Adult Talk 4: Creative And Tech Careers With Ana

Ana: Yeah, no, totally. So I can tell you about why I loved it. Since I’m going I really loved design a little bit more now. But why I loved it very much was that kind of like a past love, you know? Like, love is a whole other ballgame. I can get into that later. But, um, why computer science in particular? I yeah, I mentioned earlier Actually, I was like, you know, I’m out here. I’m like, 18 19. And I’m in like a class of like, 30 year old men. And for some reason, I pick up this knack for, like, just logic because a lot of computer science is just logic.

Zeke: I like to welcome everyone to another episode of the Let’s Gather Podcast. I’m your host Zeke. In this episode. I have my friend Ana to speak about being a tech major and her career path. I like to give a content warning for any strong language used in this episode. And I hope you have a nice day and enjoy the show.

Zeke: So, welcome to the podcast.

Ana: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Zeke: No problem. Anytime. So, first question is, would you also be the house?

Ana: What is my origin story? And how can I represent it? First of us? That’s the whole lesson loaded question. Because where I am now, like, you know, I’m gonna give you this. When we are, we’re all in our mid 20s. And your past episode was about how, you know, like, how are we like, We’re adults, but like, we’re kind of still getting in the motion of things. So one really big thing to point out is that, you know, a lot of people can go on somebody’s LinkedIn profile, and they can go on someone’s like, like Instagram, or whatever. And you can think like, they have absolutely everything, or they have all these things that you might want or need. But it is so crazy how the times when it’s either like a like, how did it first and foremost, like, Is any of it real? And then even if it is real, there’s so many things that absolutely nobody has been able to go through other than that one person. So I always like practicing that because it’s like, my origin story, not just like in tech, but like in life has been like a roller coaster ride. And because of it, you kind of start picking up a whole bunch of things along the way to like not just them paper bags and ships that you get on wonder on the on the roller coaster. But legitimately like there’s so many things that we do pick up along the way. And give a little bit of background about myself, you know, before I start going, so as you know me, but just in case for the for anybody else. So my name is on RDS Gonzalez, I am an afro Latinx software engineer. I currently work at JPMorgan and chase Co. And let’s see that that’s that that’s a whole thing in itself. I can give you a little bit of background about how I even get to where I am. Why tech? Like why would I? What was the most second question after my origin story? By the way?

Zeke: How do you represent it?

