# Breaking Barriers: A Little Bit of My Journey as a Woman in Tech

## **Barrier #1: Challenging Stereotypes – “Women Can’t Code”**

The first challenge I faced in my journey as a woman in tech was being in an environment where people constantly said, *“Women can’t code.”*

I attended high school at **IPOPSA**, where I pursued a **Technical Computing** program—one of the most demanding tracks, designed for students with strong academic performance. The curriculum covered a variety of topics, including **web design, networking, PC repair & maintenance, and programming**. While getting into the program was an accomplishment, I quickly found myself struggling with programming. Understanding the fundamentals was tough, and my grades suffered.

To make things worse, I kept hearing that *“women can’t code.”* Given my struggles with **Pascal**, a structured programming language, I started to believe it. I cried over it more times than I’d like to admit. I wanted so badly to understand programming, but I just didn’t know how.

Then, I got an idea—an **extracurricular course in Visual Programming**. I spent my entire summer and four more months learning **Visual Basic** and **Delphi**. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but it **sparked my curiosity** and gave me a foundation to build on.

When I got back to school, we started **Delphi** class. To everyone’s surprise—including my own—I was confidently answering the teacher’s questions. That moment changed everything. I had found my motivation, **a fire to prove them wrong**, and a new confidence to keep going. I studied more at home, and by the end of the program, I was the **best female student in coding in my class**.

## **Barrier #2: Being a Minority in Tech**

Throughout my education and career, I’ve often found myself in spaces where women were a minority. At **ITLA**, we were only **three female students** in a class of over **15 men**. At **UNAPEC**, the university I attended, there were often only **two women** in my classes.

That trend continued into my professional life. Working in IT departments where there are few women has had its challenges—sometimes **dealing with certain perceptions when I dress up for work** or **feeling hesitant to speak up in technical meetings where most voices in the room are men**.

I believe that having more women in tech would **make the field feel safer and more welcoming**. It’s not just about representation—it’s about creating an environment where different perspectives are valued.

## **Barrier #3: Breaking Into the U.S. Tech Industry**

Moving to the **United States** was a big turning point in my career, but it also came with new challenges:

* **Speaking English as a second language**
    
* **Preparing for tougher technical interviews**
    
* **Learning a wide range of technologies to compete in an international market**
    

To overcome these challenges, I committed to **studying 3 to 4 hours a day for months**. I took every **ESL (English as a Second Language) course** I could find, built multiple projects to **showcase my skills**, and had **mock interviews with colleagues** to improve my technical and communication abilities.

The hard work paid off. As soon as I became eligible to work in the U.S., I landed my first job at **LTSE (The Long-Term Stock Exchange)**—just a few weeks after starting my job search.

## **Conclusion**

My journey in tech has been full of **challenges, doubts, and growth**. From struggling with programming in high school to proving myself in male-dominated spaces and adapting to the U.S. tech industry, every experience has shaped who I am today.

I’ve been fortunate to have help and support from **great managers (both female and male), teachers, my family, my spouse, and friends**. In moments when I wasn’t feeling as confident, their encouragement made all the difference, and I’m truly grateful for that.

One thing I’ve learned is that **women can do great things in tech, especially with our innate trait of paying attention to details**. Kudos to all the women who are breaking barriers, and I hope we can continue to support each other in this field. 💜