<p>Meet Natalie, Robin, and Zoed. They’re computer science students who come from backgrounds underrepresented in tech—and they’re on a mission not just to break into the industry, but to diversify it. Eager to discover the career possibilities in this rapidly growing field—and encourage other women and minorities to do the same—they embark on a journey that proves you don’t have to fit the mold to make it in tech; anyone has the potential to be a driver of innovation, discovery, and progress.</p>
 <p>Check out these <a href="//s3.amazonaws.com/archive.roadtripnation.com/series/series_episode_guides/CodeTripViewingGuide.pdf" target="_blank">resources</a> for educators and parents to facilitate meaningful discussions that help students unlock their potential.</p>


Code Trip

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

Microsoft

FUELED BY:

you turn, who to be and what to do. yourself? people to define their own from different backgrounds. country, interviewing inspiring all walks of life. search of wisdom and what it actually takes to doing what they love. first computer science constantly solving puzzles. computer science in the world. computer science is like this, me means understanding magic, their phone works, it's doing inside. that's happening. like if it doesn't exist, to just do so many things. costing you anything other than something I like to do. in all of my classes. [LAUGH] and then, there's me. that, like that I'm different. person whose different. that looked like me that could obviously. my shoes, that's the thing. of us to shine, but computer scientists or there weren't that many. something by yourself. traveling in this huge green RV. trip across the U.S. people who are successful and represented in Computer Science. know each other too well, I can't believe we're going big old thing. fancy bus. it has beds. everything you need and more. >> Natalie: Woo! And people scattered, like. to LA and then, San Francisco. then Colorado, then Chicago. New York  is a little bit of insight, might change the way I think. journey together, so pretty pumped up. with somebody who likes like doing so it's pretty neat. we also have a lot in common. college students. is to try to push forward. I guess you'd say. you know? store around the corner. they would pull me over and it's a bunch of BS. the important people, the people they obviously see who I am so, that really matter only two other Latinos there. a minority, but I saw that and was like, holy. Latinos in the Computer Science In the technology industry. about that area so out there at all. story to tell my little one. my family up. will be the biggest exposure science field. seem surprised that I'm in tech. reservation, there's been times will be talking to me and able to do this and it's like a spectacle or a circus act. people are saying I'm dirty or I do get insecure sometimes. field don't seem to look she's trying to be white. school, because I'm pursuing because I'm pursuing tech. say "pretendian" and would say Robin, white in the inside. know tech is an option in my out where to go. the square peg and frustrated that it doesn't. that were interviewing of tech they're doing, and naysayers along the way. that and get to where they are. prove it to people or by the end of this trip and person, a different person. gonna be a better person or four weeks you know. doing a lot and get a lot of insight. a little more about like scientist would be cool. computer science but very broad field and other doors and I'm hoping to opportunities out of this, exist outside of this. so many routes that I can take. apps. day one of the trip. excited, we're going to LA next interview Samy Kamkar. than just a hacker, control link not available and to the drone that it hacked. it on and take it over. he kind of got his name, and aware of him was ever unleashed. when he was a teenager. of peoples' MySpace profiles. this guy is so cool. person we can interview. too hard to get ahold of him. got a response, and refreshed it a couple of times. able to interview him, and that's just crazy. as nervous as I thought I'd be. get even more nervous when we Boston. knows about technology, first time like two weeks ago. interested in computers and this past year at Penn. about like everything so start with like the most basic interested in technology? got me a computer. just immediately and rabbit hole of hacking was like chat with people. out of the chat room. have ten seconds to get out. my computer crashes. >> Samy: It was my brand that was so cool. that you can have that power, interesting ways of, or attack like that? this worm on MySpace, and it was a funny prank. >> Samy: It was all fun and came and took everything. the took my laptop, my iPod have anything. didn't have anything months of going to court and to the DA, because of this prank the government told for three years of my life. I don't know what I'll do but just the computer it was >> Zoed: They didn't leave you that was the worst part yeah. that moment that you were the rest of your life? how did that