Ana: How would I represent it? That’s a good one. Okay. So my origin story, I would say, not just what like the whole, you know, for in Jamaica, Queens. It’s funny, I was born in the 19. That was born 1995. My birthday is in like two weeks. And a fun fact is that. So my both my parents don’t speak, they don’t speak English. Like my dad, he took like an English speaking course I want to say 10 years ago, but most of my parents, they both don’t really speak English. So when I was born, I have the same name as my mother and my father combined. So my name is Ana:, Cecilia, my mother’s on and my dad is a CDO. So when my mom went to the hospital, and tried to say like, like my name, like what my name is, the hospital didn’t understand her. So they gave me one of them generic names for about a year, until my parents could afford to legally change my name. And that’s, that’s first and foremost, that is like the inequality in the health care systems within like low income communities in America, as well as you know, immigrant communities and such, but I just wanted to start that day one, there was already some sort of discrimination and as well as the rest of you know, my parents who’ve been through many things, my dad had to my dad’s a citizen now, but he had to go through like so many things to come to America, like he didn’t have the money to go come the legal way. So he had to take a boat, all the way to PAna:ma, and then from Dominican Republic, to PAna:ma, and then from PAna:ma, just come all the way up. And he never stops talking about it. Whenever I want a Nintendo he knew about his struggles. And I’m like, well, dang, Dad, I just wanted this things that no, I had to pick up water in the river every day, you know, like, we can’t, you can’t just go out couldn’t and go out and buy nothing that’s that go for two hours to get to college or whatever. So and that’s and that’s why I’m like I’m telling you a little bit my parents who are just sort of the for my own, because that kind of sends the basis of myself. And then so my dad was a professor, he studied physics, and that very much not rubbed off on me. I’m not math related at all. But he came when he came to the States since he couldn’t speak English. He couldn’t continue teaching. So he had to, you know, he went and worked at a supermarket most of his life. He’s one of the he’s a mAna:ger at one of the trade fairs in our story. And my mother, interestingly enough, I don’t know too much about my mom’s background. And that’s like generational, like generational knowledge I kind of wish I had more of, because that would save me a lot of identity searching throughout the years. But I didn’t have that privilege, unfortunately. So if you do have the privilege, take it, you know what I mean? So, always make sure to like, get in there. So I didn’t have the privilege knowing too much about my mother. Other than like, you know, she grew up also Dominican Republic, both my parents met here in the States. And like, Yes, she did hairdressing. Then came here, did other things while she was here, and was a homemade for a bit. Now she stays at home. But, so that’s about like, my parents. And then my origin story is a whole mixed bag. Cuz, you know, I was born in Jamaica, it’s wild now almost, like kind of skipping where I am in life now, cuz it’s like, I came, like, I had, like, I didn’t know when, if I had food, the next day growing up, I didn’t have I couldn’t even own a computer. Which is funny, because now I do computer science. So we went through a lot, for a really long time. And that was actually that actually kind of started where you know, that ambition that I have today, because one thing that my parents told me, and I’m an only child, by the way, so one thing my parents told me was that we don’t have anything to give you. We don’t have inheritance. We don’t have absolutely anything, but possibly the only thing we can give us an education. So I said, Okay, and I took that to heart. And you know, that drove me to really have like that spirit that I do doubt kind of persevere and keep going. So that’s why when I was a kid, I said, I want to do business, I’m going to do business with my life. Because that way I can make my parents more money, and I can make myself. But my biggest passion ever since I was young was music. And I almost sometimes they get a little bit sad now that I’m you know, I’m 25. And they’re still not too late. Like, if anybody wants to start a punk band, like call me. But you know, one of the things I loved music so much I really wanted to study it. But I didn’t. Unfortunately, it was almost like, I had no way to support myself, my family had no ways to support me. So if I did music, it would have been a really long, winding road. And I would have probably gotten I don’t know, you know, that’s something that I would never know, somewhere in a different universe. Maybe I do, but. And then. So I said, I want to do business. My parents wanted me to be a doctor. And I was like, No, I’m not, I’m not interested. They tried getting me to be a doctor for career day. And then when I showed up with a stethoscope like teachers were like, you want to be a doctor. And I was like, No, my parents just made me wear this, I want to be a business person. So I have that mentality for most of my life, I say I want to do this. And then I get to college. And I try and I get to so I started off at you buffalo. And and you buffalo is a very engineering heavy school. But I was like, came here want to do business. This is what I want to do. So I tried everything to get myself business savvy, I tried to joining a business fraternity didn’t go well. tried doing like a whole bunch of other classes. Accounting was not my thing. And I was like, you know, I really wanted to get up there and hone my strengths because I didn’t have as many opportunities I wanted to, while I was in high school did internships and stuff and I joined business programs, but it was funny. So to where I am now. Right before transferring to Baruch College, where you know, I met you and I met a whole bunch of people I know, piece. Before I transferred to the route college, what I did was that I took a computer science class right before transferring. And I said to myself, hey, computer science sounds like the wave, you know, like, it sounds like it’s something that’s going to be the future. And if I hate it, then I could just drop it, it’s fine. I’m already transferring to a different school. So it’s an elective. And then I ended up just like, loving that class so much, because instead of taking it as like math problems, they started looking at it as a puzzle. And it’s like a puzzle that you got to solve to get like all the pieces of like, code together. And like since you can make so many things with code, it was eye opening for me and I said, Okay, I want to do this. And there’s a big twist at the end. So hold on, but so I said I want Do this. And then from there, I was transferring to Brooke and Brooke, as you know, as a business school is nothing else other than business. Maybe psych. A little bit, but mostly just business. So I was I was like, What am I going to do? I’m transferring to business school, I can’t, cannot leave. And I tried to just make the best out of it. So that’s when, when I went to bruke, I knew like zero people, the people that I didn’t know, I had, like, a rough background with bad time for a few months. And then I had communications Class A while back. And one of the one of our things was, how can I like twice to say, I don’t know if you ever took that? Do you take that class? Did you ever take calm? Yeah, you got it. So regardless, when you take com, it goes to like, yeah, things that you get to basically choose whatever topic you want. And I had, what’s that? I had a persuasive essay that I had to do. And I was like, you know, what, if I can convince people in here to join a club. And then that’s when I pitched my first that was the first time I ever pitched the FEM code, which was, my club was in college for women in technology. And, or rather like the Center for