A Day In The Life of: Kymberlee Hill

This summer our Fellows took over the Code2040 Instagram to show us what A Day in the Life of a Fellow looks like for them. Check out our recap of the day below! Want to be a 2018 Fellow? Apply today: bit.ly/fellows2040

1. What do you look forward to about going to work at Twitter everyday?

My top three things would be challenging myself technically, both writing and coding for hours a day, and my project.

The position I am in currently has required me to climb a very steep learning curve. I’ve had to learn new technologies and skills literally every week since I’ve joined. Having to rise to the occasion every week and filling in those holes where their once were gaps is not only exhilarating but so fulfilling for myself. I’m surrounded by be people who are smarter than me but are some of the most genuine and friendliest people. More ideas, more energy, more connections, smarter people make smart people even more successful. Because of this I have been able to feel comfortable becoming “the dumbest person” in the room. I can look myself in the mirror, hit my “super woman” pose #TrierTaughtMe and really believe in what I’m saying.

I am a very busy being an adult during the year, going to school, working full-time and being a leader on campus and in my community; I do not typically get to code as much as I would like to. However, at Twitter I code literally everyday, sometimes all day. I honestly can say I enjoy it.

Twitter has made trying to figure out ways to users can disengage in abusive or harassing behavior a central focus. My project is a small contribution to the overall purpose. Not to mention I own my project. I get to build it from the ground up…, everything from designing the UI mocks to building out the services. So I’m working on something that is bigger than me.

2. You posted about Twitter’s #ternupyourgrowth learning series. What impact have these classes had on your internship experience and the way you view yourself as an engineer?

Work will outwork talent. I may not be the most talented engineer, quite frankly coding is really hard for me. However I have the curiosity and I tend to follow where ever my curiosity will take me and work my butt off. But not only do I get to learn about new technology but I also get to implement it in some areas of my work. For example, I’ve taken

3. It looks like Twitter is big on creating community amongst their interns with events like #ternupyourgamenight. How has your experience been being a part of that community?

It’s been an interesting one. To be honest I haven’t connected with the twitter interns as much as I wish I know I could of. And again that goes back to me. However Twitter is the very first company where I felt like I could my authentic self and feel welcomed. I’m Afro-Latina, Yo soy una la negra Cubana! But I was raised to be proud Black women, but not necessarily a proud Latina due to my mother’s absence. Thus, I typically have trouble connecting with LatinX people.I feel this sense of “I don’t belong” because I do not speak spanish fluently. But since being at Twitter, I’ve been able to connect with other LatinX people. One of my friends, as soon as she found out I didn’t know spanish but wanted to learn, me and her made a deal that we would only talk to each other in spanish when we go work out after work.

4. You ended your day with a senior Fellows event. Tell us more about that!

I liked the positive energy. As soon as I walked in it felt like a family reunion. We all work and live in different parts of the city so we don’t get to see eachother often. It was nice to see everyone in one place…

The event was a panel with three various Entrepreneurs. Each from a different industry. Which I loved because of the variety. It reaffirmed the notion of diversity.

The first event was good. I loved how each one of the panelist had a different story/path but still ended up in the same place. Made me realize that it’s more about the journey then the destination.

5. What are you taking with you from this summer?

Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you. For me, it was mustering up the self-confidence to be successful in the tech field as well as everyday life. Doing the Fellows Program and being a part of the Code2040 community has taught me transferable skills such as effective time management, personal organizational skills and showing initiative and leadership abilities. But most importantly I learned how to be bold, trust and believe in myself. As a result, I now embrace the impossible, focus on solutions, not problems and on what I can do, not my limits. I empower myself to act. There’s no excuses, no hesitation, no second-guessing. When an opportunity opens up, I go for it. More importantly I choose myself. I respect my true self and treat myself well. I give myself what I need. I step up in strength, and if I’m not successful the first time I’ve learned to keep trying. By requiring me to focus inward, I was able create myself. Our identity is not fixed, but fluid and flexible.