Cohort Stories: Meet Faustino
vol. 5, no. 33 — guest post by Faustino Andrade
In one of my earliest memories, I vividly remember playing with a toy firetruck on the carpet of a vacant apartment with no furniture in sight. This was very soon after I finally arrived at my new home in the United States at four years old. Growing up was very confusing at times. I had to manage learning and speaking two entirely different languages at the same time. In no time, I began translating for my parents who were only beginning to adjust to the reality of the American dream. Like many other first generation stories, I felt disadvantaged in an environment where it felt like I had very little guidance.
It was imperative that I became independent with the ability to adapt to any obstacle thrown my way.
That’s exactly what I did. I adapted to survive in a foreign world, but it cost me. Similar to any young kid, I was very ambitious and always expected a bright future ahead of me. However, one of my biggest problems in adolescence was internalizing my emotions, flaws, and shortcomings. Being labeled early as a child with potential is frightening– there is a sort of fear of failure that is instilled within you when you’re always expected to succeed. I was expected to be the first in my family to graduate high school, attend college, and earn my degree. I can finally say that I’ve nearly accomplished that milestone, but my journey is nowhere near over. I am grateful to have been challenged most of my life, and without overcoming these hurdles, I can’t say that I would be in the same position I am in today.
At a very young age, I had an amazing imagination that always seemed to keep me entertained or distracted. This became a problem for me when I was introduced to my first video game experience on the GameCube and I developed an obsession. Watching TV was no longer enough and after using a computer at the age of 6, I grew a knack for technology. I was fascinated by it; the possibilities and discoveries of the internet were endless. In some of the most difficult moments of my life, technology became my escape and my interest peaked. During my sophomore year of high school, I built my first very own desktop PC on the kitchen table. I became the go-to person for I.T. help from family, friends, and sometimes even teachers. Technology has taught me to love learning. There were many communities and friendships that I built online, and I believe it is an amazing tool in which everyone should have access to. Technology is very valuable to me; much of the things I learned using computers are actively applied to my life now and I am only one click away from seeking new knowledge, direction, or advice. I cannot see a future where technology is not present in my career.
Having the opportunity to attend a prestigious business school is both amazing and scary at the same time. Sometimes, I’m the only student of color in my classes; and in certain cases, I feel that I have to perform or be scrutinized for being out of place. The world I come from is much smaller. I was originally born in the archipelago of Cape Verde, and was raised in a city that was very diverse. Culture shock is real, but I’ve had to adapt my entire life. Being the only black student in class sometimes motivated me. Not only that, but coming from a marginalized community, I rarely see successful students and professionals in the workplace that share the same background as myself.
I’ve thus learned to cherish diversity and affinity groups, and support students who share similar experiences. I am very proud to become a Fellow and believe that Hack.Diversity is a remarkable opportunity for students who have these experiences.
To be able to connect with like-minded people that are even more ambitious, build relationships with professionals and mentors, and receive the guidance that I didn’t have as a first-generation student is incredible. Overall, I’m mostly excited to meet individuals who are just like me.