Women in Technology. And so I gave this speech, and I was like, these are the reasons why, you know, anyone of any gender should be supporting this movement right now. And then I not just the inequality facts that are going on, specifically in tech. And now that I’m in tech, like I know, and I’ve seen it firsthand, I’m the only woman currently on my team. And then out of the 72 people in my entire big team, there’s like, five, five, maybe I’m one of them, and it’s crazy. So that’s, that’s one thing, there’s so and you can go on and go and completely search, but there’s an equality for women and women. What’s it called? Cut, I’m like, trip it up a little bit. I’m like day, alright, so there’s so many things are going on in the field. And I said, Okay, I want to do something to change it. And that’s when I started the FemCode. And that was two really long years. I’m so happy to have met you through that seek I think like, you know, like, I’m, I’m super grateful to this day. And to know that it’s still going on. It’s crazy. I didn’t know still going on. I was like, people I saw the the like, the Instagram was like moving by itself. And I was the one who used to have like the social media. So then when I saw a post from the same code on it, I was like, that’s, that’s not me. There’s someone else out there. No, that’s crazy. That brought me so much joy. Like it was a big struggle. But it was so much joy that it brought me because I saw that it legitimately changed people’s views. And it sparked the movement at bruke. Basically, to continue and start like bringing up to computer science. So pause me at any time by left just rambling. I don’t know if like just want me around, but I’m here for that. Yeah, and then so there on that point, like, I tried doing, like internships and stuff. I interned at the New York Times, again, only not like I was out of 82 people I was the only person from a CUNY and I was the only buddy coming from a public school. Absolutely everybody else in that internship all 82 other interns were like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, yada, yada. And then they would be like talking about like their, what they’re doing and like, what their lacrosse teams going on. And then I said they’re like, oh, what universe did you come from? And I tell them I’m like, I come from CUNY and that broke down there. And then they’re like, double double what? And I’m like, nevermind, it’s a business boost on the door. But and, but now I kind of regret that I need to show I needed to show more pride out to be like, yeah, from CUNY, and I’m here, just like you. So it was crazy, to the point where I got there and but even though like I had all these internships, these clubs, we won the award and I cried on stage shows a whole bunch stuff. Like, even though like I had all these accolades, like it wasn’t enough really for me to get into the job that I am now. And that’s kind of where like the story starts to shift a little bit. Because I wouldn’t say some people would sit down and they’re like, oh, you’re a success story on how you made it. And I’m like, I don’t know, man, it took like some like, I think is a year, right? Like, Hey, I’m here. And this is one of my goals. And I did it. But it was like the entire journey getting there was was a lot. \It took me almost two years for me to find a job after college. And I say that because it took nine months after college for me to realize that I needed help. And if I knew earlier that I needed help, then maybe I could have gone here quicker. But it took me nine months for me to realize, like I’m not as good at this as I thought I was. I’m really not. That’s not even a jab at myself, like, Oh, I saw it. But that was sincerely like, I think I need extra help. And that’s something I would totally, you know, tell like any listeners out there that like, sometimes, there are times that you really have to put your pride aside, and you have to say like, this is something that’s so important for me to do and get there. But you know, and that’s what I decided, Okay, something I went to the Flatiron School. So I went to add to their software engineering Bootcamp, 15 weeks, it was like 15 weeks, five days a week, not six, sometimes 12 hours a day of just coding like nothing else. And if you slept at all, like you would just get booted immediately. So that was very, very intense, I would recommend it for those who are sincerely passionate about going into tech, because it can get expensive, and it’s very draining. But it’s, I learned I met so many amazing people. And I gained so many really good skills from that. So can’t, can miss it. After that, it took me about three months for me to find my job. But I’ve been here for about two years. And even then, actually, it’s not it’s like it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows is what I will say either because it started off like I did my interview you thinking I was going to be an engineer. And then on my very first day, I show up all shiny, I’m all like prepped up ready to go. And I go to my first board meeting of the day, and they tell me meet our new business Ana:lyst. And then I was just like business Ana:lyst, I came here you told me HR told me I was an engineer. I didn’t come here to be business Ana:lyst. And ya know that that was like the biggest shock I literally I went to like after work to like some local bar and I like cried with a few of my friends because I was like, I can’t believe that I worked so hard. so damn hard my whole life. And I am still here. Like it was I still have to fight I still am not done yet. And to be honest, I’m never gonna be done. None of us are, you know, like, and I think that’s one of the I guess that’s the beauty of life is to continue learning. And I have a tattoo many tattoos we have one tattoo that’s dedicated to lifelong learning. And that’s of a small little Saturn on my wrist. And a lot of people whenever if they don’t want to hear like the whole long story on that tattoo, I just tell him like I like space. But I dedicate that one small tattoo to lifelong learning, because there’s so many things above us that we’re never going to really know about in our lifetime. And I think the fact that we have like that search that constant knowledge like that constant craving for knowledge is something that drives me a lot too. So I have that little Saturn for that. But I went through some time went through, you know, banging pots and pans to make sure that people knew that this is what I wanted to do. And it took me it took me about six months and then that’s when I can opening like happened for like a UI edit UI engineer, user interface engineer. And I got into that role. That’s the role that I have now but even that role was like hell and I have for a very long time and yeah, just really like and I don’t want to get get so much into it unless that’s what the questions to go a little bit internet so I’ve totally well if you want me to. But you know, that’s a bit of that. It’s been a lot of hill climbing. I’m in a better place now at work, which is pretty good. And even then, like I found another passion of mine recently which was user interface, user interface design. Sorry user experience, I said interface, that’s what they do user experience design. And I got that passion from working with a whole bunch of designers. And from there now I’m actually in the middle of changing my career again. And a lot of people might be like, You work so hard to get to where you are now want to change occurred again? And I’m like, also, certainly, yeah. If it’s something that I know that I love, and I know that I got to this one goal, I can get to the second goal, too. I don’t know what’s gonna, how long it’s going to take. And I don’t know what I have to do. But that’s something I’m working on myself. So that’s a little bit about my professional origin story. And my personal one, my personal one is a whole bag of potatoes, I can go into that one too, but I’ll let you get on to the questions. And I’ll totally like, touch on that, if that’s something you want me to. So

