Techtonica’s 2023 H1 Cohort
We’re excited to share that our 2023 H1 software engineering cohort has begun! Read on to learn more about each member of the cohort, or watch the launch celebration to hear directly from them.
Anneice (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life
I was born and raised in San Francisco. My favorite subjects growing up were always English and computers, so I would beg my mother for a home computer. When we finally got one, I immediately fell in love with everything about them. It became a hobby to figure out the ways and places I could use my own HTML and CSS code, including tricking out my classmates’ MySpace pages. Now I am a married mom of three and an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction books. I recently turned my love of HTML and CSS into building websites for non-profits.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
One day I woke up and realized that I didn’t feel totally fulfilled. I don’t have a true career, and I never got the chance to pursue the skills that I really wanted. My love for computers has always been there, and with each new version of popular software released, I became more and more in awe and curious about the ends and outs of the tech world. A friend told me about Techtonica and after looking over the website, watching the videos, and taking part in the practice workshops, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I am most excited about fleshing out my knowledge of the PERN stack. I see so many amazing things online that are built on JavaScript/React, and I want to be able to do that too. I am also excited to work with mentors and interact with speakers from the industry. Though the tech world feels so scary, I believe that the resources and connections that Techtonica provides will help shrink that fear.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to help bridge the gap between the tech world and the underfunded and underrepresented. There are so many people and organizations in the world who want to do good andI want to help give them a voice to do so.
5) What’s your dream project?
My dream project would be to build an app or website that will help give the tech and social media power of big companies to smaller organizations or individuals who need their projects to be seen and supported, whether that be world-wide connections or community connections.
Camille (she/her, they/them)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I grew up in South Florida and moved around a lot, so I didn’t have a lot of financial security or stability. Still, going to college was never a question of “if,” but “how.” At FIU, I learned, had fun, and built lasting relationships, which led me to a year of service in Philadelphia. I’ve now lived here for the last 7 years, working primarily in the education/nonprofit world. Moving away from home gave me a new perspective on life, and helped me come to terms with my own identity as a Black, queer, femme in the U.S.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
After being in (essentially) the same role for the last four years, I knew it was time for me to consider other ways to gain freedom and overall satisfaction. I was inspired by a friend, who left the nonprofit world and became a Web Developer, along with the many Black people on Twitter and TikTok who share their experiences working in tech. Seeking out ways to learn how to code, I signed up for a self-paced course to learn the basics and was immediately enamored with the puzzling, almost game-like structure of building a website. The instant impact of coding was an addictive dopamine hit, and I fell in love. Once I learned about Techtonica, applying for it felt like a no-brainer.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I consider myself so fortunate to be accepted, and I’m looking forward to every facet of my experience at Techtonica! My resourcefulness and community building will be strengthened, and I believe I will gain a true foundational understanding of the skills I need to become a Full-Stack Software Engineer. I’m excited to cement my beginner’s knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and learn new simple ways to solve all types of coding problems.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
There is a surge of energy surrounding the tech industry right now that is impacting how it looks, who gets ‘in’ and who stays. I am excited to be a part of that by being my Black, queer self. Knowing that technology isn’t going anywhere, I’d like to contribute by lifting as I climb, encouraging youth and other Black and brown queer people to get engaged in this field.
5) What’s your dream project?
Right now, I dream about building a beautiful, fast, and functional website. Knowing that education is of great value to me, I would love to incorporate it into my life again, once I have the skills I need. Another thing that comes to mind is learning other coding languages that certain companies use to build their websites, so I can learn to fix their glitches. 😊I know as I learn, I will gain more inspiration — I so look forward to that!
Dana (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. with my family when I was 2 years old. As working-class immigrants who came with nothing, we moved around quite a bit, but I grew up primarily in New Jersey. In 2019, I graduated from The George Washington University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and minor in Philosophy.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
I became more exposed to software engineering during a time in my career when I was feeling stagnant and unfulfilled by the kinds of jobs I was landing. As the primary breadwinner of my family, I couldn’t afford to go back to school, but I knew I had to gain more skills and knowledge in order to get better opportunities. By chance, I kept meeting and befriending people who were software engineers and ended up learning about it through the natural process of getting to know them. I started applying to various coding bootcamps and eventually decided to quit my job and commit to self-studying full-time. About half a year after leaving my former job, I came across Techtonica and immediately appreciated how it actively tries to alleviate the burden on learners instead of adding to it. Getting accepted felt like a dream come true!
