Cohort Stories: Meet Vitor
vol. 5, no. 88 — guest post by Vitor Silva
I am most proud to be Brazilian. My culture has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in a very small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil, named Campanário. Because it was such a small town, I did not have access to any type of innovations or technology — no cellphones, computers, or consoles. Instead, I learned the value of real connection with people and to appreciate the small things in life by playing outside in the streets with my friends and running errands for my mom on my bike. The farthest place I had gone was to Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais’ Capital), about 215 miles from my town, when my grandmother wanted to visit her sisters and took me with her. It wasn’t until I was 10 years old, when my mother and I immigrated to Portugal, that I was exposed to the real world. After that, traveling became a big passion of mine, which led me to move to The United States of America.
I take pride in knowing the challenges I had to overcome to get where I am today: language barriers, cultural differences, finding employment in my field, and gaining a sense of community. I am extremely blessed to have traveled around the world and have had the opportunity to see other backgrounds and cultures that are different from mine. But I am also extremely grateful to have been raised in a small community by a family that taught me great values and lessons. The exposure to a variety of different backgrounds and cultures around the world has allowed me to showcase my own, and to represent Brazil with dignity.
Representing a company that is honorable, charitable, and inclusive, will make me feel successful in the tech industry.
My success is valued only by my actions, and what I devote my life to doing. The energy I dedicate to my work speaks loudly about what I cherish and choose to represent in my life. My eagerness to help others carries over to my interests in the work that I do. Success in the tech industry, for me, would be involving myself in the community created by my team, and the people my career aims to help. If I can serve as an inspiration for others through the work that I do, and to show that anybody from any background can and should have the opportunity to pursue their goals, then that would help me consider myself more successful. The tech industry reaches across the world, and I want to be a part of something that aims to positively influence the lives of others — like the Hack.Diversity program, that serves as a platform for people like me to have a better chance of being heard and represented in our society. For me, that is being successful — dedicating my time to something that really does change people’s life.
I feel confident and excited to know that my job will have such a positive impact on society. As a User Experience (UX) Designer, not only will I be able to create versatile and beautiful designs, but I will also be doing it in the best version that I can do. I am hoping my designs offer user experiences that really make people notice and offer a lasting impression. Experiences that make them go “Wow! That was simple. I wish everything was that easy!”
If I could carry my skills over to people who need it, creating accessible and inclusive designs that allow anyone to both use and to feel included in society, then I would help serve my purpose.
What motivates me the most is knowing that my work can help so many people by not only making things easier to use, but also by having a real impact on their lives. I look forward to showing the world a refreshing and inclusive experience, while still honoring my community and moral values.