even happen? any of this is applicable in that you could actually like software to make money. when you started this company? I'm assuming, so think you could show us the? I call combo breaker. device, uses an Arduino. actually take this device, it's a combination lock that you have even if it's on something combination lock goes right on will crack the combo, about 30 seconds so I took a drill and I opened it. crack it open. that other people haven't and than other people would. aligned more with like, finding new vulnerabilities. >> Samy: I think for things are insecure purchased them from. the researchers actually looking able to tell the companies, for this is the problem. more than someone else would. thing that helps me is teach people how to hack and doing what he loves. anyone else thinks. hack into my system and movies, I think when you don't you tend to fear it. science for a while and three-year ban from technology all the things he could do. he could also do great super chill, you know? us could have been like computer and that's it. He had the thought of, he was so young too. youth get to him. oh my gosh, they know more than me, but of you can Google anything. so why not? know everything. because I'm [LAUGH] still pretty compared to Natalie and Robin, different states. [LAUGH] California! so beautiful. so that's pretty awesome. the places, the buildings. [LAUGH] It's everything month doing stuff like this. is gonna go by in a blur. to get my PhD and as a woman it's one of those, does things like that? to raise a family as soon as you're less of a woman. I'm doing things wrong. we're gonna interview Carolyn. here at JPL. until this trip, stands for excited cuz robots. is real, guys. you go in the lab and to be a Debbie-downer, but I wish I saw more females. I'm Carolyn Parcheta. a year and a half. loved volcanoes. me as a two year old that I volcanoes and lava and so says, follow your dreams, engineering and physics. go into volcanoes and takes to the surface to erupt. inside the volcano in this type anyone has ever been. the boundaries and is and how volcanoes erupt. done a lot of things, and of this major robot. yeah. >> Carolyn: It basically just an unanswered question. this area on Kilauea looking at erupted, and I kept looking at down there, what's down there. what's down there. interested in something, I gotta know, I gotta know. let's go answer the science one has done before. you're a volcanologist. >> Robin: And a project with robots. >> Robin: How did you project that you're on and? is just ask questions and that you're enthusiastic. wanna help you, the feedback you want, keep asking questions. of robotics on the fly and asking literally a hundred tool do I need to put 3D modeling of parts? an optimistic kind of person. where that stems from. to be brave on some level. to choose how you respond. in getting down or in my opinion, another option forward. you're passionate about, just want to do all the time, every time there's a show on I'm watching it. Geographic does an article, so that was my clue. take steps forward of, okay, today that normally would scare be brave and conquer it today. steps, [LAUGH] it doesn't have climb Mount Everest tomorrow. should be little steps. just like, she was so cool. woman who's so passionate, go into volcanos, right. you probably shouldn't do that. working at NASA, right? confidence issues but just gotta keep pushing has potential for greatness. where I'm constantly being told, it's good enough. good enough? the sky's the limit when there know people are your hero until to all these people, just means more knowledge, go wrong with being exposed this, and trying to soak up, all of the experiences. time I feel like I'm doing this with all of these interviews, more of like a passion for a confidence in what I'm doing. that let's me know that you're doing, it will be okay. an agenda for the next month, thing that going to happen, going to pop up, so was just like, what? that likes spontaneity was just entire trip, I just hope it's going to be a big adventure. I'm ready, the future has in store. tech and innovation. of color within the tech disheartening. pigs, you're the astronauts. working on team coders, and what are you going to work on? be in this industry, and later is going to understand, picked on all the time, and just fit in anywhere? why should you fit? extends beyond this program, anyone define their red in life. learning and attention issues. learning to live with your learning to live in spite of it, it and to celebrate it. a learning disability, it's so there's a disconnect. we're doing a road trip of different people challenges that we might face. the people coming up to me, a good enough teacher. that kind of thing. trip just go everywhere. be open to everything. know all these amazing people these amazing places existed, with a learning disability, to talk about that again, and to tell anyone. forgot that idea, want to be alone. to walk away with is just hope, okay with who I am. about how to get involved, or road visit roadtripnation.com. 