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I’m excited to learn how to use different frameworks and technologies to build a full-stack app. During my self-study, I learned a lot of things, but since I knew the next practical step to advance my career transition was to start a bootcamp or program, I focused mostly on learning the skills required to get in. I feel more than ready to start building something of my own!
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I grew up relying heavily on myself, especially for my education and career. Up until my junior year of college, I didn’t even know that software engineering was a major and career option. Now, I believe tech is actually one of the most accessible industries. Everything you need to learn is already out there online, and formal education is becoming increasingly less important in getting jobs. But there’s this huge initial barrier that prevents so many people from even considering it, due to lack of education, network, representation, and access to opportunities. I want to change this perception of tech and make it less intimidating for people who are in similar situations as myself, for whom getting into the tech industry could actually change their lives.
5) What’s your dream project?
I don’t exactly have a dream project yet, but I’d love to develop tools that help people in personal and meaningful ways. Recently, I participated in a hackathon at Ada Developer’s Academy, which sought to address social issues such as gender equity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and accessibility with code. My group chose Racial Justice and Equity as our social impact area and developed plans and wireframes for a travel app geared towards BIPOC, where users could share reviews on the safety of places they’ve traveled to from their personal perspective as people who identify with specific races or ethnicities. This experience was incredibly inspiring for me, and helped me see different ways that tech can be used to solve real-world problems. I’m sure I’ll be able to refine these ideas as I learn more through this program, from my cohort mates and mentors.
Gisselle (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I am the eldest of four siblings, and the first person in my family to attend college. Growing up, both my parents always encouraged me to do as well as I could in all school subjects to make a better life for myself and be financially stable. They did the most with the little they had, and like many other immigrant parents, made sacrifices that would put their own dreams at bay for the sake of us children. This has always been the driving force behind my academic endeavors and is now motivating me to be proactive with my dream of working in tech. Someday, I hope to share my success with them and show my gratitude.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
My favorite classes were always math and english because I liked reading and I loved that solving a math problem felt like a puzzle. By the time I was applying to colleges, I was afraid of failing in STEM and having to go into debt with more years of school. Consequently, I studied English and Sociology at UC Santa Barbara, and although I found the lessons to be insightful, I lacked the excitement that my peers were experiencing towards using their degrees in the working world. I met someone similar to myself who introduced me to a professional development program called COOP Careers, and I signed up for the data analytics track. Immediately, I was hooked on the technical aspects of data analytics and wanted to learn more about coding. That is how I came to apply to Techtonica to be a software engineer, and I am excited to feel that I am finally being true to myself.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I am really looking forward to being able to piece together my first program and learn more about coding with JavaScript. It is exciting to think about the resources and knowledge that are at our fingertips. I anticipate that there will be difficult days where I will have to reflect on my motivations and go out of my comfort zone to succeed, and I am excited for the inevitable growth that will come from working through challenges as a team.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to inspire young people feeling uncertainty after high school or college and be able to offer a helping hand someday. In my experience, one interaction with someone who looked like me was enough to push me toward software engineering. I know that for many young women and nonbinary folks, there is little encouragement to go into STEM and pursue a career due to the lack of diversity. I also know that many tech jobs can only be gained with references and a network, so I would want to be able to provide more opportunities to others in that way. Overall, I want to help transform the tech world to be more accessible.
5) What’s your dream project?
I do not have a specific project in mind, but I would love to create something that could inspire or teach people to develop grit and push themselves towards their goals in a healthy manner. While learning more about myself and going through my career journey, I have been brainstorming ideas to help others who may be struggling. I would also love to create a tool that could help simplify difficult tasks or help people feel safer. I am currently thinking of ideas that can combine these interests.
