Fourteen AccessComputing team members kicked off the start of this academic year by receiving full or partial funding to attend the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in Dallas in mid-September. Several AccessComputing team members shared their thoughts, including Alicia Tsai, (PhD, UC Berkeley) shared her impression:
Tapia is a unique place where people gather to share stories and to help the community grow. I particularly enjoyed the sessions where we discussed challenges faced by underrepresented groups. People found allies and the connections that later became their mentors, colleagues, or life-long friends. It has also pushed me to reflect on my work and how I can better serve the community while not burning myself out. It is truly a unique conference that inspires you to think brotherly about computing.
Nikhil Ghosh (Bachelor’s, University of Connecticut) also shared some thoughts to let us know that he had a great experience at Tapia:
I attended talks, participated in workshops and meetings, and networked at the career fair. Throughout all, I got to meet wonderful people and started to appreciate Tapia as a community. Everyone I got to know was interested in celebrating diversity and supporting each other - that came through on an overall level, and it has stayed with me since. I’ve made connections with so many supportive individuals, I’ve grouped with others around shared professional interests, and I’ve grown as an individual. The conference was a lot of fun, but the impact I’ve experienced leaves me deeply grateful.
Finally, AccessComputing team member Jason Allen (Bachelor’s, Oregon State University) shared a really thoughtful essay on the value of his Tapia experience, given the fact that he’s both a non-traditional undergraduate and in a fully-remote program, where making connections can be challenging:
The Tapia Conference is a rare gem when it comes to conferences. This event brings together people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities. This conference is where you will meet all the people you hear about who are under-represented, overlooked, or undervalued, or just “outsiders'' for one reason or another in the tech field. We all gathered for a few days and were deeply encouraged by each other’s stories and learned that there is indeed a place for someone like us, in the tech field. I left believing that our differences are valued and we are encouraged to express them to help promote diversity and cohesion in the industry.
I am a non-traditional student studying for a B.S. in Computer Science. For instance, I changed careers after the onset of a major disability. So, I’m an older student and I must admit that I felt a bit out of place at the conference for the first few hours. I looked all around me and saw young undergraduate students who were looking for their first job ever. I admired their ability to pick up and move across the country for a job if necessary. I wondered if I would ever actually be considered for an internship due to my age.
Then, I went to my first session, where I learned about big data use in business. There, I met the presenter and afterwards had lunch with her and a group of other students. It was during this first lunch on the first day that I suddenly realized that everybody at my table had a non-traditional story. We connected because of our differences. I felt more connected to them than anybody else I know in the tech field.
For the remainder of the conference, I spent my time trying to make valuable connections with people and learn more about their story and what inspired them to join the tech industry. I was not networking for a job. Rather, I simply wanted to meet people and find genuine connections. If a job came of this, then that would be great, but that was not my goal.
As a result, I learned so much more about myself than I have through years of therapy. I learned that my non-traditional background and age are truly advantages to my candidacy. They are not liabilities. I walked away from the conference empowered and believing that I am a unique candidate with a well-rounded experience and understanding of how to relate business needs to tech needs.
Most of all, I walked away from the conference with some acquaintances and new friends. My school program is fully remote, so I do not have the ability to network and meet other students on campus. I love talking to people in person, so it is difficult to be removed from campus. I have been studying courses online for three years and though I tried to stay in touch with people it was quite difficult.
Now, I have friends that I can reach out to when I just need to talk about computer science. There are so many ups and downs that come with entering into the tech field with a disability and now, I finally know people and organizations that can support me on this journey.
Go to the Tapia conference. It is the place where “outsiders” can see that they are actually “insiders.” You just have to change your perspective and that can change how you approach your career and even your outlook in life.
