A Bridge by Grace

A Bridge by Grace - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

“Congratulations, Grace! You have been chosen as a 2021 Wisconsin Winner for the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), Aspirations in Computing Award!” my computer flashed.

NCWIT is a well-known national organization centered around helping underrepresented groups, like women, build their passion for technology and computing. My acceptance into the program and becoming a winner marked the beginning of a long and continuous journey of developing not only technical skills, but also discovering my individual values and using them to guide my future. In the two years since 2021, NCWIT has allowed me to be inspired by their sponsored guest speaker presentations, group chats, and most importantly, various educational opportunities that were provided to me.

The program that stood out for personal growth was the MKE Tech Talent Accelerator Program, which I was a part of in the summer of 2021. Surrounding myself with accepting individuals changed my perspective on my potential as a female in male-dominated fields; I realized that my point of view could generate diverse ideas and build equality. In the program, for example, my group and I designed an AI, trAIge, to reduce emergency room wait times. I took the chance to represent women and their needs in our particular situation, sparking new ideas to equally incorporate both genders in our technology. Ever since the Program, I began to place an emphasis on equality; this started in my local community.

In the midst of the pandemic that exact year, in an attempt to build equality between various cultures, I worked with three of my friends to start a Culture Club at my high school. Whether we are designing posters of notable African Americans for Black History Month or tasting delicious Chebakia cookies for Ramadan, each monthly Culture Club meeting provides a learning experience empowered by diverse voices and resources. The club also works to generate such awareness through community outreach efforts, such as our district’s International Heritage Festival, where we taught elementary school students to produce cultural artifacts that we had made at our own meetings. I vividly recall one girl saying with glee, “My Amate painting is so cool! Can I make one for my friend?” and I felt so gratified to see their enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Witnessing this apparent change within my community and an effort by students to act became pure evidence that solving inequality can exist. I found that there exists this "bridge" between equity and technology, which has inspired me to help improve technology as a whole. It truly is a full-circle moment back to NCWIT and that Program.

Thus, as I endeavor into an IT or computer science major in college and beyond, I hope to continue taking advantage of my unique role and inspire others to do the same. Knowing that I have a responsibility to ensure that technology is ethical and unbiased is a huge drive for my future from not only a computer science standpoint, but also through a global justice lens. With greater learning and a stronger focus on why diversity is needed, the advancing world will get closer and closer to equality.

My previous experiences have outlined the necessity for greater diversity and awareness, which I have started on a local level; ultimately, I will continue to execute this in the greater technology fields and close the "bridge."