Lateefah (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born and raised in Oakland, California and received an Associate of Science from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill California. I’ve been married for 14 years and I have four kids. My daughter is currently attending Sacramento State and will soon be applying for law school, which is really exciting. My other kids all go to college and are pursuing careers of their own. I love to cook when I have time. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family, which includes my hamster and dog.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
I’m curious about everything. While I was working for Instacart as an independent shopper mainly in the Oakland and San Francisco area, I delivered to companies that had wide-open spaces and people seemingly loving their job. After inquiring about them, the receptionist told me that they were in tech. I went home and researched the company and reminded myself about the promise I made. This was my opportunity to be a part of something that could change my life and contribute to a greater cause. I applied to Techtonica because its mission resonates with me as a Black woman who had no opportunity to represent her way into any technology field and without the financial means to obtain a higher degree.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I’m excited to learn the additional components of tech, like: working as a cohort, solving solutions as a team, and learning more JavaScript! I will have the opportunity to understand what working in tech means. It is exciting to know my knowledge will increase towards my goal of becoming a full-stack developer.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to contribute by creating programs that will positively influence users of underserved communities and make everyday tasks and services more accessible. I would like to change the “ism’s” as in color, race, age, sex, etc. in the build process.
5) What’s your dream project?
I’d like to contribute to the positive evolution of technology and create programs that will benefit society by implementing positive, time-saving, and restorative solutions to everyday life. I believe that building programs that are inclusive is extremely important and where creativity begins.
Mifrah (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born and raised in Queens, New York. Despite a lack of financial stability growing up, my parents, who were immigrants from Pakistan, did the best they could to create a memorable childhood for my family.
As a child, I was extremely curious and used to do different activities such as: knitting clothes, watching YouTube beauty gurus, doing fancy nail designs, cooking, and making arts and craft projects. My childhood experiences ultimately led me to value money as a tool in life, which influenced my decision to graduate from The University of Connecticut, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.
Although my post high-school experiences didn’t always go the way I envisioned, they taught me that struggles are always a part of life. The key is to use these setbacks as a fuel to approach life with a more headstrong and positive attitude.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
After having done various roles in my career, I have more clarity as to why pursuing a career in software engineering is the right decision for me.
My first full-time job was working in Business Intelligence, which was my gateway into developing interest in coding. While one analyst could spend multiple hours doing manual steps in Excel, another analyst could use no-code software products to achieve the same output in seconds.
After switching to investing and venture capital roles [which were more aligned with my undergraduate pursuits], I realized how much I missed being able to leverage technology to improve efficiency.
Working through the pandemic also forced me to deeply introspect about what I wanted to do in my career long-term. It became clear that software engineering was a path that would merge all my career interests, therefore prompting me to apply to Techtonica to make this dream a reality for myself.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I am most excited to learn the fundamentals of coding, in particular for JavaScript. Techtonica does a great job in helping participants learn how to plant the seeds of coding fundamentals, so they can apply that knowledge to another environment. In other words, building excellent skills at JavaScript opens the possibility of becoming better at learning other languages down the line. Moreover, the best part is, we don’t just get to learn a full-stack curriculum, but also get to apply our knowledge to build our dream project!
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
Coding is a medium for creative expression. You cannot build something without learning how to do the steps. As a first-generation college graduate and a woman in STEM, I wish more people took time to learn code. The reality is though, not everyone has the resources to learn how to code and people overlook coding or the tech industry as a pathway for them, due to others’ perceptions and negative stereotypes. My gift is to give, and my contribution will be to share my knowledge. In particular, I would love to teach low-income students in elementary school how to code.
5) What’s your dream project?
I read a lot about the positive learnings that are being shared in the world of health and wellness. Specifically, I am always amazed at how our physiological state, nutrition, and brain wiring is scientifically proven to improve our life. Having this mind, I would love to build an application that will merge this knowledge and make it accessible to all.
Pandora (they/them)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was raised in Oakland, California by my grandmother through the foster care system. Though my beginnings were rough, I often found myself daydreaming about who and what I’d be in the future. After graduating from high school I attended San Jose State University to study Theatre Arts but had to take a leave of absence due to health reasons/burnout.
