Growing up with an unemployed single mother in a low-developed country taught me perseverance early. I understood that I needed to work extra hard to enter certain rooms. Throughout middle school I woke up at 4am each day to catch the cheapest public transportation to school. I heard the phrase “Education is the key to success” more than I did my own name. My mother worked tirelessly to keep my sister and I in school, often pleading with the bursars for more time to pay our tuition. These experiences taught me to give my passion my all because my mother deserves successful daughters. Despite the odds set against me, I kept believing that hard work and passion would be enough. The first code I wrote was an HTML menu webpage, which I drafted on a piece of paper at my desk in class. At the time, I was reading a large blue book titled Beginner's Guide to Code, and I treasured it not only because it was an expensive gift, but also for the knowledge it held. When I finally bought my first used laptop, I relied on free apps and websites such as Sololearn and Crash Course to study programming. Through it all, I learned that technology was not just something I loved or a future paycheck, but it was also a way for me to create opportunities for others like me where very few exist. Knowing that only 21% of STEM professionals identify as women, and that number decreases significantly when we consider race, I founded a coding club at my all girls high school. I was able to rally a few classmates who knew a thing or two about programming, and together, we set out to teach the skill to others. Consequently, we created a foundation for many Black girls interested in technology, and a supportive community to keep them motivated. This experience taught me the importance of leadership, representation and mentorship. The quote “Be the change you want to see” may sound cliché but I learnt that nothing changes if nothing changes. Over 150+ girls, many of whom knew nothing initially, gained some programming skills. We were also afforded the opportunity to develop an app that connects civilians to the nearest police station and officials. This was the first of many projects that the club continues to develop today. Currently, I am pursuing Computer Science with a Cybersecurity concentration and minor in Electronics Engineering. I am also conducting research on Human Computer Interaction in the Global South to inform design decisions centered on the user’s experience. My career objective is to work at the intersection of hardware and software to build and maintain secure systems with a holistic approach. I also plan to use technology to continue creating opportunities, such as quality education in developing countries. Having experienced limitations due to poverty, I plan to utilize advanced technologies such as low-cost tablets, e-readers, and interactive learning simulations to help underserved communities discover their potential. For me, STEM isn’t simply a career path, it is my way to ensure that students from backgrounds like mine can dream big, beyond their circumstances.

The first code I wrote was for a webpage for a pretend menu. I wrote it down on a piece of paper on my desk at school after reading a big blue book titled "Beginner's guide to code”. I loved this book because it was a gift that was expensive not only for the price it cost, but also for the knowledge it held. Four programming languages with one stone felt like I had somehow managed to cheat my way into the tech industry, even though I still had to save up for a laptop to see the program run in real life. So when my chemistry teacher told me that I would “never know computers as well as the white people who invented them” two years later, it set my brain working on what I needed to do to succeed. I was consulting on a part in organic chemistry yet somehow he turned this into a lecture about the limitations I would face were I to pursue a career in computer science. At the time, I had already taught myself Python and HTML, and I was learning React-Native so that I could develop an app. His words, similar to those of many others, were meant as a caution that my aspirations were impractical, yet I knew I had to belong in this field if my heart was so set on it. This one event sparked a spirit of determination, to prove to myself that I was indeed right. Growing up with an unemployed single mother in a low-developed country taught me perseverance early. I understood that the position I was born into required me to work extra hard to enter certain rooms. Throughout middle school I woke up at 4am each day to catch the cheapest public transportation to school. My mother worked tirelessly to keep my sister and I in school. She would plead with the bursars for more time when we were sent home for our tuition debt. I understood the importance of making the right choice every single day because I was also pursuing my mother’s dreams. If I could somehow manage to succeed, then it could open doors for us to live without the constant worry about money. My mother deserves a successful daughter. So despite having the odds set against me, I simply had to keep on believing that hard work and passion would be enough. Without access to expensive resources, I relied on free apps and websites to study programming. I used the app “Sololearn” on my phone and wrote out the practice problems on paper. The lesson I learned was that technology was not just something I loved or a big future paycheck, but it was also a way for me to create opportunities for others where very few exist. Knowing that only 21% of professionals in STEM identify as a woman, and that number decreases significantly when we narrow down by race, I decided to found a coding club at my all girls high school. I was able to rally a few fellow students who knew a thing or two about programming, and we set out to teach the skill to as many as were interested. In this way, they would have some foundation if they ever chose such a career path and a platform for motivation in knowing that they were not alone. Today I am pursuing computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity and a minor in electronics engineering in the largest global tech hub. My career objective is to work at the intersection of hardware and software to secure and maintain aerospace systems with a holistic approach. I also plan to use technology to create opportunities where few exist, such as for quality education in developing countries. I understand limitations due to involuntary circumstances, but I also believe that the new available technologies, such as low-cost tablets, e-readers, and interactive learning simulations have equipped us with new opportunities. I hope that one day when my story comes to pass, it may describe a person who chose courage over comfort, faith over fear, calling over convenience, and significance over security. Until then, I will keep doing the hard things until the easy ones become boring.

