Kristen remarks: > In my computer classes I am almost the only woman present. . . . I have > wondered, just what do I think am I doing?
No one will tell you that a career in open source or in engineering is easy, but the Hard Parts for me at least are not related to being female. It has taken me years to realize that applying my analytical abilities to my career would be beneficial in addition to obsessing constantly about my technical work. Once you realize that no one is going to tell you what to do, and that you need to figure out your core values and start from them, everything else gets easier, but now I sound like a bad after-dinner speaker. In my experience, being female has advantages as well as disadvantages. For example, people who had me as a Lab T.A. 20 years ago often remember me, which is great as long as they remember me being capable instead of being a dork. People who want to bring balance to committees and panel discussions may select you as long as you stand where they can see you. And so forth. So don't despair: give it a shot. You can always choose later to compromise and pursue a path that you will enjoy less. -- Alison Chaiken (650) 279-5600 (cell) http://www.exerciseforthereader.org/ "Laws only declare rights; they do not deliver them." Happy Birthday, Dr. King. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-women-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/cakoghgxmfxle4yos2j5rpxmhpzr3bsrbc2mvjznsl0axntq...@mail.gmail.com