I moved back home and found a love of coffee and bartending and pursued a career in that. In 2018, I got the opportunity to move to Boston for work and have resided there ever since.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
Tech first piqued my interest in high school after being a part of STEM after-school programs such as Techbridge, a program for girls in under-privileged areas. These programs inspired me so much that I initially wanted to pursue a degree in Software Engineering, but decided to pursue Theatre Arts instead because I was hesitant about the course work. However, the yearning to pursue it always stuck with me and I made a promise to myself that I would build the courage to do it. In 2020, I spent a lot of time daydreaming as I did as a kid, reevaluating my life thus far, and decided to try being a software engineer again. I started teaching myself some coding basics and looked into bootcamps and community college, but money was tight, and as a Black non-binary person, I wanted to learn in a safe space, which was hard to find. When I learned about Techtonica, it checked everything off of my box of needs and I applied immediately.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
Throughout most of my passions in life, there has always been a common denominator, and that is why things work they way they do. From theatre where I learned the subtext of words and expressions to coffee where I learned how different processes affect the way coffee taste and brews. I am most excited to learn the in and outs of everything and build skills not only in programming but as well as effective ways of communication and advocacy.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
Ideally, I would like to see more diversity in the tech industry. Therefore, I would love to give back and be a part of a program like Techbridge to help inspire BIPOC kids who had imposter syndrome just like I did. I would love to also help tech companies foster a better relationship with the communities they are surrounded by so that there is a bridge built between that gap.
5) What’s your dream project?
My dream project would be to create an accessibility application. I have a little sister who is deaf, and sometimes the internet is still not deaf-friendly. I have learned it’s that way for many people who need accommodations. Sadly, many websites and apps don’t initially consider that community when developing their products.
Rahma (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area as the eldest of four daughters. As a first-generation American, my mother stressed the importance of a college education. I went on to earn an associate’s degree at Berkeley City College while completing my high school diploma. I’ve been privileged to attend the University of California, Berkeley on a full merit scholarship as a Regent and Chancellor’s scholar, where I’m set to graduate this year. As a first-generation, low-income college student, I’ve been routinely forced to get out of my comfort zone by seeking out mentors and opportunities such as this program.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
Prior to attending UC Berkeley, I wasn’t familiar with the field of software development. It wasn’t until junior year that I googled “Software Engineer” after meeting a fellow student who boasted about securing a SWE job post-graduation. However, as a rising senior unable to afford an additional 2 years of tuition, the field of computer science seemed out of reach. I joined a semester program called “Women in Technology Initiative @ UC”, and learned you could break into tech with a non-traditional background. I reached out for coffee chats with junior SWEs to get a better understanding of what it takes to make the pivot. This fall, I stumbled upon Techtonica and knew right away that I wanted to apply!
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
Everything! On a serious note, I’m eager to strengthen my communication skills as a software engineer. At Techtonica, collaboration is highly emphasized. As a result, I have constant opportunities for pair programming, debugging, and peer mentoring, all of which are beneficial as a SWE in training. Whether it be writing good documentation, participating in code reviews, or learning how to ask the right questions, communicating clearly and concisely is key. During my time at Techtonica, I am committed to implementing practical skills and knowledge that will help me throughout my career in software engineering.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
Ultimately, it is my goal to work in Africa’s growing tech industry as a software developer. Techtonica’s full-time program will allow me to gain the technical skills to create solutions for issues I’m currently researching, such as digital literacy and impactful user experience design for software in developing countries.
5) What’s your dream project?
The digital divide is a global problem, therefore I hope to work on software that connects us rather than further segregates us. My dream project would further democratize information by removing barriers associated with digital literacy and accessibility using advancements in AI. I am motivated to build products that inspire change, innovation and reach diverse communities worldwide.
Raquel (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, specifically in San Jose, and grew up with a very supportive family who always encouraged me to pursue an education. Although I am incredibly lucky to have such a great support system, my parents did not attend college, so navigating school was extremely difficult at times. While in school, my dad also suffered from a horrific work accident — which meant that our financial struggles only became worse as a low-income family of four. In the end, I was able to transfer from De Anza community college to the University of California, Los Angeles at the top of my class. I received my bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and while at UCLA I took a digital humanities class, where we created a data analysis project—which sparked my interest in the intersection of tech and social justice. I loved this class and wanted to build my technical skills, so I started to research resources that would allow me to break into tech and luckily found Techtonica!