Meet Natalie, Robin, and Zoed, three computer science students from three very different backgrounds, all of which are underrepresented in tech. This season, the team will embark on a cross-country road trip to meet and interview trailblazing leaders in their field. Their journey begins in sunny Los Angeles, where they visit NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and meet infamous computer hacker, Samy Kamkar.

Pumped and Ready

you turn, who to be and what to do. yourself? people to define their own three people from different explore the country interviewing from all walks of life. search of wisdom and actually takes to build a life this is so surreal. excited all at once. this is insane. this is, day seven, keeping a little ticker. tech and innovation. Silicon Valley on TV. number one in San Francisco. bonded in such a short time. furniture, and that was tough. last minute calls, looking at yourself, and am I going to do this forever? going to school part time science major. obviously I'm on a budget, fancy, let's just say that. you would say I kicked into started going full time. kind of relying on me. anything from it either. got to come off. I've known them for feel like just seven days, months or maybe even years. like, it's like sticky hair. use the rough side. like freaking sand paper. interviews, what I hope for might change the way I think. born and raised in LA in a bad at CODE2040 to help black and succeed in technology. nice to meet you. of color within the tech disheartening. family is about $110,000. somewhere around $15 to $20,000. that from 15 to 100,000 is to do Boyle Heights neighborhood. single parent home. me. kind of push through it? who had completed college. what helped push you to school, like in college. that's really the biggest issue gen students is right? you're not just in this bubble. responsibilities with you. and you're thinking, okay, there's not enough food to eat. because they don't have supplies new clothes or anything. to pay bills or to pay rent. I go to school for four years, family doesn't have money. get their financial aid, and or eat ramen, or whatever, you know what I mean? >> Phillip: So that burden, or there within our community. agree with the whole stressful knowing that if you of helping your family. definitely a huge, huge stress. D becomes your family's C or D. if you fail this class, failed your family. doing are the right things. you are making a difference. you're the, not the guinea pigs, going through those hard times. think he really understood where about his background, resonate with you. you were in tears. I told you, I got teary. you know? him right there. family be well off, be good, We bonded after I not this part! she's using the steel wool like I was a car. I don't see any. to tell you it hurt? little extra. this is kind of hectic. >> Natalie: I applaud you. I take the bus everywhere and a lot of anxiety driving. basic things like break left, San Francisco and I feel bad for careful, careful, careful. I drive, that I'm going to leave a wave of destruction. she has been navigating and there, which is really helpful. way to go. >> Natalie: Since I have my still participate. in the green RV, so thing where I'm tiny and that was unnerving. supportive people around to me than I realized. having this kind of support like it and I really like this. Mario carts around the city of that was pretty awesome. this whole opportunity. in all of my classes. people that looked like me, relate to me? we didn't bring anything. money did you have? have much money. >> Maxwell: Yeah. bad things. the three girls, someone to take care of them. me to clean house. maid service. got to school, everyone's like, my parents clean those houses. I respect them so much. these opportunities and advantage of those? Seeing my kids growing and better, better than me, that's what I hope. interview with Laura Gomez. Mexico 50 most powerful woman. company recently called Atipica, underrepresented people first find out about it? in tech. Hispanics represent only 3%- the number one industry that is we don't have that. needs Is to change now. my mom came to United States and the border in a car, men in the trunk. the middle of Silicon Valley. I got my work permit, a permanent resident, and I got in the software development. so I got into tech and and I was the first Latina. localization, which means Twitter into other languages. company, that was hardware. wanted to be an entrepreneur, want to get paid and lose sleep? proven yourself in all those, needed to prove it? code or do this for people, fit the stereotype? said you're the trifecta for a solo founder. color and your woman. how do I feel? how do I feel? Psh. it's going to be embracing me or in this industry and later is going to understand. didn't like being the only to go back into tech after that at this event, someone came up are you Mina's daughter? just so amazing, your mom. an event where I'm seeing That's the thing, right? people that are serving you and children and you don't care to are doing to change this world, one thing I tell people. are going to be amazing. amazed by you. house cleaners, who kinda like understands that see a role model. the tenacity, you're doing, the challenges that you have. off, when you guys all get on going just for you guys. you will be super successful and wealth for your family, for parents, for your communities. to push forward. loyal to your potential. yours, your own. everything. I'm [LAUGH] a mess right now. person, and I'm coming from. to do exactly what she's doing and left with everyone. far. Christmas morning. thought I would be a bit cooler a little extreme. there was power, top of things through things. is one of those, breathe, you don't check your email for everything is happening. we interviewed Sabry and Amy. you guys had this huge thing. >> [LAUGH] >> Robin: I'm Robin. >> Robin: Nice to meet you. leave this with the valets and make a right here what was that? a strange world where I was had it really good and have it good at all. the stereotypical image of ever had people kind of look any kind of way? feeling where people don't know college and I started as a coder team coders and here I come. are you gonna work on? meets a young black man? initially is not positive. think a good thing at first. stereotype, so I didnt accept wanted to label me as. motivated because I want to like I'm just a dumb girl that, gonna be classified in that. I'm actually gonna more awesome totally disregard that you ever a stereotype on that. that in their minds. it really sucks, and three times harder than people in this class. not gonna say I can't do this. I flunked calculus 2. what, six or an engineering degree, right? and there's like, linear, multi variable, dad, I just flunked. thing to say. kids that are dirt poor, and have done better than me. on the phone, and and he said I'm here and what do you want to do now? at that point I learned that real world is like "how do you that can really devastate you?" do you come back? no matter how hard things are or to stereotype you and like don't let that defeat you. and that one little hurdle and totally changed their foot down and I proved myself. no one's gonna get you down. many people out there that they sort of look at you and maybe they don't even do this. are trying to classify you and matters is what you feel. you've felt it all your life. not gonna change. you have had a different life. a extremely hard life. like these people have no I've been through. So, what do you want to do? expect you to be? do better with it? at the time I didn't see it. is to see who you are. define you. yeah you're different. going to have to deal with. find your niche. people like you which is and it's like, wait! the whole point of this. peg fit into this circle and that it doesn't. upset, I was like picked on all why can't I just be normal? in like anywhere? why? okay, have to deal with. are you going to do? hears the word, hacker, good hackers that do it for it's not malicious. more or like, opening my mind to that other people can do. with my iPhone, I was like, brains to control these robots? curious person, and so extends beyond resources to help anyone to interview with Chelsea Clinton. school, I wanted to be a doctor. I actually didn't wanna be something more in public health. really influence whether or health, and whether or opportunity or good job. a community college, or medical school. grateful for now, the Clinton Foundation or ensure that conversations about whether it's about energy, really important. things that we do outside of conversations we have with our that we want to engage in. I really do think of adages easier to remember. to you it's about what you do thing someone's gonna say is no. really terrible thing, not knowing what the answer have no idea how useful what we're gonna do tomorrow. yes to an opportunity because it a door in the future. about how to get involved or road, visit roadtripnation.com. 

The team starts to bond as they drive the Green RV into the heart of Silicon Valley, a major hub for innovation in technology. While there, they talk to Phillip Loya of CODE2040 and Laura Gómez of Atipica about using computer science to advance each of their respective communities. They also visit Netflix HQ, where Sabry Tozin, a first-generation Congolese immigrant, tells them, “Don’t fit in.”