Zeke: With all of that. How are you gonna represent it? Stories? Write a couple of books?

Ana: That’s a good question. I don’t even know. Like, if I could, if I could make an album, like a musical, CD, CD, no more. But like, if I can make some sort of way to import it, add my store into music, I would. And but that one, I would most likely pair a lot or that or actually, when I was younger, I not that I’m not young now as I was still young. But when I was like 1890, and I was going through a lot of personal things. And one of my biggest ways for me to cope with the things I was going through was poetry. So I wrote a lot of poetry about what was going on. And I ended up writing my own like small book 72 poems and never published it, but it’s there somewhere in my Evernote. So if I were to choose to form to wait like two ways that I would say, how would I make this story mine I would say either through like an album of some sort or poetry book.

Zeke: Yeah. And then we got the NFT’s so we get all those four things 

Ana: What happen? 

Zeke: NFT’s is also non digital items, that people are selling.

Ana: Digital items.  I heard, and maybe it’s the headphones. So sorry. Could you say that again?

Zeke: NFT’s the new thing that people are creating.

Ana: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got you. I got ya ok. That’d be an idea. There you go. See? You think and you’re asking the real questions. But yeah. Yeah, totally. Oh, you tell me.

Zeke: So yeah, we met at Baruch. FemCode. When you’re at your best, I was like, No. I’m not at tech.

Ana: It’s okay, mean, I’m out here. I’m doing my first and foremost probably, I’m pretty sure you know, you know, your way through it. I’m pretty sure you do. But what’s it called? I’m telling y’all like, it’s I don’t even know if I like I’m, I’m doing a job and I’m okay at it. But it’s not what I want to do. At the end of the day. I do. So it’s a it takes a lot. It takes a set. I don’t know. I don’t even know how to get into it. But point is you’re probably awesome. I know you. I know. You’re awesome. Put that down. But yeah.

Zeke: Yeah, with a start up with the computer science you find out you love this. Like, what kind of like, what do you love about it? What kind of keeps you going with it? 

Ana: Yeah. Yeah, no, totally. So I can tell you about why I loved it. Since I’m going I really loved design a little bit more now. But why I loved it very much was that kind of like a past love, you know? Like, love is a whole other ballgame. I can get into that later. But, um, why computer science in particular? I yeah, I mentioned earlier Actually, I was like, you know, I’m out here. I’m like, 18 19. And I’m in like a class of like, 30 year old men. And for some reason, I pick up this knack for, like, just logic because a lot of computer science is just logic. It’s not necessarily math. You know, I don’t do any math period at work. And I hope I never have to, but I loved it because it was something that first and foremost, you can as I said, you can make anything with it. Like light bulbs, or like, even like smart light bulbs or code like absolutely anything that you use needs code somehow at this I’m born somewhere made that happen, just writing lines of this stuff. And it’s crazy to me is insane. And then like the world runs on it, and it’s wild to me. And then the next thing is that, as I mentioned, like that, that sort of a puzzle feeling, where, you know, you get a chance to kind of like, fill in the blank, almost like fill in the pieces for something. I was a game that I really loved to play as a kid. So I was a big bookworm. And I thought that, you know, all these puzzle games were super fun. And then, you know, making a living out of, you know, creating so many amazing things using these ideas, like you can have an idea to make anything and you can create it with code. So that’s almost like a gateway, almost to make your ideas a reality. If that was one of the reasons why I was, you know, so enamored by it. Yeah.

Zeke: Like, you’re interest in design I guess it’s like a connection to your interest for music.

Ana: Oh, yeah.

Zeke: Now it’s coming out of forming its self in a different way.