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
As the world becomes increasingly reliant upon data and technology, it is imperative to recognize this transition as an opportunity to drastically improve the lives of people in our society. Upon extensive research within the field of software engineering, I have gained insight into how technology can be used to make an impact — whether that be negative or positive. Due to this, my passion for advocacy combined with my immense urge to elicit change drove me to find a career path that would allow me to give back to my community through technology. In order to effectively communicate data, I believe that developers need to create visually-engaging and easily-consumable pieces of information that are accessible to the public. Techtonica will allow me to consolidate the problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills that I have acquired from my sociological background while also gaining the technical skills that this program uniquely offers.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I’m most excited about the personal and professional growth that I will be undergoing during my time at Techtonica and beyond. On a personal level, I’m excited to build upon my growth mindset and learn how to be more patient with myself (I tend to be a little hard on myself sometimes). Having a support system has been a game-changer for me in the past, so I’m excited to learn about everyone’s backgrounds and become a part of the team. From a professional standpoint, I am excited to dive deeper into JavaScript and use these skills to build applications/websites that take into consideration disabilities. Also, I’m excited to tap into my creative side when it comes to problem-solving, since there are many ways to solve a problem with code!
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to create websites/apps that are easily accessible and user-friendly for the minority population who primarily do not have access to laptops/internet. Due to this, digital literacy may be challenging and a website/app that is simple and clear will be extremely helpful. I aspire to create apps/websites that will educate people about food banks, illnesses, homelessness, etc. These tools can also be used to discuss ways to fight against such issues, while creating funding through which communities around the world can be helped. In addition, women, especially Latina women, are sparse within the engineering field. I want to break the glass ceiling that society has placed on us and pave the way not only for myself, but for future generations too.
5) What’s your dream project?
I would love to build an application that helps with the tedious process of searching for a job. Oftentimes, people send in applications to various companies, and it can become hard to keep track of these documents, especially if their email becomes flooded with other messages. By creating an app or a website that can keep track of the applications from various platforms you have sent, currently working on, or want to apply to, it will make the process a little less stressful. I have many ideas for a dream project, but this is just one of them! I would also love to create websites/apps about social justice issues as well, which I touched on in the previous questions.
Roshanell (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I’m from Louisiana and went to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I have a bachelor’s in English with a concentration in professional writing. For a while, I was a technical writer. Afterwards, I moved to Houston to teach! Over the next three years, I taught English, reading, social studies writing, and keyboarding. I am currently working to transition into software engineering.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
The answer is really simple—coding is addicting. Time flies when I code and I love the challenge it brings. While I really enjoy my work as an educator, I’d love the chance to dig in much deeper with software engineering, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity with Techtonica.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I’m most excited to delve deeper into React and Node!!
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I’d like to build software that helps teachers by making their workloads lighter so that they can enjoy time with their family and loved ones.
5) What’s your dream project?
In regards to education, I’d like to build software that eliminates administrative work for teachers by scanning and auto-grading paper documents, then notifying parents if needed. Outside of education, I am passionate about criminal justice reforms and feel that formerly incarcerated individuals are one of our most vulnerable populations in America. The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, a whopping 76% of inmates who are released return to prison in the first 5 years because of a variety of factors difficulty finding employment, affordable housing, and physical and mental health care.
Once I am a software engineer, I would like to use my background in education to teach life-changing skills and reduce the chances of recidivism by connecting learners with jobs. Consequently, they will have access to benefits that can cover mental health ailments, afford decent housing, and have benefits that can give them better access to healthcare coverage.
Ruby (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and I’m the youngest of four. I was raised to focus on my education and became the first in my family to attend college, where I focused on mathematics and was a math (algebra/pre-calculus) tutor for a few years. I then went to University of California, San Diego (UCSD), but it eventually became too expensive. Despite this, one day I hope to go back and finish my degree, just because I like to see things through to the end.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
I was lucky enough to have gone to a middle school that offered computer classes, where I learned about HTML and CSS and also used them on Tumblr when it was a thing. Once in college, I combined my enjoyment of using computers and HTML as a way to decide what I wanted to study and selected computer science as my major. After leaving university and moving back home, I never gave up on my dream of wanting to become a software engineer and began searching for alternatives such as coding boot camps, but they too were expensive. One day, I was scrolling through TikTok and found a comment that talked about Techtonica’s mission and target audience that I found myself relating to. That’s why I’m here; I didn’t give up on my dreams of becoming a software engineer and made it a goal to make it into Techtonica (which I did!!). Now, I’m excited to continue my journey of becoming a software engineer.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I think the thing I am most excited about to learn at Techtonica is how to create an interactive and animated website. I have experience working with HTML and CSS, but I have never really expanded into making a website animated. When I say animated, just think about Apple’s website when you are scrolling through their phones. I think those types of websites are so cool! It will be nice to have a website that will allow me to apply and display all the knowledge that Techtonica’s program will teach us, and also utilize my creativity to create something I will be proud of.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to contribute my life experiences and points of view, both as a woman and a Latina, to the tech industry. Women in tech are extremely underrepresented as it is, given that the tech industry is a male-dominated field. In addition to this, Latinas are one of the most underrepresented people in the tech world, making up about 2–3%. I believe that the tech industry needs more than just a mere 3% given that the Latinx community makes up a significant part of the population in the US. I want to be a part of the representation and a voice for Latinx women so that we can have applications and software made for us, by us.
