This post was sitting in my drafts for 5 years when I was still working as the Business Development Lead at Latham & Watkins running their Technology Transactions, IP & Privacy Group! It’s nice to look back and reflect on how I thrive under a personal routine that includes waking up at 5AM. I would…More
First Timer’s Guide to Grace Hopper #GHC19 Part 2: Planning, Strategies, Networking
Welcome back! Continuing with my First Timer’s Guide to Grace Hopper series. Make sure you read Part 1 and A non-brief Interjection Latinx in AI of the series. Before I get chatting about the day, let’s get some strategies down first. Sourcing sponsor events strategies: Find everyone that you know that is attending and promise to share info…More
Stain on Your White Dress
My hands twist together grubby, brown fingers hiding each other. It seems selfish to mar your fragile innocence, your crisp, white, clean slate, with my damaged truth. You speak of your hardships and I listen without judgement. But I can’t help but feel dirty in comparison so I shuffle my feet and I bring my arms…More
First Job: How to Prepare for Professional Success
A First Gen Mexican American’s perspective Recently I posted in response to my good friend Stephanie’s LinkedIn post asking for tips for her first post-college job. I encourage you to read it and to add any advice you’d like to add! Brittanny – another incredible friend, encouraged me to make it a post of its…More
Fireside Chat with WOC Community College Students: Sharing My Nontraditional Path
A Lifting Conversation: I had the honor of sharing my nontraditional path with a powerful group of WOC community college students and transfers ❤️ Ryan, one of my kindest friends connected me with Jenny Han who is working with Snap Inc. and LATech.Org to pilot a summer academy for Black and brown community college students…More
Si Se Pudo?
A first gen/low income, mom, non-traditional undergrad perspectiveB.S. Computer Science AI TrackStanford University Class of 2020 This week was the last week of classes of the last quarter of undergrad. For those of you with me since the early days, you know that I’ve been through so many ups and downs, and so many ups…More
The Most Deafening Sound is Silence
I’ve read too many tweets, threads, LinkedIn posts, etc. where as soon as a Black person posts about their pain there are comments by those in the Latino, Asian, and all non-Black communities that jump in and say “What about us?!” I’ve seen chats where females try to prioritize their trauma as sexual abuse/assault survivors…More
An update on Week 1 of Zoom University
It’s Friday morning and this week has felt like it has lasted FOREVA! Yesterday I had a moment of panic not being able to remember if it was Wed or Thurs until I remembered that I had just done Wed lectures. You know your life has changed fundamentally when you mark the days with which…More
To (now Online) College Students – You need a plan to succeed
In the midst of the pandemic, first responders are struggling to keep our fellow Americans healthy; service workers have lost wages and tips; many of us are or will face the loss of a loved one; and many of us are trying to figure out how to keep the fridge stocked and a roof over…More
A Perspective: What a Canceled Commencement Ceremony means to a First Gen College Student
I knew that life was going to fundamentally change when reports of COVID-19 projected a global pandemic but like many Americans, I tried to shut my eyes to it as I continued with life. In the eve of Winter quarter finals, my life was consumed by long hours of work at Huang basement, raw emotions,…More
Susana Benavidez 