The mission of the TAPIA conference as quoted is a noble one, and it was a great pleasure for me to experience it in-person. While at the conference, I was able to interact with many companies and schools, but I found myself having the most fun when speaking to talented, young students from a variety of backgrounds. The rich diversity of the conference could be observed in many ways: whether it be an individual’s cultural background, academic/career background, or their goals for the future. One of my highlights was listening to each student’s unique story and helping them discover whether the UC Berkeley MA Statistics program could help accelerate their journey in the field of computing. I kept my advice honest, genuine, and tailored to the student’s unique aspirations, while sharing bits of my own personal experiences as well.

Another highlight of my conference experience was attending the Black in Computing Community panel session, where I learned from acclaimed Black professors across a range of fields. Hearing their stories—often filled with hardships, sacrifice, and a lot of risks—reminded me that everyone starts at different places in life, and career progression looks different for everyone (some people progress vertically slowly, others choose a quick horizontal path, etc.). It was an eye-opening experience and reminded me that comparison really is the thief of joy, and career/academia truly is whatever you want it to be for yourself.

One thing I noticed after speaking with many students was a recurring theme of doubt and imposter syndrome. I often heard phrases like, ‘What if I don’t get into this school?’, ‘What if I get in but don’t have the resources?’, or ‘This company is too good for me’. One value I tried to instill in all the students I interacted with was a feeling of confidence, the will to try. As a Black woman myself, I’ve always been deeply aware of how a lack of representation in higher education and corporate spaces can foster this kind of self-doubt within underrepresented communities. That’s why conferences like TAPIA are so meaningful to me, because they create a space where diversity is not a source of uncertainty, but a point of pride and celebration. The TAPIA conference was a joy to attend, and I hope to see it continue to thrive in the upcoming years.