5) What’s your dream project?
My dream project would be to create a new and improved mental health information system (MHIS). I am very passionate about this because I wasn’t able to receive the proper mental health care that I required as a child. Growing up as a Latina, mental health issues were not taken seriously in my community, as it would be categorized as being “dramatic” or “misbehaving” if brought up. By creating this, I believe it will shed light on problems that arise from being told to “get over it” or suppress the way we feel because our parents went through “harder times” for the Latinx community and others. I think it will also help raise awareness so that children, especially those who are just like the younger me, are able to obtain the proper mental health care they all deserve and need.
Sarah (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life
Growing up as a first generation Arab and Muslim American, I faced challenges that many children of immigrants face. From racism and Islamophobia to the financial struggles after my father’s accident, these difficulties strengthened my resilience. Although I graduated from the University of Colorado in integrative physiology, I would go on to find an interest in coding. The more I learned to code, the more I fell in love and realized I could merge my passion for human science, mental health, and helping others with tech.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
Inspired after seeing so many women bridge the gap in the tech industry, I began to believe it was something I could be part of too. I felt I had qualities important to becoming a software engineer, like a desire to constantly learn and challenge myself. With so many barriers of getting into tech while coming from a disadvantaged background, I didn’t know how it would be possible. When I heard about Techtonica, I knew I wanted to apply, because it could help make achieving my goals a reality.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
Because I am so new to coding, I am really interested in learning the ins and outs of JavaScript and the fundamental concepts and building blocks of full-stack development. I want to see how these pieces all come together to allow us to build amazing technology that can leave a huge impact on others. I am even more excited to contribute and collaborate with an amazing cohort of unique and diverse individuals and really become part of the Techtonica community.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I really want to see more individuals from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds join tech. Being someone from a disadvantaged background, with obstacles in my way, I want to show others that if I can do it, anyone can. One day I would love to be a mentor myself and be part of initiatives and programs like Techtonica that support girls, women, and underrepresented minorities gain the support they need to pursue careers in tech.
5) What’s your dream project?
One of the projects I am really passionate about is creating an app that would support women from Arab and Muslim backgrounds with their mental or physical health, especially those who may have faced abuse or trauma. There is a very strong stigma in these communities around these topics and so many barriers that keep individuals from seeking the help they need. It would be amazing to provide resources and support to those communities. Ultimately, I would love to be part of projects that make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Tanya (they/them)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
My journey started in West Covina, California, where I was born and raised in an immigrant household of four. As a curious kid, I enjoyed going to school to learn about the world and later graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s in Anthropology. There I rekindled my interest in coding through the software that we used for our research and discovered a welcoming and diverse queer community that became and still is a driving force behind my ambitions. After college, I sought other opportunities to work in a diverse community space and thus worked as a library assistant so that I could use my degree and love of tech to serve my community.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
After teaching digital literacy classes through our library, I found myself brainstorming outside of work on how to make tech more accessible to learn and use. I loved working in and for inclusive communities and wanted to transfer that into the tech space. Thus, I found myself learning basic HTML and CSS and began to immerse myself in as much of the tech space as I possibly could, which ultimately led me to Techtonica!
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
Besides learning how to build websites with JavaScript, I am excited to learn how to successfully carry myself as an individual in the tech space! My goal is to get as many tools as I can under my belt in order to create and make space for folks like me in the tech industry, whether it be a coworker or a user of one of my products.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
As a queer person from a low-income immigrant family, I want to bring in the perspectives and knowledge that I have accumulated throughout my professional and personal life to make tech a more inclusive space. Tech is truly such a powerful tool that we can use to reach the whole world, so we must try our best to make it as accessible as possible!
5) What’s your dream project?
