my mind is perfect, since it's a great place for neurodivergent people like myself who have a different way of doing things. My out-of-the-box thinking, is necessary for the major I chose, to protect against attackers you need to be a step ahead.

Big data is a technology that can be used for good or bad. So far many big tech companies have been using data for profit. I want to use big data to help women make informed decisions on who they date. Dating can be very dangerous for women, especially now with more and more people using online dating sites. With a picture, name, phone number, or social media, to find criminal records or data reported from other subscribers. Users can share profiles from different dating sites, and mark them for bad behavior. The app can be used for more than just tracking felons and domestic violence offenders. It can hold those who hurt multiple women accountable for their bad behavior. If women reported ghosting, lying, catfishers, negging, love-bombing, married men, known STI spreaders, and gas lighters. Men will have to either change the way they treat women or be rejected left and right for their long rap sheet. For a long time men have never really been held accountable for how they treat women. With this data women can make informed decisions on who they allow in their life. We can avoid unnecessary heart break, second guessing, low self esteem, self- blame and shame. If this man has a long record of hurting women, it is very assuring to know that you aren't the only one who was duped by this man. Dating is already a horrible experience for all, but it's tougher for women. In todays day and age its much harder to find a committed relationship in a sea of lying deceivers, who just want to use you and toss you aside once their bored. Dating sites have made it much easier to meet people you otherwise wouldn't meet but its also made it able but its also made bad encounters with men far more common than ever. We need another app, to navigate this mind field full of deceitful men with bad intentions. I want to call the app a scarlet letter, based on the infamous book of the same name. Its a play on words, because the story is about a women who is marked for having a child out of wedlock. Instead of marking women for archaic ideals, this app will mark men who are criminals or treat women badly. Hopefully dating will get better for us with big data.

Joy means to be free. I express my real authentic self unapologetically. I feel joy the most when I can be honest around people. Where I can freely express my ideas with little judgment. I love being able to share my ideas with others and come up with different solutions to one problem. It's in my nature as someone with ADHD, to yearn for freedom. We live in a very conformist world, where everyone is expected to behave the same. I don't believe in a social hierarchy, not one person should have power over others, this is what makes me sad, it sucks the joy out of everything when everyone above you on the social ladder is an indifferent tyrant. I seek out joy by removing myself from the social constructs that make everyone miserable. I don't follow gender roles, religions, I think the concept of money should be eliminated and replaced with a needs-based economy where people's needs are put first over profit. I am happiest when I can articulate my thoughts without anyone trying to silence me. So I seek out open-minded individuals and look for workplaces that want divergent creative thinking. I purposefully seek to have joy in my life. I don't enjoy being bound by the shackles of society. I'm a free spirit that needs to be free. I do what I can to not be shackled and put myself in environments where I can truly express myself without consequence.

I am the daughter of a single mother and a single mother myself. It was hard growing up a single mother, I grew up in an affluent area where I saw my classmates with both their parents doting upon them and always showing up to their school events. I felt like my parents never loved me, I was just an afterthought. My mom worked a lot and I was a latch-key kid. My mom was more worried about finding and keeping a man than ensuring I had a proper education. I was diagnosed with ADHD early on, and my mother refused to put me on medication. That has affected me very negatively as an adult since I don't have the capability of enduring under-stimulation, which is common in most jobs today. I always got fired for stupid things, I was an easy target. I got fired because I was talking to customers too much, I got fired because other waitresses were uncomfortable around me because of my friendly nature with customers. I wish my mom put me on medication, so I could be able to thrive in a neurotypical world where you are expected to be serious. Something I am incapable of doing. I can't help my nature. I have a very happy demeanor that makes people extremely uncomfortable. My mom needed more resources, she didn't teach me the skills needed to be taken seriously, in the workplace and with relationships. She needed a lot of help since mental illness runs in my family. I could've been a genius if my mom medicated me. I am very intelligent without medication, imagine the possibilities with medication. Now I have a son of my own and he also has ADHD, unlike my mother I will medicate him when he gets a little older. I don't want him to start life as late as I did. It took me until my 30s to figure out what I wanted in life. It took me a long time to learn how to deal with co-workers and relationships. I will teach my son, so he won't have to learn through horrible experiences. I want to help single moms in our country. Our government doesn't do much. There aren't many social programs available to help us. We are own our own in the "greatest country of the world". If I had the power to make life easier for single mothers, I would start with the option to be paid to stay at home to care for young children. The government should pay single moms, to care for their children and give them bonuses for their children achieving good grades and if they're doing well in extracurricular activities. Many people today are forgoing having children for this very reason, the cost of living is too high and if you are a single parent most of the burden falls to you. Many children don't get the love and attention they deserve because their mother has to work 2 or 3 jobs just to have a roof over their heads and food on the table. Many kids don't even have the infrastructure to make it in a globalized world. We can help by providing utilities at no cost to everyone, making internet access a right. We as a society won't have many children born in the future because there aren't social safety nets to ensure having a child won't leave you in destitution.