Ana: Oh, yeah. No, you’re totally right. Because I, it’s funny, I spoke to one of the designers recently that work, and he was like, you know, you know, about that whole left brain right brain thing? You know? And he was like, You seem to be like a really right brain person doing a super left brain job. And I was like, You were like, you you are you are correct there. I don’t know. Sometimes I’m just saying I got here again. But I do like, like that love of music, that love of just like, like how things could like a lot of design is ideation. It’s like, how do how are these things made for the for these users? And like, what do users need to have this be like, beautiful, and like, work for their everyday lives. And one thing I really like about design in particular is inclusive design. Because inclusive design basically means that, like, it’s designing for folks that a lot of folks usually wouldn’t take into their first mind, like, accessibility, not just like the color blind, and those that can’t type in keyboard keyboards properly. But more so like, how do I like as like, how do I, as a designer, portray, like my, like, what I’m making for folks that, you know, might be dealing with one sort of struggle comparatively to another? And then how, like, how do we how do we even make that you know, how to, like people like those conversations needs to start happening for those things to start, like being created. And I really love inclusive design, because it’s kind of like that segue to start conversations for such like, how can we create an app with one of the apps that I made, shout out to Chanel, she’s watching or listening. So we together We made an application called Safe Space. And it was basically like a web app that allows you know, people of color women, the LGBTQ community to find safe spaces, stood, say, define, can we find out if this bar is a safe place to be? Because her myself and our friend rule we went to, we went to like this one hackathon. And hackathon is basically like, a coding competition. So we went to like this one hackathon. And we were trying to go out on the town because it’s a new place. But like, absolutely every single place was, like, just packed with people that did not look like us and did not want to have us there. So it was very daunting. And we said, we need to do something about that. But that’s what I mean, like, I love that attitude of we need to do something about this problem. How do we do it? And that’s what design can do. And that’s what code can do, too. So that’s why I love it. Music does that too. It’s it’s all trifectas. So,

Zeke: I was talking to my mom about how my life all the time is just solving problems with different skill, because like everything’s a type of situations trying to figure out how to do smaller topics versus problems.

Ana: Yeah, exactly. So that’s, that’s the whole that’s like one of the beauties of it. And I wanted to ask you, so do you also do music as well? I do kind of just like, do you say, yeah,

Zeke: I’m always like a visual artist,

Ana: Visual artist.

Zeke: Create things. And then eighth grade. I didn’t, I didn’t go to art high school. I didn’t got to the entry test. 

Ana: Yeah. 

Zeke: So I just um went back, into, my math skills. I get back to that design.

Ana: Nice. See, that’s where I’m at. See you already. You have your own story. I want to see you again after doing it too. Like, I love it. I’m excited for you.

Zeke: I like creating but also I’m also pretty good at math, right. It’s all the thing.

Ana: That sets the point some people like if you love math and run with it, do what you want to do that Heck yeah, you know. And thinking will come with any job that you’re passionate about. So that’s all I’m saying.

Zeke: I had did a little music in middle school. We did the drums and bass. And the teacher put me on the bass. (inaudible).

Ana: I feel like that’s my boyfriend. He can. He has 15 guitars. He has four It was like four bases like 13 guitars. Yeah, a whole bunch. He makes guitars. He can play them. He can sing. There’s all bunch of stuff. And then I’m, I look at all his guitars and his music. And I’m just adding you don’t did it? I don’t know. We sit down. He puts on guitar YouTube. And I’m like, sure. Yes, yes. Yes. If you say so. I’ve no idea what that string does that bill? Glad you love it. Yeah.

Zeke: It’s all just another form of creativity.

Ana: Exactly. Yeah. He knows what he’s doing with that. And I, you know, I’m like, that’s one of my side projects is0 like kind of being his mAna:ger. And I do quotes but like, eventually, when things open up, like, I will also like network for him, too. But, yeah, so he’s on his own way. He has his band, he’s doing his music. And yeah, so that’s, that’s the whole thing I’m telling you, like, creativity can be found in so many ways. And you know, that that love of music is really like one big bond of ours. And so, yes.

Zeke: (inaudible)

Ana: Yes,

Zeke: I was nervous to join Oh, but why am I doing it? Yeah.

Ana: I’m here for you. That’s why I was like, it could have been a lot of my brand into because I was just, you know, I was I just wanted to do this thing. You know, but I tried to make it, I wanted to make it as inclusive as possible. I want to give the voice to the right people. Like, I want to make it inclusive, but I want to give the stage to the people. And I also want to make it very clear that. You know, I know, I don’t mean like, well, first of all, gender is a spectrum. So I can go on about that also forever. But it’s just like, anybody who identifies as a woman I want to put on stage for this. And then I do I did, I wanted to make it very clear that I wanted allies to be a part of this. And I encouraged you know, other genders to join, and to be part of the board like you. Because I knew that it was something it’s it’s a big, it’s a global problem. And a problem as a lot of people mess asked me because they’re like other organizations that Baruch that were exclusive to either genders or races or something. And then I was very, like, No, I want to make sure that if we want to solve a problem, it can’t just be one piece. It just can’t be one group of people. It has to be everyone to be able to solve this problem. Like I understand that the mic should be given to certain people, because they have the experiences that you know, I might not, and someone else might. But as long as people are aware of the problem, and they want to do something about it, I just wanted to the platform. So that’s why I’m so I’m so glad that you joined. I’m so glad that other men joined to. I’m glad that, you know, folks, were given the opportunity to express interest because I said a lot of folks are like, I’m not in tech. Why should I care? I was like, Yo gotta be in tech. You just go understand what’s going on and support it. You know, so that’s it. If you’re interested in checking come in.