Breaking Down Barriers

you turn, who to be and what to do. yourself? that empowers people to from different backgrounds. country, interviewing inspiring all walks of life. wisdom and guidance to find what life around doing what you love. from San Francisco to Yosemite. break from all of this like, all these things. the water, the rock, the trees. it's pretty much it. finally hitting me because it how dynamic this trip is and places represents. think to really describe that. finished our second week. the end, and it's so sad. would articulate how time moves incredibly fast at times, but seems to drag on, 700 miles to go. which are not good. to reality pretty soon. is you can't talk about DEF CON. going to DEF CON? super excited. kind of idea of what it is. the same thing for me. what DEF CON is because around it got too big for me. I realized, that's it. able to see it all. people, what happened for you, had a different experience. that DEF CON is sort of and you can do nothing but tamper everything, and is like, people telling you then you learn how to bypass it. just for the speeches. socializing. the social engineering. their own little thing. to talk to the experts. big thing is sort of car a lot of smart cars. story contests, and and stuff like that. a safe place where you can be but I feel comfortable there. that I wanted to be in computers that know a lot about computers. to troubleshoot. you know. the security side of it, help people understand security. what it should mean to them. was really cool. whoa, so many hackers. mean people are going to steal wireless connection. who are inspired to push hears the word hacker, again there's that stigma for be dysfunctional because they >> Tim: That's not it, to break things, it works and I'm like are very kind hearted, the greater good. it's not malicious. I had no idea about, kind of freaks me out so much. who code all the time and intimidated by that. these amazing things that specifically within that, the rest of my life. Nevada and Colorado where, lived on reservations out there. surreal trip, it's just nice to all these thoughts of like, butte, dreaming when someone asks, you had a good dream, but that's the same sort of feeling, a bunch of things. permit, I can't drive too much. let's say 11 times ever. and Zoed drive so much. driven, the longest amount almost three hours maybe. after a while. question her skills or less fear in her and just a little bit more. a little more confident. just like baby steps. I can be right now, but when we're in Boulder, was really cool. gyroscope sort of robots and that you can control using apps. was playing with my iPhone. as the brains to control these a better touchscreen and all these sensors. these robots that we're making online and not only was nobody control these robots, but to control anything physical. just go on this straight path. big company and do this. nervous about starting something different ideas like a lot of door locks and lights and stuff. open the garage door. with one of our other mentors, these like hundreds out of these three, what would you do? is the ball. as you can see, ball with my smartphone. what's so great about that? controlled from a smartphone. something that we were but we probably wouldn't be the morning every night. this fun around here, right? industry enough too and a serious game. then we just emphasized it our marketing, everything, fun to make it. just have fun here, point of what we do. to play with these at all? well now it's time to just play. direction you want it to move. why I wanted to come on this it's like to work in like this and they emphasize fun. kart where you ride around, even their product is fun, just kids every day, I don't know. [MUSIC] been really lucky. been successively more fun, so I'm gonna top this. like the hardest problem, correctly where I felt that it environment to kinda challenge to stoke that curiosity, parents who were a minority, speak English. people just weren't as affluent, have that successful because if you don't, failure at that point. always had certainty, right? you're not. when you weren't certain. of hesitation while I'm in and it's called the regret impasse, when you need to make think about your deathbed. think about your deathbed and you would have done with your regretted not doing this thing. not doing that thing, thing you should do. to expect going in there, but house, so that was really cool. fun every day, and very creative, and supported that. away from going into tech in seems like this cold business. is that it's silly and build and take apart things. is a setup like this, markers are in terms of I can an environment like this. little town called Chicago. handled by Zoed. things were awesome. throttle and it was like woo! it was also so freeing, so man, catching air on that thing. down underneath Cloud Gate bean which I really like. out of experiences. get the most out of it is to be then a huge wall. to be as open as possible. interviewees have been very their eyes and, you can do it. you right in the eye and like man, maybe they're right. great things. afraid to just go for it. afraid of the unknown. gonna be in five years but at the same time. empathize and have been where I think that soul searching, I of your lives to figure it out. I didn't even know what 3D to be quite honest. a ton of bricks. and reimagine our futures. it and it made sense to me. us how you came about, school interests. and I grew up in Indiana, and be more different. a road trip, much like you. get to know myself, and I knew I wasn't coming back. parents I was going for I never looked back. moved to Chicago was because didn't want to disappoint them. part of the GLBT community challenging and for no such thing in our culture. had to try to reach, and communication was challenged, but you know, my greatest strength. on me to rely on myself. really I really knew I was. it definitely wasn't easy. strong minded and you're kind of just, through any obstacles. of challenges across the board. are they challenges to you or into opportunities? down, you're going to be up. there's going to be a divot. the experience I can got to try and try and try. you're kind of at peace. gather the courage to do that. your passions and that's kinda really thinking about lately. you give to someone consciously knew that that was until later in life. ideations and business ideas and had a yen for technology. the geek's table asking for how do you build this? person and so I wanted and much I needed to explore and in your heart and what you want. challenge as you go down this across this country and on what is it that's really your eyes, in your gut. the traditional routes. traditional responses. brave, and you can be brilliant. there's a lot of power in that. things for each of you. in all of us, like this is it. about it like to share this with them, or then we got Boston. that's the bad part. what I'm getting the interviews that we have, kind of seize every moment this insecurities about what I was never seen anyone achieve it you guys, you have to give back, to help other people, it's the end of it. you don't wanna leave, I'll miss you guys. extends beyond this program, own road in life. of Ready to Rise, Opportunity Youth. people call us at-risk youth, I don't know about all that. thing right here is where I stuff happens. dealt a very tough hand and move forward, honestly. to go on this road trip that be able to get out of here. breathe fresh air. to be interviewing all sorts of made it through the struggle. they were just gonna be out to be something more. some place that we did not we can choose where we're going. about how to get involved or road visit roadtripnation.com. 

The road-trippers take a much-needed meditative break in Yosemite National Park before continuing on to DEF CON, a Las Vegas conference that dispels some of their misconceptions about “hackers.” Then it’s off to Denver, where the team lets loose at Sphero, a robotics company that puts an emphasis on fun. In Chicago, 3D printer Dima Elissa encourages the team to embrace their unique identities.

