I’ve got several digital offerings that center value work and you can find them on my Ko-fi shop here.

Reared as a capitalist

My father taught me about the joy found in surprises, especially in the realm of creativity. He once taped plastic along the inside of our entire garage. When my birthday party began, he whipped out cans of shaving cream for everyone and we ran around blasting one another and making a mess before drawing and painting with it all over the plastic sheeting. Many times over he would carry my sibling and me into the car in the dark of night, and we would awake to the Sunshine, AC/DC blasting on the radio, and some unknown destination ahead of us (which almost always included rollercoasters).

My father also taught me how to have a “great work ethic”. Over the years, I’ve made it an ongoing practice to unlearn these habits. I was taught to live to work (classically capitalist) but I prefer to work to live, instead. Shifting the values that have helped me get where I am today is tricky to navigate! There are pieces I strive to release entirely: but more often I strive to re-imagine their usage and formation. These days, I endeavour to work smart, not hard. I learned that I won’t shy away from the work I need to do, so long as I spend most of my time navigating toward work that brings me joy. Inviting my skills of creativity has been a huge resource in this self-guidance. I often ask clients, “What would make you want that even more than you already do?” or “What would make this just 10% more comfortable?”. You see, we often move toward the discomfort we know/trust before we move toward the unknown/untrusted. So when it comes to navigating my balance of work, I strive to answer these questions for myself.

From “living to work” to “working to live”

I put those ethics of hard-working-elbow-grease-bootstraps along with creativity and crafting to good use throughout my 20s. Crafting fantasies for John’s and putting together dungeon spaces for IMsL and Folsom Street Fair forged my passion for creative experience creation. I was also fiddling with algorithms and exploring the crossroads of data collection and harm reduction while working at a non-profit. All while running my own business and learning about marketing, finances, and the politics of community organizing. I slept little. I had no idea how to turn off. My only two modes of operation were working hard or playing hard. Ending up homeless and doing sex work after coming out served to reinforce the lessons I learned at a young age.

After I stopped sex work and closed up my adult play space, I used the money I saved to finish my Psychology degree. That spurred me into years of case management and harm reduction work with houseless veterans and families. Knowing this would eventually burn me out, I started offering marketing for queer and women-owned small businesses. I’d learned so much by bumping my head around in the dark (literally as a sex worker) and in my volunteer work as a community organizer.

These side hustles led me to my degree in Digital Marketing plus coding school — all in the hopes of a San Francisco living wage! I knew I could either blow a decade on therapy or 2 years in graduate school to finally hush the incessant voice of my father telling me to go after a higher degree. I took the short route and worked 1.5 jobs those two years so I wouldn’t come out with education debt. Big thanks to my housemates, lovers, and life partner who all supported my ridiculous work endeavors and incessant calendaring throughout those years.

Fast forward 7 years (we will get into the meat of this alchemization another day but suffice to say, value re-assessment is the backbone of this transformation): I’ve come back around to sex work, and now I get to use truckloads of transferable skills offering erotic coaching, trauma stewardship, and scar care. I’m living my dream: working with my body in ways that benefit my communities! Plus, I get to nerd out about somatics, neurodivergence, gender fuckery, and fascia. You know what I don’t do: sit at my computer. Hardly ever. I needed to be away from it for years — recovery time to root into flesh, sink into shadow work and swirl with my paint brushes again. And yet…writing is calling to me again. Here I am, sitting at a screen, typing away, visual timer in front of me. For that, I’m giddy and nervous, both.

Shifting values

We often turn the ship around on entrenched values through the use of somatics along with parts theory. For me, I like the imagery and cognitive understanding that a value is a vine, creeping and winding its way through even the smallest of cracks. This means it can show up in any area I may be tending (so I should be diligent in watching for it, like a morning glory twirling its way around a single blade of grass only to overcome the thicket in a matter of weeks). Especially those that were planted when we were children, that we’ve allowed to flourish in some ways. Noticing this vine (let’s say it’s my father’s value of hard work), looks like having an appreciation for noticing that I sat down and jammed out several hours of work in one shot. It’s also noticing that my body is stiff and sore, my shoulders are tight and I’ll be paying the price for that “one-shot” without stretch breaks, over the next two days. So what practices can I put in place to both appreciate this work and do so in a sustainable way that brings me joy?

