A message from Michaella

Why I decided to pursue tech:
I didn’t know much of anything about CS before I came to Wellesley and I honestly don’t think I would have ended up in a tech career had I not attended school here and had the support system that I did. I didn't start my first CS course until my sophomore year because I didn't realize I had an interest in computing until I took statistics with Professor Wilmer in the psychology department and he used the R language for data visualization. It sounds a little silly, but I loved coding for the creative possibilities it entails. The fact that I could type words and it would change the color of a graph was really exciting to me. When I did finally take CS111, I loved the course but it is challenging, intense, time consuming, and I had to drop the course for health reasons. I then enrolled the following semester, got further into the course, had an amazing PSET partner, but had to drop the course again. I probably hold the record for most failed attempts at an intro to computing course, but I share this because I want students to know that perseverance is everything. If it doesn’t happen for you the first time, please keep trying. In the end I decided to pursue tech/ UX Design because I find it to be engaging, challenging, and it’s a dynamic field where I can never stop learning. Literally, there is always something new to learn.

A piece of advice you'd give to current students who may feel discouraged from pursuing tech:
If you feel discouraged because you find it uninteresting, maybe stop. Not every field is for every person and there are so many other cool careers out there. But, if you feel discouraged because you think you are not capable, or not good enough or too slow, or too different from most of the people you see succeeding in a tech career, please continue. While tech does not need to be everyone’s field, there is a place in this field for everyone. I am neurodivergent (I have inattentive ADHD) and sometimes folks with this learning difference feel as though they are not meant for a fast paced environment or that they are “slow” or what society might perceive as “dumb”. No matter what type of difference you bring to the tech field, do not let that chip away at your confidence. What is different about you can and will probably have a beautiful contribution to your career.

Other advice:
Professors are some of the best resources in undergrad. I was lucky enough to have a CS advisor for my Individual major, Eni, who absolutely refused to give up on me any time I wanted to give up on myself. I owe everything to her. But even professors who don’t advise your major can be an amazing support. My first year, I emailed an English professor I had never met for some writing career advice and now she is one of the most impactful mentors in my life. Wellesley is unique in that we have incredibly passionate professors who can afford to offer individual attention/ support independent studies. Use that!

Go to office hours! Get help on assignments early. Find an emotional connection to your work. Teach others because teaching is one of the best ways to learn (I used to explain psychology theories to my brother over the phone before exams to see how well I understood them). You don’t need to be the best at everything. It wouldn’t be normal if you were. So don’t let “not perfect” prevent you from pursuing an interest. I write creatively! Don’t sacrifice your passions completely as you work through school and planning post grad steps. My poems and fictional characters have kept me alive through college. Be kind. Learn the names of the people serving your food in the dining hall. Don’t forget we are human before we are anything else.