Get the Ball Rolling

>> Narrator #1: Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to define their own roads in life. Every summer we bring together three people from different backgrounds. Together they explore the country interviewing inspiring individuals from all walks of life. They hit the road in search of wisdom and guidance to find what it actually takes to build a life around doing what you love. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. [MUSIC] >> Zoed: About to eat worms and crickets. I don't know, I saw them and I said I'd never eat them so they taste like candy, I might actually eat them. Supposed to be barbecue sauce so. [MUSIC] >> Robin: Not bad. >> Natalie: These are pretty good. The crickets I'm scared of. >> Robin: So, crickets. It's the other green meat. >> Natalie: [LAUGH] Gross. >> Natalie: You wanna see its eyes? >> Robin: Look. It's got little eyes. >> Zoed: The cricket, >> Natalie: Ew. [LAUGH] Cheers. >> Robin: Clink. >> Zoed: My goodness. Tastes weird. >> Natalie: Ugh! >> Robin: It's not that bad. It's not bad. >> Natalie: It's just gross thinking about it. Worm takes it. I tried the worms again, they're like chips. >> Zoed: Yeah, the worms are nice. If they weren't so expensive I'd buy them again. [MUSIC] >> Natalie: It's the end of week three. My gosh. Time passed by so fast. >> Robin: So far on the trip all I had to do was put myself a little out there. And people are really nice and people are really accommodating. >> Zoed: Now I'm getting closer and deeper into the computer science field, the people in it, the community. That's very exciting because doors like these don't open often. [MUSIC] >> Robin: So from here, we are actually headed to Philadelphia. It wasn't originally scheduled, but, Zoed really wants to run the rocky stairs. [MUSIC] >> Zoed: Rocky Balboa in the movie runs those stairs in Philadelphia. And those have always been something special to me. >> Natalie: That smile. He's smiling. Aw, Zoey. Zoey's excited. >> Zoed: Rocky. I've watched all the series. Those are all about trials and tribulations. Hard times, you always come out on top. [MUSIC] >> Robin: I'm hoping to just kind of seize every moment that's available this last week. Because I'm not gonna get the chance again. [MUSIC] >> Zoed: Robin, she's always worried about being classified because she's Native. People criticizing her intelligence. >> Robin: I thought maybe along the way I would find other Natives in the field. And there are some, but I didn't find that group. I'm not an other, I'm not. I'm not this idea of what Native is, but I'm also not this idea of what tech is. Who am I? How can I define myself? I want that, I think that's just human nature to fit in, to be part of something. [MUSIC] >> Leader #1: The community I grew up in, my friends, a lot of them, ended up pregnant, a lot of them ended up in jail, a lot of them ended up dead. My vision was always to make it out. In the communities that we're from it's not that people don't want to make it out, I just think that they don't know that they can. [MUSIC] >> Robin: So in, my kind of culture is very traditional. There's kind of a sense of, someone once told me like watch out, you're educating yourself out of your community. Which is really self defeating and I don't think it's good, but that fear is in the back of my head. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm Native enough, and that's always been a struggle. It's like I'm either too Native off the Res, but I'm not Native enough? >> Robin: How do you handle, like what is your, because again, I question like what am I now? [LAUGH] >> Evin: Yeah, you want to go first? >> Jessica: This is crazy. [LAUGH] Evan and I talk about it all of the time, like all of the time. What's the quote? >> Evin: Nas, right? >> Jessica: The rapper. >> [LAUGH] >> Evin: And I may be misquoting. The rapper Nas. He says something like, when you're too hood to fit in the Hollywood circles, but too removed to chill in the hood that birthed you. So it's that intersection where you become in this weird place where you can't fit in here and you can't fit in here. And you're in this mid section. And there's only a select few when you start to kind of break that down, that are actually navigating that environment with you. And that's something that Jessica and I talk about all the time, because I feel that way that sometimes that I'm stuck there too, right. But you can't stop there. If you want to be successful in life you have to understand that everyone has obstacles they have to overcome. And because you are who you are, that makes you more unique than the other individuals that may not sometimes be in that room with you, right. It's because people can tell that you're being genuine, that you are smart, that you can navigate in those competitive environments. But at the same time, you still have your native ways about you that kind of brings that spice. It brings that spice to the dish, right? So I want you guys to kind of get that too. That's what I had to pick up on developing in myself. >> Jessica: And I think also to add to that, with anything new, people don't know, right. And when you don't know about something it's hard for you to be an advocate for something. Sometimes when you're talking about diversity and inclusion and the importance of women in tech and LGBTQA in tech and people of color in tech. I think sometimes you encounter situations where you are talking to people who don't necessarily get it. We can't just talk about it as like, my god, this is so important and you should care about it, right? You need to frame it in the sense of, this is how important it is to your bottom line and this is why you need it to exist by the year 2040. Blacks and Latinos are gonna make the majority of this country. Women make 50% of the employee workforce, yet they represent very little numbers in the tech industry, right? So I think you just have to find ways to motivate people. And that's when you really transition someone from just being a passerby, as opposed to being an ally. >> Natalie: Do you ever have those moments where you feel the pressure. School's really tough, first generation especially, I barely skidded through my freshman year. How do you get through that, I guess? >> Jessica: So I mean, I would say that was exactly what my experiences were like in college. I recognized that I had a lot of insecurities about me and what I was able to achieve. Because I've never seen anyone else achieve it that looked like me, right? But then, I think I came to a point in time