A. notice that I need a break

I use a visual timer and give myself 25m sprints. I find this is long enough for my brain (with ADHD meds on board) to focus in, and short enough to ensure my body gets the movement it needs. Does that do the trick? Nope. I usually want to finish what I’m doing more than I want to move my body! But I make myself take my hands off the keyboard, and check in with my body. It tells me to move.

B. WANT to move

But I need to want to move towards that physical movement more than the dopamine of my task completions. So I often will lay out my yoga mat, a soft blanket, and snacks in advance — and if I’m on the mat stretching, I reward myself with some scrolling or an audiobook. This works best if I’m in the 2nd half of my cycle when I’m more likely to want to slow down and be held on my mat. Sometimes I use household chores to prompt me: switch out the laundry, scrub a pan, or change the sheets. This is more helpful on days I’m full of energy (1st half of my cycle, lots of coffee, anxiety or excitement about something, etc) because caring for my home does, in fact, bring me joy.

Doing value work

You might want to assess your gendering values with the Cosmic Shape of Your Gender or perhaps you want to usurp traditional D/s power structures by checking in on your Leather Values. You can come in a work with me 1:1 to do value work around your erotic desires and non-monogamy navigations too: schedule a session or an exploratory call.

I received “Tribes” by Seth Godin, in the mail after signing up for an account with Meet Edgar (not cheap for an individual but an incredible social tool). I recently pulled it off the shelve to re-read prior to an interview at a company where I believe they are creating an incredible tribe. Here are some of my take-aways that I have continued to reflect upon, and want to share. As a closeted self-help bibliophile, this was a quick read with a small and concentrated punch. I’m not without my critiques, such as the inclusion of religion as the filter by which to explain various points. Generally it’s a nugget of encouragements and reminders to be of support as a path to broader growth.

Relatable

When I started my first company, I felt as though I simply built a space and people came. But that’s not true: I busy learning how to build a business and website, as well as physically building walls and laying floor boards. So much so, that the work I was doing to cultivate a shared micro-culture, filling out a dedicated volunteer corps, and networking to find ways to connect with and integrate the company with active leaders and influencers — did not register to me as the “work” of business building. I simply knew it was necessary to bind our purposes together for greater success all around.

During my years at a military school, I had learned the value in harnessing shared work and purpose through communication. But I was not accustomed to being a sole driver of change. This new position forced my hand and gave me an eye-opening opportunity to dig in and learn by fire. All that being said, this book brings together and expands upon much of what I learned through trial and error.

Leadership is an art accomplished only by people with authentic generosity and a visceral connection to their tribe.

• Develop and share a manifesta — providing guidance and shared understanding.
• Create a pathway for people to easily stay connected with you.
• Ensure they can easily follow and connect with one another as well.
• Money should not be the focus — it is but a tool to support the process.
• Publicly track and share the collective progress!

Tips & Tricks For Building Your Tribe

Transparency

• An absolute necessity and the only mode of operation to support ongoing growth.

Growth Mindset

• The purpose must be bigger than yourself: join with other movements that have similar goals.

Caring is Key

• It is a pivotal emotion that binds people together and serves as a reminder to continually build one another UP.

Strengthen Communication

• Tightening the shared drive through access to quick communication and cheerful readiness will be catalysts for spreading ideas and action.

Have you read “Tribes” and what were your takeaways?

At best the blog post image was accidentally ironic.

Erasing the Black woman from the image effectively keeps her hidden. This is her moment. Whoever put this article header together for the front page of the Google/About page and blog, missed a great opportunity. If you click around in anger trying to figure out why Google would do such a thing, you may eventually find a long article.