In 2023, during my final years of high school, my chemistry teacher asked what career path I planned to follow. I replied, “Tech, probably computer science.” He responded, “You will never know computers as well as the white people who created them. Many people study software engineering and never find a job. Choose something simpler.” I memorized each word because it still stings. At that time I had already taught myself two programming languages and was learning the third to build an app. So I knew that his words reflected limitation, not truth. But it also reflected many people’s opinions. I was raised by an unemployed single mother in a low developed country plunged in poverty and corruption. My mother never had a college education, yet she worked extremely hard to make sure that her two daughters would. Watching her sacrifice made me realise the simple responsibility I had, to succeed, that failure wasn’t an option. This responsibility motivates my academic and professional goals, to pursue a career that I love, computer science, and to use technology to create opportunities where there are none. Taking this path has tested my perseverance everyday. Women account for a small portion in STEM, especially in computer science despite the fact that they were considered the first computers. In a society where “women empowerment” is shouted and not practised, action is very important. That is why I founded a coding club at my all girls boarding school to teach my fellow classmates the basics of programming. I then collaborated with the Commonwealth Business Women Africa to achieve their “one million girls in code” initiative. This was my way of resisting, by creating a foundation for them to start competing. True to that point, we did compete in what was a formerly all boys competition. And although we won first place, the belittling and mockery I experienced during the presentation of our app made me realise that entering this field meant that I would constantly need to justify my presence, not only as a woman, but as a black woman. I chose preparation. Going back to the first obstacle of not knowing the computers as well as their inventors, I decided to learn from the center of global innovation. I applied to a university in the biggest tech hub and was accepted. I walked into that visa office ready to plead my case, packed up my life in a 23kg suitcase, and flew across continents. Arriving felt like my very own fairytale, at least until financial reality set in. What would the odds be of having my aunt and cousin fall ill at the very same time and placing everything at risk? Perhaps the one thing I have learned so far is to persist. To strive to break the cycle of limitations and live with the “I will” mindset as opposed to the I can’t. Many people argue that ambition is an unattractive trait in a woman, maybe. But when you understand that you get to choose what your life is, then you start living it with no limitations, and then you want others to do the same.

In 2023, during my final years of high school, my chemistry teacher asked what career path I planned to follow. I replied, “Tech, probably computer science.” He responded, “You will never know computers as well as the white people who created them. Many people study software engineering and never find a job. Choose something simpler.” I memorized each word because it still stings. At that time I had already taught myself two programming languages and was learning the third to build an app. So I knew that his words reflected limitation, not truth. But it also reflected many people’s opinions. I was raised by an unemployed single mother in a low developed country plunged in poverty and corruption. My mother never had a college education, yet she worked extremely hard to make sure that her two daughters would. Watching her sacrifice made me realise the simple responsibility I had, to succeed, that failure wasn’t an option. This responsibility motivates my academic and professional goals, to pursue a career that I love, computer science, and to use technology to create opportunities where there are none. Taking this path has tested my perseverance everyday. Women account for a small portion in STEM, especially in computer science despite the fact that they were considered the first computers. In a society where “women empowerment” is shouted and not practised, action is very important. That is why I founded a coding club at my all girls boarding school to teach my fellow classmates the basics of programming. I then collaborated with the Commonwealth Business Women Africa to achieve their “one million girls in code” initiative. This was my way of resisting, by creating a foundation for them to start competing. True to that point, we did compete in what was a formerly all boys competition. And although we won first place, the belittling and mockery I experienced during the presentation of our app made me realise that entering this field meant that I would constantly need to justify my presence, not only as a woman, but as a black woman. I chose preparation. Going back to the first obstacle of not knowing the computers as well as their inventors, I decided to learn from the center of global innovation. I applied to a university in the biggest tech hub and was accepted. I walked into that visa office ready to plead my case, packed up my life in a 23kg suitcase, and flew across continents. Arriving felt like my very own fairytale, at least until financial reality set in. What would the odds be of having my aunt and cousin fall ill at the very same time and placing everything at risk? Perhaps the one thing I have learned so far is to persist. To strive to break the cycle of limitations and live with the “I will” mindset as opposed to the I can’t. Many people argue that ambition is an unattractive trait in a woman, maybe. But when you understand that you get to choose what your life is, then you start living it with no limitations, and then you want others to do the same.

