The odds have always been stacked again University of Washington engineering student Yarelly Gomez.
Her parents are both farm workers in rural Washington state, and she still remembers waking up at 3 a.m. as a little girl to help out.
She’s a woman poised to enter the male-dominated world of tech. She’s a minority in an industry where Hispanics account for less than 5 percent of employees at giants like Microsoft, Facebook and Google. She also comes from a lower income family and says there’s “no way” she could have paid for college had she not received a Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, an organization GeekWire has partnered with as part of our ongoing Geeks Give Back campaign.
But Gomez has never paid much attention to the constraints people have wanted to put on her.
“What seems to be a rarity these days in the tech industry is exactly what I am, a minority,” she said. “I am a Latina (Mexican) and incredibly proud of it. My two incredibly hard working parents, Jorge Gomez and Diocelina Lepez, came to this country with the dream of a better future for their children and that is exactly what they have provided.”
Gomez is a 20-year-old junior at the UW studying software engineering. She’s also a Microsoft intern and works as a student technician on campus.
“I have an infinite amount of pride in how far I have come,” she said.
After graduation, Gomez says she plans to become a software developer and help financially support her younger brother when it’s time for him to go to college.
Meet our new Geek of the Week, and continue reading for her answers to our questionnaire.
What do you do, and why do you do it? “Currently, as a student technician I assist my fellow classmates in all things technology. Our department at the IT center is in charge of all technology on campus. On an average day you will see me running from one classroom to another making sure every piece of tech in that room is properly set up and completely functional. I absolutely love my job. I live for the look of gratitude on the faces of my professors when I fix their issue.”
What’s the single most important thing people should know about your field? “The most important thing to remember is that my job is a balance between two things, knowledge on all things technology and customer service. I live for tech, but not all people do. In the society that we live in today technology is all consuming, and can be a bit difficult to understand for those who didn’t grow up completely immersed in it the way my generation has. I pride myself on the fact that I can connect with the people on a much deeper level simply because I empathize with the fact that they need my help.”
Where do you find your inspiration? “I find my inspiration in my family. To this day my father works his fingers to the bone to make sure both of his children from a low income area have everything they need in one of the most wealthy areas. My older brother just recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in business, and I find an enormous amount of inspiration in that. He is living breathing proof that no matter the cards you are dealt it is completely possible to conquer anything you set your mind to. In terms of technology I am the biggest Bill Gates fangirl you will ever meet. I idolize his hard work and the empire that resulted in all of that hard work. Back in the day being a ‘geek’ used to be an insult, because of people like Bill Gates I am able to proudly flaunt the fact that I am a nerd.”
What’s the one piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why? “I could not live without my iPhone. I am completely dependent on my phone, my entire life is in that one little gadget.”
What’s your workspace like, and why does it work for you? “Due to the fact that I am constantly running around to help solve tech issues for patrons all over campus, I never actually see my little office. Not being cooped up in a little office all day is what keeps me sane. But when I am in my work place this just about sums up my view. #GitHubForLife”
Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life? (Help us out, we need it.) “Balance is key, find what makes you happy and make sure to give yourself time to do that no matter how hectic your schedule may be.”
Mac, Windows or Linux? “Mac.”
Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? “Cloak of Invisibility.”
If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would … “Donate that $1 million to low income schools that need technology to be implemented into their curriculum but just don’t have the means to do so.”
I once waited in line for … “Tickets to see Kanye West. They sold out before I got to the front.”
Your role models? “This might be your most interesting combo ever, but Bill Gates and Kanye West are my two biggest influences.
Let me explain why, though. For me these two embody two very different aspects of myself. Bill Gates being the very quantitative, data-based part of me. Kanye being the artist who fights for what they believe in regardless of what others feel about it.”
Greatest Game in History? “Guitar Hero.”
Best Gadget Ever? “Chromecast.”
First Computer? “HP Pavilion 9995.”
Current Phone? “iPhone 6.”
Favorite App? “Apple Music.”
Favorite Cause? “I am incredibly passionate about equal opportunity for all minorities. Every door that I have been able to open with the help of others is a door that I am waiting to hold open for another generation of students who defy the statistic that all others expected them to be.”
Most important technology of 2015? “3D Printing, for sure.”
Most important technology of 2017? “Face-to-face communication via all gadgets, no exceptions. Business-wise, this will make life so much easier.”
Final words of advice for your fellow geeks? “Don’t let anybody tell you what you should be passionate about. Be kind to our fellow nerds, but more importantly be kind to all. For some reason there seems to be a stigma attached to us that we are unapproachable. Let’s get rid of that; let’s share the knowledge.”
Twitter: @yarels10