That long article starts off with odd examples of herstory such as the fact that the films “Brave” and “Hunger Games” launched many girls into archery. Eventually, you would find information on the Geena Davis Inclusion Quotient GD-IQ technology that will do nothing short of revolutionizing film and culture. Quite possibly that’s an exaggeration.

Though the technology looks promising, the terrible front image choice used to promote it is a detraction from the article purpose and reaffirms the reality of unconscious bias and continued work beyond diversity and into inclusion.

Being in the room / at the table isn’t enough if you aren’t seen and heard.

This does not accomplish what it should… was originally published in Go Forth Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Do you have a cartoon heroine to share?

Who do you 💕 most?

Who is the most badass?

Inspirational?

Female superheroes was originally published in Go Forth Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women from all over the world marched

in Washington, D.C. last week ~ along with women in 30 sister marches across our country, and each of the 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica)! There is a rich history of women that have “used the streets, legislatures, bus tours, protest marches, memorial services, conferences, and farewell events to lodge their opposition, and to rally audiences to their points of view” (1).

Watch all of the speeches (6 hours worth!)

Take some time to review history and check out historical and moving speeches from these incredible women

Dolores Huerta at the Delano Grape strike march

An amazing documentary was recently created about her life and shown at Sundance: check it out.

She stood alongside others as they lead the struggle (people like César Chávez and Larry Itliong). They brought together Latinos and Filipinos organizing in the San Joaquin Valley. She helped kick off a boycott and 300-mile march to Sacramento, California in protest of working conditions for people working for the state’s grape growers.

“You cannot close your eyes and ears to our needs any longer, you cannot pretend that we do not exist, you cannot plead ignorance to our problem because we are here and we embody our needs for you.”

Coretta Scott King — “10 Commandments on Vietnam”

She read the notes of a speech found in Martin Luther King Jr.’s pocket after his assassination.

“The woman power of this nation can be the power which makes us whole and heals the rotten community, now so shattered by war and poverty and racism.”

Emmeline Pankurst — “Freedom or Death”

This particular speech was part of her U.S. fundraising tour to support the British suffrage movement. It is just as powerful as her famous street speeches, which I do suggest you take a read through. If you find her rhetoric extreme, consider the hunger strikes many women faced whilst fighting for equal rights in the UK and US, both.

“You cannot make omelettes without breaking eggs; you cannot have civil war without damage to something.”

Sister Simone Campbell and the “Nuns on the Bus”

This incredible tour and movement brought their protest to many U.S. cities. It shed light on the far reaching impact of federal budget cuts on poverty, health, and educational public services. Not so long ago, their work sought to support the Affordable Care Act and other initiatives that are now in peril.

“Our solidarity is what will keep us from slipping into isolation, loneliness and depression. Because the only time we are fully human is when we are connected to each other.”

Powerful Speeches was originally published in Go Forth Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

We want to see some of your favorite, most inspiring media and writings shared. “We should all be feminists” is a favorite of mine and one that I have returned to over and over again: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shares an amazing perspective that wields continued thought provoking interest. You can read her writing here as well!

https://youtu.be/hg3umXU_qWc

We should all be feminists was originally published in Go Forth Wave on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Seek a volunteer opportunity that exists in line with the industry and type of job you desire. Nonprofits are not the only organizations that value dedication, offer volunteer opportunities, and need the support. Consider your aim in volunteering and which values you elect to turn into action. I spent years volunteering for charities of interest while also working for a non-profit housing homeless Veterans and families because I love and believe in the work they do. When I began seeking a role in the tech industry, I knew I needed exposure of a different sort, that would allow me access to support my own growth while still offering me a way to share of myself with others. When you cherish the cause, these experiences provide purpose while endorsing philanthropy and teamwork.

When seeking an opportunity to connect, I began with something I enjoy and have spent years doing and supporting: event and volunteer management. Being a rheostatic queer identified eco-feminist, I reached out to numerous upcoming tech diversity and inclusion events to volunteer my time. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to step into the role of Volunteer Manager for the SF Tech Inclusion Conference and support a transformative group of dedicated and passionate people.