In 2023, during my final years of high school, my chemistry teacher asked what career path I planned to follow. I replied, “Tech, probably computer science.” He responded, “You will never know computers as well as the white people who created them. Many people study software engineering and never find a job. Choose something simpler.” I memorized each word because it still stings. At that time I had already taught myself two programming languages and was learning the third to build an app. So I knew that his words reflected limitation, not truth. But it also reflected many people’s opinions. I was raised by an unemployed single mother in a low developed country plunged in poverty and corruption. My mother never had a college education, yet she worked extremely hard to make sure that her two daughters would. Watching her sacrifice made me realise the simple responsibility I had, to succeed, that failure wasn’t an option. This responsibility motivates my academic and professional goals, to pursue a career that I love, computer science, and to use technology to create opportunities where there are none. Taking this path has tested my perseverance everyday. Women account for a small portion in STEM, especially in computer science despite the fact that they were considered the first computers. In a society where “women empowerment” is shouted and not practised, action is very important. That is why I founded a coding club at my all girls boarding school to teach my fellow classmates the basics of programming. I then collaborated with the Commonwealth Business Women Africa to achieve their “one million girls in code” initiative. This was my way of resisting, by creating a foundation for them to start competing. True to that point, we did compete in what was a formerly all boys competition. And although we won first place, the belittling and mockery I experienced during the presentation of our app made me realise that entering this field meant that I would constantly need to justify my presence, not only as a woman, but as a black woman. I chose preparation. Going back to the first obstacle of not knowing the computers as well as their inventors, I decided to learn from the center of global innovation. I applied to a university in the biggest tech hub and was accepted. I walked into that visa office ready to plead my case, packed up my life in a 23kg suitcase, and flew across continents. Arriving felt like my very own fairytale, at least until financial reality set in. What would the odds be of having my aunt and cousin fall ill at the very same time and placing everything at risk? Perhaps the one thing I have learned so far is to persist. To strive to break the cycle of limitations and live with the “I will” mindset as opposed to the I can’t. Many people argue that ambition is an unattractive trait in a woman, maybe. But when you understand that you get to choose what your life is, then you start living it with no limitations, and then you want others to do the same.

The occasional “Go ahead and save people as a PDF” joke was a constant reminder of what people really thought of my decision to switch from the medical field to technology, especially my mother. When the lock down hit in 2020, I had so much time at my disposal since we did not even have online classes. I had just received my first phone, a hand-me-down from my sister. I wanted to make my own game like “Temple run”, maybe an app. So I downloaded the app “Sololearn” and taught myself how to code. It took years and an abundance of devotion but I did the best I could in the absence of mentorship and guidance. It finally paid off in 2023 after my friend and I managed to convince the school administration to permit the foundation of a coding club. It was established to teach our fellow classmates how to code, a protest of sorts for more light to be shed on the field, especially in our country. I was told that I was wasting my time on activities that would end with my high school journey. A stance that changed the moment the app which my team developed was declared the winner of a national competition. It took almost two years for me to realize which degree I needed to study in order to achieve my goals. Until 2022, I thought it was telecommunication engineering, and until 2023 I thought I would do software engineering. Only in 2023 did I discover that it had to be computer science, an indication of how much the degree is overlooked in Uganda, worse if it is pursued by a girl. I was also told that I could never measure up to the white people who invented the computers, a statement which inspired me to apply to study in the US, because then I would have an equal chance to win. Currently, I am pursuing a BS in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity and I hope to become a risk/vulnerability analyst. In truth, I want to align this with my desire to work with the United Nations to achieve certain sustainable development goals, such as quality education particularly in remote areas. I believe that there are many solutions to be found in technology, and many people I can help and I wish to. And while I cannot rightly say that I am the best candidate for this scholarship, though my sister definitely thinks I am, my ambition and wallet have always run a race. I know that to achieve success, the price has to be paid and it won't be cheap. It will be tireless nights, long days, joy, pain, empty bank accounts and tribulation. But it is important to understand the beauty and the privilege of the struggle of life. I do. And would greatly appreciate it if this scholarship could help my wallet to win

