A friend once told me, “The will of God never takes you where the grace of God cannot protect you!” This was the thought that comforted my mind as I embarked on this new and exciting journey of completing my Master’s in Computer Information Systems. On what would be my second day in Texas, was also my first day at this prestigious HBCU, Prairie View A&M University. August 16, 2018, is the day this surreal journey began. It was surreal for me because I am a first-generation college student. But it was even more unbelievable because I journeyed for miles from the little city of Kingston, Jamaica to the USA, to a state that is not only more than ten times the size of my country but a place that experiences all four seasons. That is twice as much as I experience back home!
Graduating with a master’s degree is a remarkable milestone that means a lot to me, my entire family, community, and generations that would come after me. I am now the point of change and am paving a new path for my siblings to travel. I have not just challenged the stigma of my community, but I am also challenging the “norm” of society to join the minority group of black women in Technology. I am happy I chose Prairie View A&M University for this new chapter in my life. This University has afforded me some of life’s best experiences, from interacting with world-class lecturers to gaining friends from various countries and cultures. I chose PV because of the close community and the unique geographical location. However, with the high level of diversity I encountered, my expectations were far exceeded.
Throughout my time here, some of my greatest accomplishments included being awarded the Grace Hopper Celebration Scholarship for 2019, with which I was given the opportunity to travel to Florida, all expenses paid, to attend, by far, what is dubbed the largest tech conference in the U.S. I was also a recipient of several scholarships and recognition for outstanding achievements by the Jamaica Foundation of Houston and the Barbados Association of Texas. Out of everything, my most prized accomplishment was securing an internship at Hewlett Packard Enterprise as a Cybersecurity intern this summer. What is even more rewarding about this achievement is that this opportunity came out of attending Prairie View A&M University’s Fall 2019 Career Fair. The internship perfectly aligned with my career goal of becoming a Network Security Engineer. It is a career path I chose because of the continued and increasing impact technology has on our everyday lives, and the increased need for security as the world becomes more connected on so many levels and in so many ways. I was particularly drawn to network security because of my enthusiasm for detail, and my curiosity for wanting to know how technology is connected and data is being transferred.
Wendy Lewis
I love PV because of the strong emphasis placed on networking opportunities and career development. I particularly applaud the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering and, specifically, the Department of Computer Science for the continuous support and the energy placed on getting students in front of hiring managers and fostering relationships with various companies. With that said, my advice to other students is to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities at PVAMU, and never give up when you are faced with challenges or obstacles. Rather, use those obstacles to your advantage! Get out of your comfort zone, challenge the status quo, never settle for mediocrity, always aim for the highest, and do not leave Christ Jesus out of your decisions. Without Him, we are nothing.
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By Wendy Lewis