Meeting so many wonderful companies and individuals has enriched my job search and allowed me a greater sense of community, which is something I value deeply and knew I needed to find if I were to be happy in this industry. By turning my values into action, I am striving to demonstrate that I am committed to — and educated about — these issues of concern, and actively endeavor to make a difference. That single opportunity grew into an offer supporting the continued work of the phenomenal Change Catalyst team. Knowing I have studying, researching, emailing, networking, applications and oh so much more to do during this job search process, we agreed upon a set number of hours each week. They let me know their needs and in turn I let them know where I wished to enhance my skills: this brought us to some great intersections of mutual support.

I cherish and appreciate having access to the tech environment at Galvanize in which to work and share time, as well as a team of joyfulness and fervency, with whom I share an eagerness and am apportioned an opportunity to cast off my sense of isolation and push past solipsistic feelings of powerlessness. It has truly been a blessing to have had the opportunity to lend my support. I would love to hear about your own job-seeking-volunteer adventures!

1. Multiply And Amplify Your Network

Get to know the people already working in the industry (especially important if you are pivoting to a new field!). While sharing your support, you have the added pleasure of building personal relationships and perhaps cultivating a mentorship. These folks may be a source of information about affinity organizations, able to offer job search and industry advice, and/or introduce you to others. They may even serve as references! And since so many jobs are found through referrals, this double-times as networking. No matter your role, your participation will put you in contact with other professionals you’ve never met but now share commonality, and perhaps aspirations.

2. A Confidence Boost Can Beat Isolation

Job hunting can dominate your life, becoming mentally and emotionally taxing. Particularly when rejection (or radio silence which leaves you in limbo) is a constant for months on end. If you are new to a field: imposter syndrome, not knowing anyone, being unsure of the industry environment (literally and figuratively), can too quickly become isolating and darken your mood. With money likely being tight during this transition phase, many of your regular activities and social outings may be curbed. All this can effect your self-esteem and presentation during the search and interviews.

Volunteering can help combat feelings of isolation, frustration, and fear. Sharing your time and skills helps to get you out of the house and around people. It can be wonderfully fulfilling, whether helping to teach kids how to code, developing and overseeing strategy from a board level, or writing a grant to support previously incarcerated women. You are making a difference in at least one person’s life. Just as important, the work can help you feel useful and productive. This can bolster your confidence — an important trait for landing that wonderful new job!

3. Hone And Expand Your Skills

Volunteering delivers not only the opportunities for you to exercise your capabilities as well as gain new ones, but also the structure to assure that development. Many employers now look for soft skills in their candidate pool: volunteerism can endow you with increased opportunities to enforce these. When determining where to volunteer, seek inspiration for your endeavors! Align your volunteer activities with your skill sets and apply those talents in new areas. This helps to keep you sharp so you do not become rusty while unemployed. Taking on new challenges to gain experience will help turn your weaknesses into strengths.

Read more: http://www.aroseartist.com/blog

Top 3 Reasons To Volunteer While Job Searching was originally published in Tech Inclusion on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Consider identical twins: they appear to be identical. But they are two separate and very different beings, yet their appearances are equal. Perhaps so similarly that you and others have a difficult time telling them apart.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE CHOOSING YOUR OPERATOR:

Do they appear to be identical/the same?
Are they in fact the same person/object?

The “==” operator checks for equality between objects.

>>> Twin == Twin
True

The “is” operator compares identities.

>>> Twin1 is Twin2
False

Let’s play with some code and get a stronger grip on these two and their different functionalities. We will create a new list object and name it unusual_primes. Then define a variable indivisible_nums that points to that list object.

>>> unusual_primes = [613, 6089, 81457]
>>> indivisible_nums = unusual_primes

Let’s check to insure these two variables are set to point at seemingly identical lists.

>>> unusual_primes
[613, 6089, 81457]
>>> indivisible_nums
[613, 6089, 81457]

If we seek a boolean by comparing them for equality with the “==” operator, we get the expected result. They appear to be identical.

