Meet April S. (she/her), a New Face of Tech winner who is studying electrical engineering and neuroscience at Valencia College.

What is your dream?

My dream is to one day start my own neurotechnology or biotechnology company. That dream is always evolving as I keep learning, but it has stayed rooted in the same idea. I want to build technologies that improve how people experience health, learning, and the world around them.

I grew up very interdisciplinary in my interests. I have always loved both science and art, and I never saw them as separate. The creative side of design and the analytical side of science both feel natural to me. Because of that, I hope to continue studying in graduate school in a field that allows me to combine these interests, whether that is through neurotechnology, biomedical engineering, or a program such as an MD-PhD where research and medicine intersect.

Please share how you feel about the win and what impact it will have on your career.

It is a tremendous honor, and I am beyond grateful for the support and encouragement from this program. This funding will help me continue pursuing my educational goals and also support the personal technology projects I have been building. I plan to use it carefully and responsibly to invest in tools, materials, and learning opportunities that will help me grow as a young technologist.

What advice do you have for other women reaching for their dreams?

One rule I have lived by all my life is to never, EVER, compare your journey to someone else’s! Everyone’s background/upbringing is different, and everyone starts from a different place. If comparing yourself to others is something that makes you feel discouraged, try to quiet that noise ratio. Focus and be largely consumed of pursuing your own life to its fullest potential.

It is normal to doubt yourself a lot. It is normal to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or unsure about what you are doing. Those moments pass. What matters is that you keep going and keep believing that your work matters, even when you have no one to counsel you. Sometimes you have to be the one who keeps your own spirit alive.

Take care of yourself along the way. Spend time outside, work with your hands, practice your skills, and keep learning. Try not to stay trapped in your head excessively worrying about the future and how others see you. It’s fugazi! Fake pressure. The most important thing is to keep making progress on work that feels meaningful to you.