where I was like, I need to be that person that I'm looking for. I'm gonna take this opportunity, I'm not gonna make any excuses for myself. And I'm going to be the face for other young Puerto Rican women who are first generation college students who do need to see that there is a place for them in tech. And I know that sometimes carrying that burden, because sometimes it is a burden. It's very difficult but honestly I look at, I'm getting emotional, but I look at like my young nephew and I look at my niece and the fact that she just got her associates and now is going to get an undergraduate degree and said that she did that because of me. Is all of the affirmation I needed and I feel like that was what I realized was the hard work that I needed to put in. Because if she didn't see that then she wouldn't know that it was achievable. So even though I didn't have that person to look to, I realize that I became that person for someone else. And at that very moment that was the game-changing, life-altering moment for me. To know that all of my hard work up to that point meant something. >> Zoed: Thank you. >> Evin: See you soon. >> Zoed: Have a good day, thank you. >> Robin: It seems to be the underlying theme of just don't worry about what other people think of you, like you're different. And if you're different, do something. [MUSIC] I want people excited about tech and I want to see more natives in tech. I don't think people even know tech is an option in my community. [MUSIC] I can't get complacent with what's going on. [MUSIC] What am I doing? Am I actually helping by working with other natives, or spreading what I know to other people? How do I give other people the chance to learn about themselves like I learned? Because this is a feeling that I want other people to feel. This is something that I want other people to know and experience. [MUSIC] >> Jessica: Own your greatness and the things that make your different, and then create a space for other people to flourish in that greatness as well. You guys being fabulous women in tech, and being a fabulous Latino in tech. Always keep in mind the communities that you come from, be proud of those communities. And then create opportunities for people in those communities to share the successes that you have also been able to benefit from. [MUSIC] [LAUGH] >> Natalie: We're going back home to Boston and we're finishing there. At the end of the day you don't want to leave man, they're friends for life for everybody in this RV, at least I think so. >> Robin: So we're getting Zoed to guess? >> Natalie: Yeah. >> [LAUGH] [LAUGH] >> Natalie: And I! >> Robin: Whitney Houston! >> Natalie: The movie, the movie. >> Robin: The movie that she's in. And she's saved by that Kevin Costner. >> Natalie: By the person who protects her, protects her. The Bodyguard! [LAUGH] >> Zoed: That's a good movie, ya'll. >> Robin: This one is Keanu Reeves and he's in a- >> Robin: It's been clicking in all of us, like this is it. That's weird, weird. [MUSIC] >> Natalie:  Boston  We're about to interview Aurelie. She works at MIT, post-doc. Last one! >> Zoed: Last interview, man. This is crazy. >> Natalie: So sad. Come here. I'll miss you guys. >> Zoed: Can't be sad, yet. >> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: First of all, I really believe that what you've done guys, is amazing because you need to know about things. I mean, in my family, nobody has a PhD except me, so nobody really could help me about science, engineering or computer science was like no, totally. [MUSIC] When I was little, I always wanted to learn. I knew about MIT actually when I was seven or eight years old. We didn't really have money to buy a computer at home. And I had my first computer at 18 years old. And I think when I went to college, I was amazed by the knowledge of my professors. So I really wanted to be like them. So I actually graduated from natural science and engineering. I did my undergrad in physics and math, then I did a minor in mechanics, mechanical engineering. So I did many, many different things. But what I'm doing now is that I'm using coding to develop softwares to actually simulate the mechanical response of materials and mostly human tissues. So I work on the brain, on the heart, on bone, so I'm coding in Python and C++ and I love it. >> Robin: Do you find as a woman or even just not coming from a CS background and going into that, was there any sort of hesitation from other people and how did that affect you? >> Aurelie: See, it's very personal because it's about women. Sorry, Zef, I mean, so sorry. >> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: But if you have a girl one day, you know, you will, you won't forget my advice. >> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: Being a woman in computer science, it's not easy. I'm sure it will be easy in like many, many years but not today, not tomorrow. So I graduated from science, you know. In my university, we're not many girls. Among over, maybe, 80 students we were less than ten girls. So, it was tough and we tried to support each other a lot. We met a lot outside the lab, you know, just because we needed to talk to each other about what we felt, you know, about how difficult it was and also about technical stuff. This is what I try here. I try to attract a lot of students, undergraduate girls, who came and I teach them how to code. And they love it, and are more confident. You know. >> Natalie: You jumped into a lot of unknowns throughout your life, and you kind of just tackled them on, very well. Do you have any advice for people who, like I don't really know what's ahead in CompSci, but I'm ready to tackle if. Do you have any advice for that? >> Aurelie: Actually, what you're doing now. Is the thing to do. Which is, trying to talk to people. Trying to be inspired by other people. Trying to see what is possible. Because you don't know what's possible, you know? I don't believe that people are where they are because they decided everything and they knew exactly where to go. If you make a decision, you can still go back to your decision. If you go to grad school and after a year, say, hm, It's not for me. That's okay. There is nothing bad with that. It's an experience. You learn something. So it helps you to be stronger. Don't put too much pressure on you. This is always what I say. Year after year, you will build your self confidence. For instance, you went to computer science because you liked computer science. So you knew about that, you are sure about that. This is a big deal. This is a