Ask Me Anything (AMA)

Sometimes making a lot of money and then donating your resources to organizations you care about is a really amazing way to make a difference! But also, wanting to know that your work itself is benefiting the world at large is real.  Students are often drawn to thinking about the nonprofit sector when they're interested in making a difference with their computing work, but there are other places that are good for this too.  Do your research on companies when you're thinking about where you might like to end up - What are their values? Do they live there? Do their employees live them? What is the work/life balance like?
Besides just nonprofits in general, I'd encourage you to look at smaller companies, those that work in education or healthcare, government areas, and startups that are filling needs in the world.

I wish people in CICS knew that stuff like this - depression, anxiety, relationship issues, family issues - happens to everyone!  And I wish that we felt more comfort in talking about it.  Sometimes just knowing that someone else has gone through it can help you to feel less alone.
I think we get messages in society that everyone picks "the one" job, "the one" best partner for them, and sticks with that situation forever, and if you don't you've failed somehow.  And that's absolutely not true!

There's a new student organization called COST that is great to get involved in for CS-related volunteering!
But I'd also say, don't limit yourself to just volunteering in CS.  Spending time with places like the Amherst Survival Center or in early childhood education centers (the more 'traditional' volunteering experience) can really open your eyes to what else is out there - and what CS-related needs nonprofits might have!

I think building community is amazing, especially for folks underrepresented in tech (shoutout to the Tapia Conference too!).  The event that convinced me I could actually be in computer science was the Ohio Celebration of Women In Computing - a regional spinoff of Grace Hopper - it made such a huge impact on me to see that I wasn't the only woman or the only queer woman in computer science in my area!