Tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a college education.

I am a freelance designer who started as a software engineer. During my undergraduate studies, I knew I wanted to work in a creative field, however was worried about the future of my job security as an artist. While I was passionate about the arts, I started to study software engineering out of my love for gaming and game development. After graduating and landing my first internship, I enjoyed my time with the community I built, however I was unhappy with the type of work I was producing. It was then when I realized I can continue my work in tech, but in a more creative path -- leading me to UX/UI. After participating in a design bootcamp, I knew I could continue my studies, as I do love a schooling environment. I applied to University of Washington for a masters degree and I am now the first person in my family to work towards a degree higher than a bachelors!

Why did you choose to attend UW, and what drew you to HCDE specifically?

What first drew me to attend UW truthfully was the campus. Growing up and going to school in New York City, there was always the saying "the city is your campus". I got very tired of the idea of being a commuter and not exploring outside the place I grew up in. I also heavily romanticized the idea of living in a campus. When I visited Seattle back in 2021, I remember being amazed by the size of the campus, and the aesthetics each building had. While back then I didn't know I wanted to go to UW specifically, I knew I wanted a campus like that. Years down the line when I eventually solidified my career as a designer, I saw that UW had a rigorous program, and many networking opportunities for design and research based on its location as a "tech hub". I was excited to find out my longing for a campus as big as UW fit right in with the curriculum I was looking for. 

What does being a first-generation college student mean to you and your family?

It means a lot. It's a bit of a lonely path for me, as I can't go back to family members to ask for advice since they wouldn't know either. As the youngest sibling, I usually look up to older family members as a form of reference. This path is something I'm building up on my own, and I really like the idea that my younger family members (and future generations) would look back into what I have accomplished and be proud. 

How has the university’s community, such as mentors or student organizations, contributed to your journey?

It's great knowing there are many clubs and communities for underrepresented students!    

What accomplishments or milestones are you most proud of so far?

I'm proud of my portfolio. I worked hard on building my clientele, and knowing that my work reflects my design thinking is a major strength of mine.     

In what ways do you hope to make an impact, either in your community or in your future profession?

I am big on mentee/mentorship relationships. I would not be where I am without industry professionals helping me. I wish to repeat that cycle, especially for black women in tech. It is hard to see how large the racial gap is in many tech companies, especially for designers. It is even harder knowing there are plenty of black and brown women who are more than capable to take on these top design roles but aren't even the chance to prove themselves. I use this to motivate myself to grow bigger and stronger as a leader. I want to be a mentor for other black and brown women because I don't want them to feel the crushing anxiety I felt looking at statistics. I want to prove this gap can be broken. 

What advice would you give to other first-generation students just starting their college journeys?

My advice is that things in life continue on. That test will happen, that assignment will be graded, you will have perfect scores and you will fail. But the reality is things just keep going. I've definitely felt defeated especially when I graduated during COVID, without any showcase of my work that was promised to seniors at my undergraduate university. I felt lost after my internship was cancelled due to closures from the pandemic. But years later, here I am, the first person to go to graduate school in my family, with a new community, good support system, and future career opportunities ahead of me. No matter how bleak things are (that failing grade on a test than is worth 40% of your grade really is awful), there is a future for you. If you don't feel like there is, then make space for yourself, be loud and be persistent.