Keep pushing forward.
Hey there!
Many of us grew up in a time when we heard, “It takes a village.” I am sure you have heard that same expression. You are receiving this letter today because the voices of your village want you to know that we see you and are surrounding you with love and support.
Growing up, I sometimes thought I was not enough or had what it took to achieve my dreams. My parents and mentors taught me that we create our own path. Others may not understand it and it isn't meant for them to. You can move quickly with speed but go further when you stop to pause for clarity. The steps you are walking have been paved for you alone. I cannot promise that you won’t stumble, or trip, or fall. Or even stop sometimes because the hill is so high and you’re out of breath. In those moments, look back at how far you’ve come. Then glance towards your desired destination. Lean to the side and listen towards a friendly voice cheering you on, even if the only voice coming is from within. Take a deep breath and keep going!
You will be afraid at times but trust yourself and lean on the wisdom that is within you. Acknowledge the emotion and continue moving forward because this determination enables you to ultimately achieve your dreams and goals. This helped me achieve my goal of having a career in technology which includes successfully assisting with implementing 3 call centers and managing technical support teams in which I still do today with Verizon.
The world is yours and you can do anything you set your mind to without limitations. I am super proud of you for making the choice to pursue something great. Choosing a career in STEM offers a plethora of opportunities. Because technology is constantly evolving, the door opens up endless career opportunities. Your drive and determination will help pave the way in STEM and provide encouragement to other brown skinned girls like yourself. As an added bonus, I wanted to share with you a few names of influential black women who despite facing bias and other obstacles, kept moving forward.
Ighodaro, Gwynn, and Washington are tech powerhouses each in their own right. Ighodaro founded CoSign, a way for millennials to find and monetize their style choices; Gwynn developed TresseNoire, an on-demand, at-home beauty app that brings hairstylists to your front door; and Washington’s Fundr platform collects data to assess the successfulness of startups. Kimberly Bryant is an influential electrical engineer with experience in the biotechnology industry. In 2011, Bryant founded the nonprofit organization called Black Girls Code, an organization that empowers girls of color to enter technology fields.
I want you to be undeniably fierce in everything you do and keep pushing forward no matter the obstacle. You create your own path. Set your goals and manifest them into reality. Best of luck on your journey.