In 2023, my Chemistry teacher asked me what career path I was considering. These were the final years of high school, so it was expected to have a picture of what you want to pursue when you grow up because you are “grown up”. But I digress, I replied, “Tech sir, probably Computer Science.”His response was, and I quote, “My dear you will never know computers as well as the white people who created them. There are plenty of people who have done software engineering in Uganda and have no jobs. It’s best if you focus on something like pharmacy or a field you can actually manage.” Writing that again hurts just as much as it did that day. Mind you at that point in time, I had already taught myself two programming languages, and was learning the third so that I could develop an app. So I think I knew a thing or two about computers though I was not their inventor. Yes, I can understand why his focus pivoted around a pay check. I was raised by an unemployed single mother in a low developed country plunged in poverty and corruption. Dreams are a luxury many cannot afford, or do not fight for when they are too busy trying to survive each day. But if I were to give up because of my natural circumstances, I would have done that in my primary school years, when I had to walk to school in the rain as early as 4am just to make it on time. I would have quit on those evenings when we slept early not to feel the hunger. Or when I could not afford the fee for the extra curricular activities like swimming, sports, clubs and coding lessons so I had to go home earlier. I would have, but my mum tried her best. She sold off her clothes and some valuable possessions to buy me a laptop because she saw how passionate I was about this field. And my sister attended every coding competition and event I had, always cheering me on. I simply do not have the strength to quit. I cannot quit because I was born a girl, black and poor, that’s not reason enough anymore. After all, those were his words, not mine and in this case, my opinion is all that matters. I joined a national competition that was predominantly male -- sugarcoated with the pretense at women emancipation. I knew the statistics, about 21% females in this field. My cousin had already told me not to dream of a course that in his words is a “man’s major that I would never manage.” I remember being on the stage explaining the algorithm and app functionality, its purpose and benefits, and even its shortcomings. And I saw this one boy from the other team smirking at me in a way that I can never, for the life of me, put to words – patronizing to be kind. That is when I really understood the narrative I was, and still is up against. I have to justify my intrusion on a field that has for centuries been not only rightfully male, but also predominantly white. And oh yes, as the only girl in my computer science class who is majoring in computer science, it is engraved deep in my brain. Good thing we won that competition, four girls. Since the first obstacle was me not knowing computers as well as white people, I decided to apply to a university in the biggest tech hub in the world and learn from them. Yet in a class with white men, I realize that if I set out with the mindset to view every interaction as a competition to determine superiority, I’ll become blind to the solutions that can be achieved with unity. The people we can help through the introduction of a certain technology, the island we can protect from sinking through innovation, the education we can spread in remote areas as a force. We will forget why Charles Babbage invented computers in the first place, not as a trophy or medal, but to simplify human life and accomplish tasks people had only ever dreamed of. It’s why apps are created, because we think of a community, their problems and code what we think can be a solution. The distinctions we create physically and mentally only serve to delay us from achieving goals we would have already reached working together. I am hoping and praying that my generation can move beyond this narrative. It does not only affect the field, but the many people that can be helped through innovation. Therefore, joining a field that has defied all odds and moved beyond human expectations, is the same example I can only hope to follow for myself. I love this field and I’ve given it my all. I left my home and boarded a 23 hour flight alone for the first time to cross over 7000 miles, so that I can be better and make a difference. It’s not easy but easy is boring.

