In my role as an Outreach Peer Ambassador, I had the privilege of attending the CMD-IT/TAPIA Conference in Grapevine, Texas. Over the two days of September 2025 that I attended, I had the chance to connect with more than thirty students at our department’s booth during the career fair sessions. These conversations went beyond program logistics. They became opportunities to share my own journey to Berkeley, listen to each student’s goals, and encourage them to see themselves in graduate education with confidence. Some of my most memorable interactions took place outside the booth as well, where informal conversations over lunch often led to meaningful connections.

The conference also expanded my own professional development. I practiced networking, received resume feedback, and had the chance to learn from representatives of top Ph.D. programs including Berkeley of course, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Caltech, and Stanford. I also engaged with leading companies such as Google, Capital One, Meta, Two Sigma, and MasterCard, conversations that broadened my view of the many career paths that exist at the intersection of statistics, data science, and computing.

Furthermore, a unique part of my experience was taking over the Berkeley M.A. Statistics Instagram account to share a real-time look into what TAPIA had to offer from my perspective. Acting as an “influencer for a day”, I posted videos and photo updates to showcase the energy of the career fair, highlight innovative technology like the robot dog on display, and bring our community along as I engaged with students, employers, and graduate programs. This opportunity not only amplified the visibility of our program but also gave me a platform to show what it means to represent Berkeley at a national conference.

Traveling with members of my program and experiencing the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center also made the event even more memorable. TAPIA’s celebration of diversity in STEM resonated with me deeply, and it was an honor to represent Berkeley in that space as a woman in statistics. On a personal level, the experience strengthened my confidence, reinforced my professionalism, and reminded me that I can engage with top researchers and industry professionals while staying true to myself.

All in all, attending TAPIA 2025 blended outreach, networking, and personal growth in a way that I will carry forward in my academic and professional journey. My role as an Outreach Peer Ambassador is what allowed me this honor of representing a top institution on a national stage. Most importantly, this opportunity to attend TAPIA 2025 reminded me of the impact we can have by sharing our own journeys and encouraging others to take the next step toward their goals.