>>> unusual_primes == indivisible_nums
True

Are unusual_primes and indivisible_nums in fact pointing to the very same object (putting aside the fact that we know they do because we assigned them)? If we modify one, will we also then modify the other? Whether they are in fact pointing towards a single list object can be determined with the “is” operator.

>>> unusual_primes is indivisible_nums
True

Let’s get a little crazy in here and create an identical copy of this list object. We will use the list constructor to create a new list based on the passed sequence and name it prime_numbers:

>>> prime_numbers = list(unusual_primes)

Our new list looks identical to the list object pointed to by unusual_primes and indivisible_nums.

>>> prime_numbers
[613, 6089, 81457]

Now this is where the magic begins: compare the new prime_numbers list object to unusual_primes using the “==” operator. Are these two separate twins or merely a mirrored reflection?

>>> unusual_primes == prime_numbers
True

Equal in the eyes of Python! They appear to be identical — whether or not it is a reflection or two serparate persons. We have affirmed that prime_numbers and unusual_primes have the same contents. But are these two pointers identical and separate? Harness the “is” operator for the big reveal:

>>> unusual_primes is prime_numbers
False

Hmm! Python has set the lists prime_numbers and unusual_primes pointing to two different objects, regardless of identical content. Identical but different objects.

“==” versus “is”

• If two variables are equal in content, the “==” expression evaluates to True.
• If two variables point to the same identical object, the Pythonic “is” expression evaluates to True.

Should you need to consider the use of “==” versus “is” — remember the twins!

Designing for people with visual impairments can improve the web for all of us! Reality: 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide, with 39 million (0.7%) of them being blind. 4% of the total population has low vision, and more than 4% experience color blindness. At any given time, around 20% of the US population has permanent or temporary visual impairment.

This data shows the importance of accessibility should play from the beginning of any digital project and why it should be a top priority. Your audience is the first consideration of design, and should therefore be developed with the needs of all people in mind. Ensuring your product is well-designed and accessible to users of all abilities will serve to enhance its usability for everyone. Intuitive user-centered design utilizes general principles of usability. With practical understanding and use, you will start to seamlessly include accessible designs from the start.

Initial questions to consider when developing for accessibility:

• Are you ensuring consistency throughout your design?
• Is the information architecture of your site well organized?
• Do the error states enable users to fix their mistakes?

Big picture: Some of the basics

There is are countless wonderful tutorials and information out there about accessibility when designing and engineering. I hope to offer enough high level information to pique your interest and hopefully send you down a path that is better equipped to support everyone!

Color Blind

• Use both colors and symbols. Don’t only rely on color alone to convey a message
• Limit the color palette you use. The fewer colors, the fewer instances there will be for confusion
• Use different textures, as opposed to multiple colors, for elements that require emphasis
• Carefully select any contrasting colors and shades
• Avoid using bad color combinations
• Use tools like Color Safe to find an accessible color palette and Color Oracle to simulate and test color choices

Low Vision

• Ensure strong colors contrast and font size is readable
• Buttons and notifications should be within context
• Layout should be linear and logically organized
• Publish all information within the pages, rather than buried in downloads
• Don’t use fonts that are too fancy, too thin, or too thick
• Do not use color to convey meaning — utilize combinations of text, shape, and color

Blindness

• Use transcripts for videos and descriptions for images
• Screen reading software looks for header tags and provides the option of scrolling through these. therefore: label regions of the screen where HTML doesn’t provide a formal mechanism for doing so, such as sections that may be differentiated by design only
• Lay out your product flow in a linear format rather than spread across the screen
• HTML5 should be harnessed to structure content
• Limit the links per page
• Do not force screen or mouse use: keyboard usage only
• Use keyboard shortcuts to aid navigation for persons with screen readers
• Links and headings should be descriptive

Where to begin: Tips for Writing Effective Alt-Text

Function

Describe the function of the image. Especially images with a link! “Search Store” is much more useful than “Photo of a shopping bag”. Keep it short and simple, minimizing syllables.