Zeke: Back with your parents or you know, my parent, my mom isn’t an immigrant of my childhood. I was a cool, great. All right now.

Ana: Exactly. Oh, yeah, no. And that’s it’s a thing. It’s like, there’s the image, there’s the immigrant story. And then there’s the grown up, not white story. And then there’s the grown up. What’s it called? Then there’s the grown up black story. And then there’s, and there’s so many things that so many layers that comes through with it. And then, you know, that’s why it’s like, I try to like, I don’t know, maybe you’ve been through this set, either Baruch your current job or where you go? Or, you know, anywhere that you go to, but sometimes it like, and that’s one of the reasons why we made the app in the first place was that you know, so it’s sometimes sometimes hard to relate, you know, it’s hard to relate to some people. It’s funny, because like, now at work, like most of my co workers also went to IBS, right? So, and then I’m trying to, you know, relate to folks to speak to know a little bit about what I’m doing. And know, but there’s that gap. And I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced that gap to but I’m sure you have, you know, but regardless, it’s something to think about something I keep in my mind, something that I would like to, like, how do we bring these stories together? And that’s why I like, you know, I admire your podcasts a lot, because that is exactly what you’re doing. You know. So, there you go. 

Zeke: Yeah. I guess I’m just like, I’ve noticed it, but I just kind of figured out, there’s some commonality somewhere.

Ana: Exactly. 100%. That’s why I said, I admire admire you, the fact that you have podcast to bring all these voices together. And hopefully, and you know, commonalities can be found, you know, there are reasons that they’re things that still bring us together. You know, so

Zeke: Within the last season, my friend she wants to Pixar to your shooting. Yeah, she’s got her into her own.

Ana: Yeah. Ya know, her two boys, so she’s wonderful. Like, it’s been so long since I’ve spoken to her too. But if she’s listening, she’s wonderful. And I want her to know that. Then exactly, everybody is it’s why this world is small. Because smaller. Yes. Yes. Go on.

Zeke: Now with designing. Designing. (inaudible) design is how you approach a problem? or 

Ana: How did I push that? Yeah, no, that’s I’m still working on that myself. Like I just, I just created my own personal website after like four years in the field. That’s crazy, because that’s one of the first things you got to make. And I was like, oh, but my push was the fact that I really wanted to get a portfolio done. And I am not. So I’ll give like a cool shout out to out in tech, which is an organization for it’s a tech organization for LGBTQIA, folks. And that org has been really, really awesome. They have a program called Digital digital Court, which is basically where anybody you know, if you have like skill sets, and you want to contribute, you get paired up in teams, and you create websites for LGBTQ organizations across the world. And I’ve done it twice so far. And I would highly recommend anybody who you know, isn’t taking identifies as LGBTQIA plus, like, to, you know, try out and really volunteer for those things, because there’s too many things like that, like, our amazing events program, and you get to meet a whole bunch of amazing people and do all these things together. So highly recommend it. And, like I got a chance to be mentored. And they also have a mentorship program. And I had a mentor who was a designer a few years ago. And at the time, I was like gung ho about being an engineer. So I was like, what, what am I doing now to design it? And then But to this day, like, you know, things happen for a reason because now I’m here a few years later. Like, wow, if I didn’t get a designer, I wouldn’t have a portfolio piece to show. So I had these pushes where I was like, one of my main pushes was the fact that I was unhappy in my current my, my previous team. And that was because then I’m like, so if you don’t have a good mAna:ger, you’re not going to, to really, you know, want to excel in your field, right? If you don’t have someone who wants you to grow and allows you to do that stuff, like you’re not going to so one of my biggest pushes was I was unhappy, and I wanted, what, what could I do? And then I actually I did a interview, another interview with The New York Times to get to, like, try to get a full time position. And that’s when when I like bombed that interview it like, made me realize, like, Where do I find joy? Like, what are the things that bring me joy that I can like, do for a living for dollars, right? Cuz we live in a society, we live in a society. And, you know, capitalism? Yeah, so I’m trying to figure out, like, what do I enjoy, and like, I got a chance to like, speak to designers, like across Chase. And I got connected with some really awesome people. And I gained mentors who like kind of pushed me to go forward and like really, like homeless interest. And now I’m hooked. Now, like, this is what I’ve been wanting to do the whole time. I didn’t know that I could do this. Like, I didn’t know that I can just make like, I can make ideas and collaborate with people and then test them and like, it’s not just making like, or something pretty, like there’s so many things that come into it. And that’s, that’s like, what really got me into the fact that I can actually like you, like, create ideas and make stuff and so yep, that’s, that’s a bit about why and show design and why I do the things that I do.