lot. In the future, you will have more and more self confidence about what you want, about what you like. My advice is be open, you know, listen to people. Try to learn from them, try to see what they did. Which is really important so it gives you ideas. And don't be afraid to jump on any opportunities, and you see if you like it,  and be strong. Really, be strong, because you are good. You are really good. [MUSIC] >> Robin: This trip has been incredible. It's here, it's the end of it, but it's the end of just this one chapter. >> Natalie: It's really just the beginning. Can't believe we're in Boston. I feel like we were having our first interview forever ago. >> Zoed: What was our route? >> Robin: We started in Costa Mesa. >> Natalie: Costa Mesa. Right here. >> Zoed: I can't believe we're gonna be driving this big old thing. >> Natalie: I really miss the water right on the side. [LAUGH] [MUSIC] You could say, I, when on a road trip across the country, but for four weeks I transformed myself in a way, like I spoke to all these amazing people and I've learned so much from them. >> Zoed: Yeah, I came back for Laura. >> Natalie: We saw Laura. >> Zoed: Awesome interview. >> Laura: Stay true and loyal to your potential, not anyone else's, but yours, your own. [MUSIC] >> Natalie: I'm 100% more comfortable in my skin than I was in the beginning of this. I used to be scared. I used to be really scared of the future and like, my gosh, I'm not gonna pass this class, I'm not going to find a good job. I need to provide for my family, this, that, but throughout these four weeks, a lot of people felt the way I felt. [MUSIC] I'm just seeing what makes me happy, instead of trying to fit myself into what makes other people happy, I'm going to find what I'm amazing at doing, and I'm gonna go for it. >> Natalie: To Seattle. >> Zoed: I didn't know what to expect exactly, but we got together to search what's ahead of us. It's the drive, it's the will. It's the struggle. That's what we got in common. >> Andre: You guys are impressive people. The energy to be successful is 100% in you. And technology is gonna enable you to do some things, possibly change the world. But it's not gonna change who you are. What you are, who you are, is enough. You have to do what is in your heart. It will carry you to precisely where you need to go. >> Natalie: Earlier on, I was like, I love computer science. But with this trip, I realize I can't just say I love computer science cuz there's so much that it has to offer. I want to explore more of what, specifically, within that, I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. >> Robin: And that's a great thing that this trip has shown, there's so many other avenues in tech than just coding. Like, coding is just a small fraction of what you can do in tech and what's possible. That's really exciting. And we went in Lake Michigan. >> Zoed: How do you drive a jet ski? To Now. >> Robin: Yeah. 16 states. That's crazy. >> Aurelie: What you've done, guys, is amazing because you need to meet with people. You need to talk to people. You need to be inspired. Ask questions and be curious. Because if you face a challenge, you're not the only one who faced this challenge. So the next step for you guys, you have to give back and talk to other people to help other people, which is really important. Next time, if someone, even a high school kid, comes to you and asks you any question about, how is my college? How can I choose my place? What do I do? Which major do I choose? Take some time to talk to him or her because that. Also, don't stop talking to each other. I want you to keep in touch. I want you to meet every year if you can, you know? And, bring new people and try to build something. >> Zoed: We're leaving right back to the challenges, right back to the hard parts, but I know I'm moving forward. I've gotten so much motivation out of the journey, adventure, of computer science. And I hope my son does see it one day, and I hope he gets inspired by it, at least even a fraction of what I got out of it. It's definitely changed my life forever. >> Natalie: In the beginning I was hoping that, by the end of this trip, I would make a group of friends that weren't just friends, but my family. And I feel like I have that. We've all left the doors open for each other. >> Robin: Natalie and Zoed are two of the kindest, open, sweetest people I know. This trip was made awesome by the two of them. I really do care about them, and I know that, it's not that I hope, I know that they'll do great. I know it. >> Zoed: Ladies. >> Zoed: I am going to cry, it's okay. >> [LAUGH] >> Zoed: Wow. [MUSIC] >> Natalie: When I'm older and I look back on this, I wanna be like, wow, this trip helped me realize that it's okay to be me. And as long as I'm doing what I love and I love myself, it's fine and, ah I'm so excited for  the future. [MUSIC] >> Narrator #2: Roadtrip Nation extends beyond this program. Online you'll find a video library containing thousands of stories from the road. Here's a snapshot of an interview from this trip you can find online. >> Julie: There was a philosopher or something who said, the more you learn, the more learn how little you know. Life is hard where you are, right? It's hard to make decisions about what's next for you. There's no straight path from where you are today to, for example, where I am. My road has been up and down and back and forth. And I have made different choices along the way. We always think maybe there's just a straight path from here to there. There's where I want to go and I'm going to go straight down there. And it doesn't always work that way. And I think for you hearing all the stories of people I hope that you've learned that people have to make different choices and experience all on the way. And you just always have to true back to who you are and that's where you'll draw your passion and you'll decide where to go next. I would love to be able to tell you that I had all this great wisdom and tell you exactly how your life is going to progress from here. I think for me, the most important thing is what is your moral compass? What do you believe in? How would you write your story, at the end of your life, that would make you proud? Life will throw things at you constantly. Some of the choices will be easy, and some of them will be hard. But I just always think at the end of the day true back to who you are and you'll be fine. [MUSIC] >> Narrator #3: To learn more about how to get involved or to watch interviews from The Road, visit roadtripnation.com. [MUSIC] 