Essentials

Put essentials at the front. “Cow Sanctuary Logo: Rainbow over green fields” rather than “Rainbow over green fields: Cow Sanctuary Logo.”

Format

If using an image as a spacer for the layout, put a space between the alt-text quotes, so the user is not disrupted by irrelevant information. Don’t default to “non-text” though. Images are used to convey ideas, so offer meaningful descriptions when supported.

Review

Check back up on your alt-text: image maps may be rearranged. And be sure to show professionalism by checking your spelling.

Innovate so most people can use your product without having to customize it. Above all, remain patient as well as persistent. Continued engagement with your teams will help you discover strategies to deliver user experiences to more people. Looking beyond baby boomers as the web-savvy population ages, the visually impaired is likely to become a larger portion of your audience. Creating a website with the visually impaired in mind is the right thing to do as well as the smart choice!

Further Study

• Full Guidelines per W3C : Web Accessibility Initiative
• Test your site accessibility : Usablenet
• Color Contrast Tips And Tools : Cathy O’ Connor
• American Foundation for the Blind : Creating Accessible Websites
• Hobo Web : How To Design Websites For Blind/Visually Impaired, Deaf, Disabled & Dyslexic Visitors

References

• Center for Disease Control: National Center for Health Statistics, 2015.
• World Health Organization: Global data on visual impairment.
• Adobe Photoshop Accessibility
• Deque: 5 Things UX and Visual Designers Can Do to Get Started with Accessibility, Caitlin Geier.

Read more: http://www.aroseartist.com/blog

I lost my mother when I was five, and some of the few memories I retained of her were her at work, clacking at a keyboard with me sitting at her feet and drawing on dot matrix printer paper with her oh so pretty colored pens. She would sit me on her lap and walk through various MS-DOS commands. These memories of her are particularly meaningful now as I enter the world of tech. In the mid 80’s, I watched my father purchase countless pieces of hardware and build our first household computer. Trying to figure out what connected to what, I bombarded him with questions.

Looking back, I think those late evenings were his wind down time after a long day of work and coming home as a single father to two young girls. It was made clear to me that he “was busy” and I resorted to simply burying my head in another book and peeking at the parts when he wasn’t around. Once the giant bulk of machinery was working, and since I was barred from playing with game consoles, he set me up with a plethora of educational games and skill development apps; Mavis Beacon and Carmen Sandiego are two I remember fondly.

Fast forward to 1991: Although the death of Dr. Seuss was poignant, what I remember most from that year was the installation of my school’s very first computer lab. Macintosh monitors called to us as my classmates and I checked out the construction and setup. I had access to a computer lab at school from the age of 8. Access to computers from a young age is a privilege I always appreciated.

In the mid-90’s you would have found me, a pre-teen, chatting late into the night on ICQ with random strangers and perusing list serves until there was a knock at my door and stern words telling me to go to sleep. My stepmother asked what I was doing up so late and I proudly stated that I had been “making new friends online”. This, in my young opinion, was a major accomplishment given my shy nature. Fearful for my safety, and rather than asking me clarifying questions, my parents set a password on the computer. Of course, I used the school computer lab to research how to get past that tiny barrier!

Spending time on the computer was something I sought but was often rebuffed for because I “should be going outside” — similar concerns we hear today from parents. I found one of the first releases of Winamp in 1997 and proceeded to collect up all of my father’s CDs into a crate and take them to my room. He came home to his precious music collection sprawled across the floor. It did not bode well for me, and I’m pretty sure I lost access to them for a long time thereafter. And since the password was not enough to keep me away, the internet cable was taken. Thankfully, I had made friends with a Computer Science instructor at the college where my father worked. Convincing him that my (imaginary) dog had chewed through the cord and I was scared it would be found out and get into trouble, was a surprisingly easy way to gain access again, while entrusting someone to keep my secret. That cable lived in my underwear drawer for months.

This cat and mouse game couldn’t continue forever.

