Wrote my 2nd Medium article!
For a friend: inspiration for getting a job with a felony in the tech industry
(or possibly any industry.)
A preview:
"I don’t have a felony.
I’ve never been to jail, but my family has been in and out of prison my entire life. I can’t say I know what they have gone through but I can say that I saw what they went through my entire life — how each of them ended up incarcerated again more times than I count because of how difficult the world made it to re-enter each time they left; how one of them spent the majority of their life homeless no matter how many times we tried to step in and help. Prison, it was like a safety net for them.
I’ve never been to jail, but my family has been in and out of prison my entire life. I can’t say I know what they have gone through but I can say that I saw what they went through my entire life — how each of them ended up incarcerated again more times than I count because of how difficult the world made it to re-enter each time they left; how one of them spent the majority of their life homeless no matter how many times we tried to step in and help. Prison, it was like a safety net for them.
I spent more of my life traveling to see them in the visiting room rather than at our dinner table during the holidays.
I’m pretty passionate about discrimination because, duh, ..shouldn’t everyone be (whether that be in regards to race, gender identity, sexuality, or religion, + a myriad of other issues ) — but especially because of my upbringing in rural America as a queer, woman of color. It’s remarkable to me how often we as people treat each other as less than human and I will always advocate for change.
I’m pretty passionate about discrimination because, duh, ..shouldn’t everyone be (whether that be in regards to race, gender identity, sexuality, or religion, + a myriad of other issues ) — but especially because of my upbringing in rural America as a queer, woman of color. It’s remarkable to me how often we as people treat each other as less than human and I will always advocate for change.
I made a lot of close friends in my boot camp, one of them dearest to my heart who will obviously remain unnamed. I have watched their struggle since graduating. They are one of the most talented, passionate developers that I have come to know. If it weren’t for them, I absolutely would not have made it this far and it pains my heart to see his discouragement. I know how difficult it is to get your foot in the door. I know how saturated the market is right now and that’s with this barrier aside"