C2.1 Exploring Personal Narratives & Building Bridges

Image of girls and women using technology.

Level 2 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson.
Discover Your Narrative & Start Building Bridges

1. In what areas of your life or career do you already use technology? Explore how tech tools or skills naturally fit into your daily routine or work. Identify areas where you already feel comfortable.
2. What skills have you developed over time that could transfer into a tech career? List both hard skills (like data analysis or writing) and soft skills (like communication or problem-solving). How could these skills connect to a tech role?
3. If you could use technology to solve one problem in your community, what would it be? Consider a specific need or challenge. Think about how tech could bring solutions or positive changes.

Explore Your Narrative & Begin Building Bridges Through Non-Tech Experiences

1. What roles do you find yourself naturally taking on in a group setting? Whether it’s as a leader, organizer, or listener, consider how this role reflects your strengths and how these might apply to collaborative tech environments.
2. What non-tech skills have you cultivated that you think make a difference in your work or relationships? List things like empathy, creativity, or problem-solving. Think about how these qualities add value to your interactions and career, even outside of a tech role.
3. Describe a time when you created something that positively impacted others. Whether it was a piece of writing, art, or an organized event, think about what you built, how it connected people, and the unique perspective you brought to it.

Lesson 2: Exploring Personal Narratives & Building Bridges
Objective: To reflect on personal narrative, identify transferable skills, and develop strategies for building connections within tech communities.

1. Reflect on Your Unique Perspective: Use the Level 2 prompts to define what role you naturally play in group settings, non-tech skills that make a difference in your life, and times when you’ve created something impactful. Describe a time when you created something that had a positive impact on others. What non-tech skills do you bring to your work or relationships?​ What roles do you naturally take on in a group setting?
2. Owning Your Narrative: Reflect on how your unique perspective, experiences, and strengths can help create bridges in the tech world. Think about how you can use your background to foster connection and build diverse spaces in tech.
3. ChatGPT Prompt Generation: Use your answers to create a prompt for ChatGPT that will help you explore how to integrate your personal narrative and bridge-building skills into tech. Example: “ChatGPT, based on my skills in [list skills] and my experience in [describe impactful creation], what are some ways I could leverage these to build bridges and foster connection in a tech-related field?”
4. Connect with Role Models: Search LinkedIn and Instagram for women in tech roles that emphasize connection, community building, or storytelling. Consider following people with roles like “Community Manager,” “Digital Content Strategist,” or “Social Impact Technologist.” Reach out or follow these individuals to learn how they use personal narratives to create impact.