Reading about GUIs, playing in the command line and fussing with Windows via DOS, I stumbled upon some corner in which I was able to download different shells and desktop environments. Hog heaven! I must have played with half a dozen, learning their structures and designs. Except somewhere along the way, I stumbled and couldn’t pull myself out of an environment change. I hoped to get some guidance from my high school’s computer lab manager, but my father came upon the mess before I could get it fixed. It was at this point that my late night internet escapades came crashing down around me, and the PC was moved into my father’s room.

Having just moved to yet another town, and yet another school, I found it easier to hide in the computer lab than face the work of making new friends. MySpace didn’t exist and Friendster was still being developed. I was fortunate enough to come across Tripod and GeoCities (if you are not familiar with that history and the incredible work put in to preserve it, do check it out as a foray into www history.) I spent time fussing with creating websites through both of these, and writing classically teenage angst- infused posts on Blogger. A teacher called my stepmother, concerned I was being antisocial and I was told my lunch time could no longer be spent at the lab. So I snuck off campus to the nearby library, but the technology wasn’t up to par, so I most often ended up buried in books again.

I did manage to take a level two C++ class my first quarter of college. When I pointed out that I was a freshman and asked how my advisor could put me in this advanced class, the instructor shrugged and said he wouldn’t drop me and I had better sink or swim. “Well”, I thought, “he’s got confidence in me, I’m sure I can make this happen”. Needless to say, I barely stayed afloat, white knuckling the entire experience. I was the only female and the guys all refused to program with me. One offered to tutor me for an exchange of “fun.”

I didn’t realize at the time that this was likely the first time I dodged quid pro quo sexual harassment. I sat to the side of the class, the instructor being my stand-in partner, which amounted to him looking over my shoulder (and down my shirt) only to say, “No wonder it’s not working. You’ll figure it out”. His hand traced up my arm one day, prompting me to leave midway through class. Despite my protestations, he told my advisor that I hadn’t been going and should forsake a poor grade by simply withdrawing from the class. It was enough for me to step out of my engineering track and request a new advisor and major. Yes, sexual harassment derailed me before I turned twenty.

My first year of college was…a mess.

I came out to my parents with less than stellar results, stepped away from my ROTC scholarship after a full lecture on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, moved more than a 1,000 miles away from everything I knew, and became increasingly aware of how sheltered and privileged my upbringing had been. I’ll spare the rambling, though absolutely incredible, ride I’ve been on since. In short, there has been Wordpress development, social media analytics, website SEO and so many satellite technology offerings I’ve worked on throughout that time. Being in the Bay Area and active online, I’ve been involved in beta testing and initial software rollouts. I have circled the tech industry since moving to the SF Bay Area more than a decade ago. But only after finishing my Master of Science in Marketing and having unwavering support within the home I have created with chosen loved ones, did I take the leap into software engineering.

Just to be sure this was still an interest for me at heart, I took a month long Javascript course at App Academy and I LOVED IT! After some planning within my household, I immediately began intense research on the multitude of boot camps for newbie coders. I gained acceptance from those to which I had applied, and opted to move forward with Hackbright Academy for several reasons:

• Their educational formatting is research driven
• They appreciate quality over quantity
• Their career services department begins work with students starting week one
• I also knew I would appreciate creating this experience and gaining shared confidence with a group of women.

I graduated just a month ago with a beloved project and many materials to practice with and continue learning. I have spent the last few weeks in the wilds of the San Francisco Bay Area tech community. Attending Dreamforce, volunteering with Change Catalyst as well as their Tech Inclusion Conference, and a multitude of smaller events / hackathons / classes have peppered my calendar. Some days I get a little frazzled about what to focus on: I’m applying for roles that cross the boundaries between development, marketing, analytics and community development. And though imposter syndrome has attempted to creep through my door, it’s helpful to continue my study of Python, Javascript, analytics, databases, data visualization and more. No matter how many times my server crashes, git gets testy, or I’ve got to reseed my database, I still smile ear to ear, knowing that even if I haven’t made it, I AM making it.

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