The final week of the trip begins in New York, where the team sits down with the co-founders of New York on Tech, an organization providing tech-based training to low-income students in Brooklyn. The last leg of the journey takes the Green RV to Boston, Natalie’s hometown. After conducting their final interview at MIT, the team reflects on the friendships and lessons they’ll take home with them.

The Door's Wide Open

with me and science class in high school. [LAUGH] And then me and shirt in the middle. look like me, that could actually relate? understanding magic, how magic works. the program that's happening. works in the technology industry. where to go with tech, is something that I really want to do. the next step would be. driving this big old thing. we're going on a road trip across the US. successful and they're minorities as well. in computer science. is a little bit of insight, that might change the way I think. like a passion for computer science, and and you can get traditional responses, or and you can be brilliant. listen to what speaks to you. failures, get them, embrace them both, but gonna define your own happiness and has kind of made me excited energy to be successful is 100% in you. enable you to do some things, if you desire to do that. who you are is enough. 

An Interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Code Trip Trailer

We get to Seattle and we're able to see Microsoft headquarters so to go to the, they call it the garage there. &gt;&gt; So what we try and do is provide a place that people could come in and start working on a project. We have everything here at their disposal. All kinds of robotics and different trays and bins and places to solder. &gt;&gt; Sensors and this and that. &gt;&gt; Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Every one of these little drawers has like a different sensor, or different electronic component that people [INAUDIBLE] &gt;&gt; It's like a big toy chest. [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; So you wanna get something done? &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Well, if I may, I just wanna start off with your upbringing. How was it growing up? &gt;&gt; I grew up a middle class kid in the middle of India, in a city called Hyderabad. And growing up in the late 70s, this was pre-satellite television, pre-Internet connectivity, obviously. And west of Bombay, or Mumbai, didn't exist for me, quite frankly. So in some sense you could say it was pretty insular, but it also in some sense let me discover for myself what my passions were. I joined grad school as an electrical engineering major. I remember the first class I took was an image processing class. I didn't quite frankly do a lot of programming prior to that. A lot of those skills, I started late. I mean, success didn't come easy for me. It was not, at 25, clear that I would ever make it beyond the first level job at any company. So the first issue I had, perhaps, was that level of confidence. &gt;&gt; We're talking about confidence and stuff, but how did you get that confidence? You're going into the world of tech. [LAUGH] How did that come about? &gt;&gt; I've at least taken the posture in my own life and my attitude, quite frankly, is to say, look, let's just stay on more the side of I don't know it all. And that actually has, in the long run, worked out better for me. I never stop learning, which I think came because of that. Which was not that line between confidence and over confidence perhaps, to say well I've gotta get better, I gotta get better, I gotta get better. &gt;&gt; What was your biggest sacrifice? I'm sure that, we've done sacrifices, I'm sure you've had to have some tough decisions. &gt;&gt; I don't know if it's a sacrifice because I think it's a choice you make. It's an interesting way you phrase it, which is it's sacrifices or is it choices you make, and all choices have hardship associated with it. The choice to go to the unknown, come to the US, would have been more risky a thing to do during that time. To not take the sort of TA ship, and just stay in India and work in India, what have you. But I gave up a lot. Especially, I was the only child for my parents, and so therefore there was a big draw to stay back. You make those choices because you wanna get better. You wanna have better experiences. That gives me so much satisfaction, more than anything else, and that drives me. You all absolutely are passionate about getting more people into computer science from the underrepresented communities. So that's an awesome place for you to be in. You do need to to sort of really have that passion in what you're doing. Where you are loving what you're doing, and you're doing what you love. [MUSIC] 

Three computer science students embark on a road trip to meet leaders in the field who, like them, come from underrepresented backgrounds.

Web Exclusive

Jobs in computer science are increasing, but the number of young women and minorities entering the field isn’t. So we teamed up with Microsoft to make a documentary series about the trailblazing women and minorities who are raising the bar of innovation by contributing their diverse perspectives, fresh ideas, and distinct voices to the computer science revolution. Follow the journey of three students as they meet with computer science leaders from different backgrounds and learn that inclusion is vital not only in creating better technology—but a better future for us all.

Code Trip Wrap-Up Event

Matt Carroll of the MIT Media Lab

Times Square

Nikki Kaufman, founder of Normal

Jessica Santana and Evin Robinson of New York on Tech

Exploring Manhattan.

Conquering the Rocky Steps

The entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Cloud Gate in Millenium Park

Dima Elissa of VisMed-3D

Chicago, Illinois.

The Green RV & The Perseid Meteor Shower

During a long stretch of driving.

Amara Poolswasdi of Sphero

Taking a break in Colorado

Donkey X-ing

En route to Colorado

The Fremont Street Experience

En route to Las Vegas

Laura Gómez, founder of Atipica

On the way to Yosemite

Yosemite National Park

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft

Microsoft HQ

Microsoft Makers Lab 

After a quick flight, we're in Seattle, WA!

Taking a ride on The Seattle Great Wheel!

Exploring Pike's Place Market.

Pike's Place Market Gum Wall

Ready for a GoCar tour.

Exploring San Francisco on a GoCar

Netflix HQ

Alex Cattron & Phillip Loya of CODE2040

En Route to San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge

Samy Kamkar's workspace.

World famous hacker Samy Kamkar!

Thelma, the RV, is pretty comfy!

Behind the scenes, interviewing at JPL

The lovely Maria Burns Ortiz of 7 Generation Games!

Santa Monica Pier.

Plotting out the route.

Nearing our first interview!

First Day!

Forget the tech stereotypes. We’re sending computer science students on a journey to interview the inspiring minorities who are changing the tech landscape—and the world as we know it.

Increasing representation in the world of coding

Code Trip Roadtrip

Code Trip Roadtrip

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

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