Zeke: When created for me, a lot of times, I’ll let my creationism decide. You know what, I don’t like it.

Ana: Yeah. So sometimes is that and sometimes it’s easy, sometimes you got to push through, because like, maybe you might not, but someone else might, but and then sometimes if you really are not happy with what you’re doing, you’re like, you know, what, how can I make How can I make this better? And how can I make myself happier. But you also have to be like really aware about perfectionism. And you got to be aware about like, you know, you’re never going like, not you as an au. But like, humans, like we’re never going to reach a peak of perfection and whatever we do, like some things like they’re number based systems, and you can get a hundreds or whatever, but perfection isn’t. It comes down to like your own happiness. And sometimes if something doesn’t make you happy, then you got to redo keeping that sort of female stuff, but I got

Zeke: (inaudible) get your own personal website. Did you pull up to scratch? rabbit with your personal website? Did you political scratch?

Ana: My personal website? No, I didn’t. That’s one of my big secrets. Now the world knows no. So I, I used Wix. And I made it a professional account. because number one reason why was because I needed it ASAP. Like, I needed a website ASAP. So I can apply to places ASAP. And I’m kind of going through a catch 22 right now, actually. And, you know, let the world know that this is what I’m doing now. But I’ve been going through a big catch 22 where, you know, I remake my resume, remake my website, apply for design and engineering positions. And I get and it’s funny because now I’m like, I’m living in one of my old dreams in a sense, right? where like, when I was first starting out tech, like, this is what I wanted, like I wanted like for me to put in my resume and for all these tech companies to just come running. And that’s what’s happening now. But I put in my design, my design resumes, and my design portfolios, and shut me down every time because they always see engineer and they assume engineer and I’m like that’s, that’s not how like, it’s like, if you were to go down and look at my work, you can see that I am also a designer, like I put design UX design in front of anything. But immediately they see JavaScript engineer does this for a live and Chase Bank and they’re like, nope. So I’m going through catch 22 right now where I’m trying to figure out like, what direction do I want to take with my life? I don’t even know. I think that’s a that’s a big part of our 20s is set. I mean, you I guess you don’t have to know right now. But I for sure I for sure. I’m trying to figure that out. So I think that’s all of us.

Zeke: Yeah, probably being too common. Everybody doesn’t know. All my friends don’t they? Don’t know what they’re doing a good place.

Ana: Yeah. Exactly. So, you know, trying to figure out patients and stuff but patients takes a while and I’m working on it. So constant job. What are things that you’re working on yourself? See,

Zeke: The (inaudible) podcast?

Ana: Yeah.

Zeke: This I find out that I now put up a lot more, which is to figure out what kind of career that is I want to do. And then just kind of videogames occupy my time.

Ana: And that’s awesome. That’s why I was like, I want to I live in Brooklyn, there’s somebody on a motorcycle. And no, yeah, I’m asking cuz I just like, you know, other than like, it’s been a long time. I want to know a little bit like, I wanted to know about what, like, I see your passions are very bleak. I love that. Like, you know, you show that you’re passionate about these things, right. So that’s why I’m thinking like, what kind of things are you growing on right now? Like, personally,

Zeke: And then I built a website, click on podcast, I thought the template and then the fact that HTML class was able to edit it. Okay.

Ana: I’ve said I’m like working on like, emotionally like, Hey, what are things that you’re moving on? Like, I’m working on patients? So I don’t know. Yeah.

Zeke: I guess I’m working on on, like, ambition, like I have higher ambitions. So I want to achieve them. Here’s all those let’s take a little time. Everybody’s story says the same at least 10 years. But you still have the constraints on me that I never eating things that don’t ever be satisfied. So that’d be good for you. And like they are when they do all well, but like, don’t be satisfied right now. But once you go forward,

Ana: That’s true. Not being grateful. That’s another big thing. I’m working on that too. So play that much. That’s constantly blabbing me God takes time. I’m all ears. You know, you

Zeke: Talk about personal growth. And then I’ll go back to that. This podcast is commenting on a video for me that it took about 40 or 50 is when you become an adult.

Ana: Oh, yeah, no. 100% like so. We’re I don’t know man. Like, like his life is wild rice wild. I’m, I’m almost I’m 26 in like a week, and I don’t I don’t I’m just trying to figure out where to live next. I’m moving out on my own soon because now I’m finally like, I have an apartment. But I’m like with a roommate. So my next apartment is gonna be so low. I’m gonna roll dough low. And I’m like, not have to think about adult purchases like I want to room is that adult purchase add to me like what kind of detergent should I use? Unless I don’t try to figure out what happened.

