Facing Challenges in High School

In her first computer science class in high school, Madi quickly noticed she was one of the few girls and one of only two African-American students. When she shared this with her mom, her mom offered advice that stuck: “You have the opportunity to change that.” She showed Madi that by bringing her unique experiences and knowledge to companies, she could pave the way for others to follow.

Pursuing Her Goals

Now studying Software Engineering at Cal. State University in San Marcos, Madi has overcome numerous challenges to achieve her goals.

“I went into Software Engineering with pure interest and determination, and less so with previous experience,” said Madi. “For a while, it really took a lot for me to understand programming languages and certain terms. And then one day, it just clicked. I really started to understand the algorithms of programming languages. Looking back, I did a lot of work to get to that point, but it was totally worth it.”

Building a Foundation at SD2

Madi was instrumental in setting up the mentorship and internship programs at SD2 and creating the programming that we still use today. Introduced to SD2’s inaugural leadership team through a mutual connection in 2020, she began her journey to become the change she wanted to see when she took that first computer science class. Working with H., SD2’s Co-Founder, President & CEO, Madi provided her insights as a Black and Mexican student in STEM as they began to build the organization. She helped create the website, planned events, shaped the foundation of the SD2 community database, created teams to manage programs, and even sat in on board meetings.

Launching the Interns Program

In 2021, SD2 launched the Interns Program, a database of local STEM internship opportunities that provides new interns with ongoing support through mentorship, connections, and a range of other SD2 resources.

Madi, who championed the program, spent the next several months with the SD2 team collecting contacts around San Diego to cultivate a team of professionals committed to making a difference by giving our students’ resumes a guaranteed look.

Because of Madi and her team’s hard work, we’ve been able to match countless undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students pursuing STEM-centered degrees to companies that are excited to help them grow in their careers.

Becoming a Mentor

Madi recently had the opportunity to serve as a mentor to a high school student interested in STEM. Over a year, she and her mentee, Elvira, met regularly, discussing plans and goals, and sharing experiences over coffee. They even took tours of local companies together, such as visiting Google headquarters.

Madi hoped to leave her mentee with the confidence to believe in herself.

“I hope she approaches situations and opportunities with confidence and positive energy,” Madi said. “If an opportunity is given to her, it’s because SHE deserves it.”

Today, Elvira is studying Engineering at the University of California, Irvine.

Chasing Her Dreams

Today, Madi is interning with General Atomics while continuing her studies. At GA, she has written and constructed an entire timecard program by herself, hoping to implement it across the company soon. She is currently working on a coding translation project, translating Perl code into Python. In true San Diegan fashion, Madi loves all things water. In her free time, she swims, surfs, snorkels, and everything in-between!

Commitment to Diversity

STEM diversity is incredibly important to Madi—so much so, it’s the reason she’s pursuing software engineering.

“It was the lack of diversity that pushed me towards my career, but it’s the hope for a more diverse future that keeps me striving,” she said, “The ability to look around a room and feel recognized shouldn’t be a foreign concept to anyone. Brilliant minds lie within diversity.”

If you’re interested in becoming a Mentor like Madi, learn more here.