My name is Stacey, and I’m originally from Uganda. I am a college freshman in the USA studying Bsc in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. I was raised by a single unemployed mother, and in a low developed country, poverty was always our blanket. I have one sister, and lived with six other cousins who were dependent on my mother. I can’t say I also knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I just knew I wanted to love it and not the money it would give me because I learnt to prioritize happiness over money. It was in 2022 when I first started teaching myself how to code that it finally hit me, I wanted to do something in the tech field. And when I created my first app in 2023, I narrowed down to Computer Science and Cybersecurity. When I created my app, I didn’t think that creator mattered, I mean it’s 2023 for crying out loud. But when we went for National innovation competitions after our idea was deemed worthy, everyone found out that it was designed and developed by four girls. That’s when it blew up in my face that women still have to justify their intrusion in a field that has for centuries been rightfully male. At first I wanted to work for the big tech companies like Google and Microsoft— and maybe a small part of me still does. But I don’t want to work for a name, I want to work for a cause. I want every time I sit down or stand up to work, to be positively affecting someone’s life. And not just women, or women of colour , but every human being. Because we have created a world of such distinctions that we engrave in the minds of the younger generations. We all deserve a chance, every living person is a person and when I work, I want remember that and make my decisions based on that. This I am studying, to yes, make myself proud, break free from the bounds of poverty and to make a difference. But I do not want to live in the 8am - 8pm stereotypical routine of an adult. I’m just a girl trying to live her life for the first time and help others too. So I may not have it all figured out, but all those years of living in poverty and trying to make it through did teach me that.

Most times it feels like a curse growing up in a low-income family but for me, it was a blessing in disguise -- as unconventional as that sounds. And this is why. I was born to a single mother and I have one sister, so I guess compared to others that wasn't so hard. But my mother had over six other children who were abandoned by relatives to look after. I know that growing up it was always hard to make ends meet, but it was also always manageable. My mother always says that when you do good for others, you can't fail to make it through too, and so we did. I can almost remember the day my mother's small business collapsed, and her health declined --a night in the year 2012. What was hard to manage, became almost impossible. I started walking to school in the rain, me and my sister always had a big tuition balance and there are days we just did not have what to eat. Worrying where the next meal comes forces you to fold away the princess dresses and fairytale life and to grow up in mind if not by age. And so I did. I sold bracelets here and there, kites, read very hard and got a sponsor to finish primary and secondary school. My cousins were older than us, so they'd tell us that when they made it, all our problems would disappear. I guess they thought they were the problems. They couldn't remember any sacrifice that was made. I guess people do that sometimes, forget their roots. But I'm thankful for everyone in my life, because the difficult people showed me exactly who I never want to be. Materialistic and selfish. I guess you learn to value many "small" things when almost everything is hard to come by. I may have grown up in poverty, but at least I had love from my mother, sister and friends. We would go out and play after a long day, and we learned to help those who were even worse off. I realized that there is always some way to pay it forward, whether it be a smile, word, money, food. Because when we were at our lowest, it wasn't the rich people that helped us, but people who knew what it felt like to sleep on an empty stomach. You only understand it best when you've had some experience. And I do. My mind isn't set on accumulating extravagant wealth, fame, luxurious materials and all, because I know it can all vanish. I want to focus on helping people make it through too. No revenge because I'm glad of the person I became after those experiences.

We all have dreams because dreaming gives us a purpose to life, reason to wake up every morning and try again, to keep fighting no matter how hard. And while the more flashy and loud dreams are fame, wealth, prestige, material-centered, mine is a much simpler ,thought deeper, dream. I dream to store up happiness, not in things- but in moments. The kind of happiness that lingers in children’s laughter while they play freely under an open sky- in the evening when a school day is done. The smile of a once hopeless person, the sound of birds chirping at dawn. The warmth of a family sharing a meal and stories, everyone smiling and laughing. The feel of the soft breeze caressing my face a I take an evening walk. And the most priceless, the smile and joy of someone I have helped. These are the memories I want to collect like treasures. Not to sulk over the past, not to lament, but to carry with me—to remind myself what truly matters. I don’t dream of fame or fortune. I dream of stillness, of joy that doesn’t demand attention. I dream of a life lived deeply in the ordinary. To find love in the smallest of details. To find peace and satisfaction on helping another. My plan is simple, to be present.To take notice. To be kind and feel deeply the struggles of others- to help them. To be with the people I love and cherish every moment. To take it slow when the world says to rush.To remind myself to rest and laugh even in the imperfection. And to keep a journal in my heat of all the things that make life worth living. For everything else provides satisfaction but for a fleeting moment the fame, for only those I truly love will ever really know me. The money, for what better way than to spend it helping others- otherwise we can never make enough.The materials fade and we throw. But the memories are our way to remember the good in a world with a lot of bad. Adding to the joy, that’s becoming more elusive- that is the true worth of life, the things that never end or change. So you see this is my dream, to store up these treasures-one memory at a time in my heart and soul, to look back and smile when the slideshows are played.