I grew up in a Hispanic household, but my parents never taught me Spanish because they thought I would be looked down upon the way they were before they had learned English. This made me experience shame and imposter syndrome about my heritage, and I was often called a "no sabo" kid by other kids. In 2020, I was working two jobs to try and pay for school. One of my jobs was as a pharmacy technician in a predominately Spanish-speaking area. The other employees either didn't speak Spanish, or were fluent but didn't like working with customers who spoke Spanish. This meant that U was often the only person who could help Spanish-speaking customers get their medications or find what they were looking for. I was initially very nervous about speaking Spanish in a professional setting. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my language skills, and I was worried about making mistakes. But I knew that I needed to learn Spanish if I wanted to help the locals and succeed in my role. So I started teaching myself Spanish. I would watch Spanish-language movies and TV shows, listen to Spanish music, and absorb myself in the language through online classes and books. It wasn't easy at first. I would often make mistakes and stutter. But I kept practicing and slowly started to improve. After a few months, I started to feel more confident in my new skill! I was able to help Spanish-speaking customers with complex situations like changes in medications, symptoms, and insurance complications. I was even able to have conversations with them about their lives in experiences. Learning Spanish was a challenge, but it was also a really rewarding experience. It helped me to connect to my heritage, and it gave me the confidence to speak up in a professional setting. I learned that if I set my mind to something, I can achieve it with hard work and perseverance. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone allowed me to grow while helping a lot of people in the process. The best part is that even though I wasn't fluent, most were just happy that someone was willing to try. I didn't expect them to speak English or call an interpreter, and for that, they were patient and excited about my progress. I am still learning Spanish, and I know that I will continue to improve my skills over time. But I am proud of the progress I have made, and I am forever grateful for the experience that started it all.

Back in December, I was given an exciting work project. That project was to begin setting up an accessibility workshop so that people could understand the challenges that gamers with different disabilities face. That was when I was introduced to 'Project Leonardo' who PlayStation later revealed to the public as the 'Access Controller.' During the event, I saw the many ways in which this controller could be helpful for people with disabilities. The swappable buttons and joysticks allowed users to find the right size and shape for their needs, this was especially helpful for those with limited hand dexterity. The flat design of the controller also means that it doesn't need to be held, which proved to be important for people with limited arm movement. The controller could also be mounted on a tripod or connected to a variety of other assistive devices such as eye-tracking software to make gaming easier for individuals with more severe disabilities. This piece of technology is making the world a better place for many. It is a powerful tool that can help people with disabilities enjoy the same games and experiences as everyone else. When a major company like Sony invests in accessibility, it sends a signal to other companies that they should do the same. An innovation like this can help to create a more inclusive gaming environment for everyone. Many of us play games to relax or have fun, and we blindly assume that the experience is the same for each person. But each small adjustment, as with every component of the Access Controller, can greatly improve their ability to navigate and engage in a manner that does not make them feel excluded or disadvantaged.

My name is Stephanie Ortiz, and I am a woman in the video game industry working as a communications specialist. I am currently working at PlayStation Studios, a leading company, while in my dream role, and I am passionate about using my skills to make a difference in the world. I was born in New York after my immigrant parents came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in search of a better life. My parents worked hard as machine operators in factories to provide for my siblings and me, and they instilled in us the importance of perseverance, education, and hard work. I was always a good student, and I knew that I was going to college to pursue a passion. I graduated summa cum laude with my bachelors in communications last year, with a GPA of 3.8. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given but know that I am still one of the lucky ones. The world of tech is very difficult to break into. In addition to this, many women are underrepresented in leadership positions and often face discrimination and harassment in the industry solely due to their gender. I am committed to using my platform to help change this. I am a leader in my company's employee resource group 'Women at PlayStation', and I am passionate about getting more women into the video game industry. I believe that gaming is for everyone, and I want to help make a more inclusive environment for every woman who joins this field. Currently, I have been working hard to pay off my student loan debt. I have about $50,000 in debt (half private and half federal), and it is a major financial burden. I am working hard to pay it as I can, but interest has been making it a backward process. If I were to receive the money, I would use it to pay off some student loan debt and contribute to my graduate school tuition which I will be attending in the spring! I am committed to landing a leadership role and want to continue my education to show my eagerness to learn. I believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to achieve their dreams, regardless of their gender or background. I am committed to using my platform and resources to make a difference in the world and to achieve this, I am asking for your help. Thank you for your time.

As an individual with a background in communications in the gaming industry, I believe I can make a unique contribution to making mental health care affordable and accessible to those who are in need. I can use my unique skillset and experience to help destigmatize mental illness and promote the importance of seeking help. Be it through articles, blog posts, social media posts, or collaborations with game developers and influencers, I can create content that challenges negative stereotypes and encourage people to reach out for help if they are struggling. As a volunteer leader of Women@PlayStation, a large part of my role is making sure every woman who joins feels heard and included. One of my goals is to let girls know that the gaming industry is HUGE and to encourage them to join because imposter syndrome tends to be rampant for women in male-dominated industries. Aside from reaching a wider audience with mental health messaging, I can contact my elected officials and urge them to support policies that expand access to health care. By reaching people through the games and media that they love, and directly contacting officials, I can further the message about mental health and help to create a more understanding and supportive world.

Now in a position of leadership, future me will continue to promote diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry.

Self care used to be something that was so hard for me to partake in. Many people see it as something you do in order to treat yourself, but sometimes it is so much more. I practice self care by brushing my teeth twice a day. There was a time in my life where I neglected to do so (a whole day without), but then I realized that disregarding my health was only giving me more things to worry about. One day I decided to buy a water flosser, a new toothbrush, and some mouth wash. Making a routine to start taking care of my oral hygiene made my confidence grow ten fold. A few years back I would not have been comfortable enough to speak about how I have neglected my teeth, however, when I started to talk about it more often I realized I wasn’t alone. When we are tired or stressed we often neglect something around us and become to ashamed to talk about it. I’m happy to say that now I take good care of myself. I hadn’t smiled in a picture for a long time, but now those are the photos that I put forward to represent myself!