Day 1: An Imposter Among Imposters
When I first heard that I would be going to Grace Hopper with the Duke Computer Science department, I was ecstatic. At the moment, I did not know the magnitude of the conference or the opportunity I had just availed, but I was excited to learn all about it. However, in the last two weeks leading up to the conference, my excitement turned into nervousness and eventually dread. Everyone was posting about the interviews they had scheduled, the company after parties they would be attending, and all the preparation they had already put into making the most of the conference.
I had my share of events and interviews lined up for the week as well, however, I could not help but think that I was missing out on something important. With every minute being lined up with an amazing learning/networking experience, the thought of attending Grace Hopper overwhelmed me. After scrolling through uncountable articles on what to expect, pack, and do at GHC, I was ready to embark; two full suitcases and numerous Google Docs notes accompanying me.
On the morning of 26th September, I walked up to meet the 20 amazing women I’d be traveling with, expecting my imposter syndrome to skyrocket. However, as we began discussing our expectations and feelings going into Grace Hopper, I suddenly felt much calmer. Everyone seemed to be coming in with high stress levels and uncertainty, each of us fighting the same battles. The sense of community and support I received from my peers and the CS Department staff members brought back the initial excitement I had for my trip to Orlando. With some girls giving me great advice on how to approach and interview with companies they had previously worked at, and others lighting the mood by planning out fun activities to do during our time here, I was able to let go of the continuous pressure to do it all.
Once we landed in Orlando, we picked up our badges, mapped the layout of various booths at the convention center, and planned out what we wanted our next few days to look like. At the end of the day, we grabbed a hearty dinner — burritos, fajitas, tacos, warm conversation, and laughter filling our tables. I’m now ready to walk into Grace Hopper, seeking not only professional development opportunities, but also new connections and experiences.