Zeke: Like the museum like you know, your adult wear like stuff like this. It’s just new way to play. Like, despite everything I own.

Ana: My boyfriend show me that meme today. Today. He sent that one he’s like, we’re gonna get this dish, right? And I’m like, today he sent me that same meme with that dish rag with everything going on. I was like nice, which I’ve been. I’ve been I’ve been one of them. All right now I have like all my like, spices in this one spice rack type thing. It’s just like fallen all the time. But I’m like, I need something. So I gotta, like, you gotta go into like carpet cleaners. And what do I need curtains for? So I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure things out myself. And I don’t know, I think personally, I’ve done a lot of growing, I think, both like my loved ones around me, I also think therapy, because therapy is very important. I’m no longer going, but I went for about five years. And it doesn’t mean I’m not going to go over guy totally might, but I should again, but, you know, I think there’d be for a lot of it, because it really, you know, even when, like, you’re at your lowest points, and even if you’re not at your lowest points, like I still recommend therapy to anyone, because it is a non biased way for you to be able to go through and really like pinpoint why or why you are the way you are, and what you can do to kind of get to the you that you want to be almost. And then I was going through a lot of things now in therapy to kind of cope and learn what I can do for myself, and you know, have a voice that isn’t like a completely third party voice that you know, you know, aren’t like just the people around you in your in these situations. So I think that for a lot of my growth too. And, you know, I recommended I it sounds expensive, like, what, like therapy, it’s what, like, I can go into that too. Like therapy is super, like it seems super expensive. But I’ll tell you that like what’s like some health insurances, even if you don’t have health insurance, and you can get like either the free like the free kind like Medicaid, like when I was on Medicaid, I got therapy for free. So that’s one thing and then if you’re if you don’t qualify, like there are so many options, and I would have 100% and like, always push that for anybody mental health is one of my biggest things. So I really want to get that out there. Put that put that message out there to to anybody. So it’s okay to get help. It’s okay.

Zeke: I went to therapy before back in college. 

Ana: Good. That’s amazing. Like, I’m telling you like it’s so it’s so so important. So yeah. Adult adult stuff. If anybody knows what kind of Roomba should get, I don’t want to pay $500 for Roomba, you know, they got like the teeny versions, but like 150 and I’m like, are they worth it? I’ll go on Amazon is fine off it. No, actually, I don’t even know I don’t even want to support Amazon. I that’s another thing. That’s another rant, but I will I’ll figure it out.

Zeke: If I have one of those two then I will Yeah,

Ana: do it. Ask them let me know. Even like another thing people and I don’t know if you’ve heard about this too but peloton like I’ve been like so many people at my job. Have a peloton bike? Part of me thinks it’s a status symbol. Yeah, cuz nearly 3000 bucks and I’m like, for normal bike. Yeah, right. I could get like I my gym membership. $15 get my gym. You know, but yeah, it was. I’m just like, a lot of people are really into that. And I’m like, Can I get a non expensive version? Do I even like spin class? I don’t know. Figure it out.

Zeke: I just bought my bike around the neighborhood a couple times. Yeah.

Ana: You put on a YouTube video about keep going. Get it for FREE. Yeah. So I don’t know. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out. I’m sure that you will too. As long as you know, we got support from people and there’s so many things that you get support from friends, family if you have that privilege, like it’s a big thing. So

Zeke: What would you name your origin story?

Ana: What would I name, my origin story that you sit down you come in like you got a story and then you’re like, well, would I need my book? I named what I would like what I wrote my book I named it starry eyed girl. I don’t know if I want to continue with that. I guess I could be my first album too. I’m gonna go with starry eyed girl. I guess Cuz that’s what I started with. Although I wouldn’t I’m a woman now. I’m no longer a girl. So, but we’ll see. Start with that.

Zeke: Yeah. Oh, thank you for coming on the podcast again.

Ana: Yeah, no, thanks for having me. I like Bo. I felt like I was like rambling. I’m like, I please stop me at any time. You tell me. I’m like going on and then you say I’m sorry. And I’ll be like, Okay. No, thank you so much for having me. I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing well. I wish you absolutely All the best. And I really hope that you know, I like helped out in some way or like, gain some honor. Hopefully we all gain something too. So,

Zeke: Alright.

Ana: Alrighty, then. Thank you, friend. Thank you for everything.

Zeke: That brings another episode of Let’s Gather Podcast to a close. Again I like to thank my friend Ana for joining the podcast. For next week my friend Zakari will be returning to the podcast, interview me. I hope you continue to have a nice day and hope to see you there.