Currently, I work as a software developer for General Motors. My passion for technology started when I was in middle school; my brother developed a simple game and showed me how it worked. At that time I learned that computers work because humans write instructions to tell them what to do. From there on, I knew I wanted to pursue a degree in technology. I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor in Computer Science and minor in Math. During my time as a student I worked part time in different projects that helped me develop my skills outside the classroom: I worked as an iOS developer creating apps for the university, then as a Web Developer for the Computer Science department and as an Undergraduate research Assistant working for faculty, I also completed an internship at AIG in Houston,TX. I was also very involved in different organizations such as ACM-W (Association for Computing Machinery - Women), MAES (Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists) and SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) in which I had the chance to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
I was recruited by GM during a school career fair, and been there for 2 years. I truly enjoy my current role because the projects I work on aim to reduce costs for the company by bringing projects back to GM that have been developed by other companies for years. It is very rewarding to know that our work brings value to our company.
It is important for Latinas to engage in science and technology because these fields require different perspectives to thrive. We all have different cultures, backgrounds and experiences that play a role when developing solutions to problems, and Latinas have a lot to offer to keep these fields growing. Plus a career in IT is very versatile, as every industry needs technology these days from cars to fashion to entertainment.