While I have many projects that I am excited to work on, I would really enjoy working on a project that helps neurodiverse folks with ADHD, especially kids, with organization and life management. With the tech skills that I will learn through Techtonica, I hope to make this project a reality one day and offer a fun but useful product that has a positive effect on its user.
Yazmin (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I was born and raised in San Jose, California, and I am the oldest of five children. My parents are Mexican-American, first-generation college students and growing up they always emphasized the importance of education and family. They raised me to be a person who loves to learn and try new things, but who will always make time for the people I love.
I graduated from high school in 2016 and then went on to study biology at Santa Clara University. I changed my major many times, but finally settled on and graduated with a B.S in Biochemistry in 2020. Following graduation, I worked as a Research Assistant at Genentech, but ultimately decided to leave to pursue a career in programming.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
When I started working, it became very clear how powerful technology is and how necessary it has become even in industries that have nothing to do with it! This inspired me to learn more about computers and what this whole coding thing is all about. Once I started coding, I realized that career-wise, it seemed like a perfect fit for me. I love the constant learning, problem-solving and how there are multiple ways of approaching the same problem. I also love how it empowers me with the knowledge to be able to do a variety of things — build websites, applications, automate tasks, et cetera. I really feel like I will never get bored! I decided to apply to Techtonica because of the invaluable mentorship and career support it will give me on my journey to becoming a full-stack developer.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I am excited to be able to make and design my own websites. I just think that this will be so cool. I’ve created blogs before based on pre-designed templates, but I am so excited to be able to customize my own website however I like. I’m also excited to learn about helpful and relevant front-end tools and programs. I know that there are many and I can’t wait to get up to speed. Truly, it’s crazy exciting thinking about how many new skills I will come away with in just six months!
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to show people that anybody can get into tech — that it’s not just for “other” people who are geniuses or crazy good at math. I think there is this stereotype, especially among minorities, that tech is boring, hard, and for nerdy/really intelligent people. I want to show that working in tech can be fun, that you can show up as you are, and that you can find balance even in a career that will be challenging. I want more minorities to show up in tech spaces and to benefit from the opportunities that tech has brought. I want more minorities to have an impact on the social and economic change that tech is bringing. I want us to have a voice in the way tech is changing the world we live in.
5) What’s your dream project?
My dream project is one that gives back to small, local businesses by helping them improve their digital literacy and online presence. I haven’t exactly fleshed out all the details, but I know that there are many entrepreneurs who get overwhelmed with this part of their business. I would love to offer bite-sized, understandable and accessible services to give them confidence in managing the digital side of their business!
Yolis (she/her)
1) Tell us a little about your life.
I’m a first generation Latina, born and raised in California. Coming from a low-income background, I was the translator and the one who guided my parents through everything, while being the older sibling and trying to figure out life on my own. Besides the financial hardships, high expectations, and obstacles I faced, I continued with my education and received my AA degree in Medical Office Administration. However, I quickly realized the medical field was not for me and knew I wanted to get more involved in tech and be able to grow within the industry.
2) What made you decide to pursue a software engineering career and apply for Techtonica?
At one point, I was really intrigued by technology and its ability to connect people in a more advanced way, but I was never introduced to it. One day, I reached out to one of my colleagues who was blogging about her software engineer journey. We had a meeting where she demonstrated coding and talked about her journey. She introduced me to Techtonica and encouraged me to apply. After being exposed to coding for the first time, and reading about Techtonica’s mission to help women and non-binary adults get into the tech industry, I knew this is the program I wanted to be a part of.
3) What are you most excited to learn while at Techtonica?
I’m honestly excited to learn everything there is about coding. I’m excited to learn how to tackle problems, create projects while inputting my ideas, and work with new technologies.
4) What do you want to contribute to or change about the tech industry?
I want to be able to represent those who are underrepresented. I want to encourage the Latinx community and others, to take the steps to get involved in the tech industry, even if it seems intimidating. In the future, I would love to be able to provide access to low-income, underrepresented individuals who are often not exposed to this type of information.
5) What’s your dream project?
My dream project would be to create an app for those who need assistance in either anxiety or depression for the Latinx community. This app would have more information about the Latinx culture and have a better understanding of their background. With the assistance of online counseling and journaling, the goal is to be able to grab their attention and encourage them to continue to seek help whenever they need assistance with their mental health.
