Fresh Start: Redefining My Journey to Tech

There’s something beautiful about starting again, especially when you never imagined you’d end up here. If someone had told me years ago that I’d be writing this as a woman in tech, a software engineer, and now a mentor to girls in STEAM, I wouldn’t have believed them.

My journey didn’t begin with confidence. It began with curiosity, and a lot of doubt.

I didn't grow up thinking I would be a programmer. In fact, I took the long, messy, and very human route. I spent years in the classroom as a dedicated teacher, and I already had degrees in Accounting and Marketing. I had a path, a family, and a child, a full life. But deep down, I knew I hadn't found the right creative outlet.

I changed my mind a few times. I questioned myself more than I should have. I made mistakes that today I’m grateful for, because every wrong turn helped me understand who I wanted to become.

What I Would Do Differently

I would be kinder to myself.

I would trust my capabilities sooner.

I would speak up, ask more questions, and stop assuming I had to figure everything out alone.

What I Would Keep The Same

The courage to try. The discipline to keep showing up (even while juggling career change and family life). And the curiosity that pushed me to choose programming even when it didn’t feel “safe.”

How I Chose Programming

It wasn't a magical moment, it was a quiet decision sparked by my students.

As a teacher, my favorite moments were helping my class build and program robotics using LEGO Mindstorms. Watching those simple lines of code bring something physical to life, a robot arm moving, a sensor reacting, was exhilarating. I realized that instead of just teaching about technology, I craved the challenge of creating with it.

That quiet decision to shift from educator to engineer has changed my entire life.

A Reality We Don’t Talk About Enough

Tech is still a male-dominated world. Even when women are in the room, the room is often filled with men.

But that doesn’t discourage me; instead, it motivates me. It reminds me why representation matters. Why our stories are powerful. Why mentoring the next generation of girls in STEAM is part of my purpose.

My Message to You

If you’ve ever felt behind, unsure, or out of place, especially if you're a mother, a career-changer, or starting a new chapter later in life, please hear me:

You’re not late.

You’re not the exception.

You’re not alone.

You’re just at the beginning of your fresh start.

And maybe, just maybe, this is the moment that changes everything.