I have ADHD, I have been bullied my whole life for being different. My family members have abused me from a young age because I function differently. I have been bullied in school and work. I have trouble having romantic relationships and platonic ones. My experience has taught me that neuro-diverse people need a lot more protections. People accuse me of things I didn't do and use me as a scapegoat for any problem that happens. I automatically became the black sheep of my family because of my non-conforming behavior. From my experience people who are neuro-diverse experience more depression and anxiety simply because the world is cruel to them. We are constantly rejected by society. When I was younger I hated my condition, because I would get pulled out of class for different programs to help me with my education. The kids would call me a retard and make fun of the fact that I had to take reading, speech, OT, and I had to see the school psychologist. It made me an easy target for bullying, it also didn't help that I was one of the few people of color in my class and I was a poor kid with a single mom. I was so young and didn't understand what was going on, I felt like a lab rat with all these psychologists examining me. In many ways, I'm upset with my mother because the school wanted to put me on medication, but she refused. She didn't think I had a mental illness. That held me back a lot, especially in early adulthood. My hyper child-like nature annoyed people. If I dated someone they would tell me that I talked too much and I was annoying. It was very hurtful that my personality was something no man wanted. My inability to perform femininity was also used against me in dating. Many men want a feminine woman, which is something I will never be, it's not my nature. I'm not graceful, I'm confrontational, and I have the habit of questioning everything. Qualities men hate. I felt like I will never be good enough for anyone to love me. Then the pandemic happened and I started thinking about my life and who I was. I realized there is nothing wrong with me. I just operate differently from everyone else. I stopped apologizing for who I was. I started standing up for myself and calling people out for their gaslighting. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and realized I have a gift. My inability to conform was a blessing in disguise. Men who complained about who I was, were controlling and manipulative. They were sexist and saw women as objects not a human being with thoughts and feelings of their own. I stopped trying to be something I wasn't. I will never be a quiet, uptight, and serious neurotypical person; that is not who I am. My mind is designed to see things for what they are, my mind is designed for problem-solving not for conforming to society's ideals. People with ADHD are revolutionaries, they change the world, make discoveries, and break molds. Many women who changed the world were part of the neurodiverse community. Without their bravery, we women would not have the right to vote, work, and choose whether or not to marry. We were limited by society for thousands of years. Many of my neuro-diverse sisters fought to get rid of those limitations. Many died for their beliefs too, burned at the stake for being witches. Today I am proud to have ADHD, my mind is an asset, not a hindrance. My ultimate goal is to have laws that protect neurotypical people in general, so we can work in a comfortable environment without being forced to pass as neurotypical. That takes too much time and energy that can be spent helping others and creating new ideas. My straight-to-the-point personality is an asset for the career field I want to get into. I'm a cybersecurity major and it's a great field for neuro-diverse people because your work evaluation is based on your skills, not whether or not someone likes you. I will look for a company that understands that neuro-diverse people have different needs than neurotypicals. We aren't interested in small talk or office politics. For me a quiet environment is a must and I don't like co-workers interrupting me because I lose my train of thought easily. It's very important that my future employer understands my condition and make accommodations accordingly. I need to work from home. That's why I chose cybersecurity as my major. The fewer interactions I have with co-workers the more I thrive. I learned from my life experience that I function better when I don't have people breathing down my neck or nitpicking the way I do things. When I work alone, I finish work at a much faster and efficient pace than when I am working in a team. I'm glad that I will be entering into a career field with opportunities for the neuro-diverse community. I want to open doors for other women with ADHD, we are just different, and we all deserve a shot. I know it's hard out there, the world bullies us for being different, if you're a female men reject you for being "too much" and employers think we are incapable. Times are changing and hopefully bullying someone for being different will be a thing of the past.