 Identifying Our Non-Negotiables Early OnQuestion:
"You posed a brilliant question to your listeners: ‘What do you need to let go of in order to move on up, and what’s non-negotiable for you?’ As early-stage learners who are eager to accept new opportunities, internships, or free resources to get our foot in the door, what are some core ‘non-negotiables’ you believe young Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women should always protect when entering new academic or professional spaces?" Dr. Renée’s Response: This is such a powerful question because when you are just starting out, opportunity can feel urgent. When you are eager to gain experience, build your résumé, secure an internship, or finally get access to spaces that once felt out of reach, it can seem like you must say yes to everything. Yes to every unpaid role. Yes to every request. Yes to every environment, even when it does not feel right. But I want to offer you this truth early: not every open door is meant to be walked through at the cost of yourself. There is a difference between being flexible and being erased. During my own doctoral journey, I had to learn that balance. I was willing to revise, adapt, and cut nearly 30 pages from my dissertation prospectus so the work could become clearer and stronger. That was flexibility in service of excellence. However, when I received feedback suggesting I use a “more homogeneous sample” rather than focusing on Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women, I immediately said no. Why? Because the diversity of our lived experiences in technology was the heartbeat of the research. To erase that complexity would have been to erase the purpose itself. That was non-negotiable. So for those entering new academic, digital, or professional spaces—especially those carrying ambition, responsibilities, and the hope of changing your family’s future—here are some core non-negotiables I believe you must protect. 1. Protect your cultural identity and your way of seeing the world. You do not have to shrink yourself to fit into someone else’s definition of professionalism. Your background is not a weakness. It is wisdom. Your bilingualism, your community instincts, the way you solve problems, your storytelling, your style, your resilience, your ability to navigate multiple worlds—these are strengths. Do not let any institution convince you that success requires you to leave your culture at the door. You were not meant to become invisible in order to belong. 2. Protect your right to ask questions and take up space. Many talented people from underestimated communities are taught to stay quiet until they “know enough.” I reject that notion. One of my personal mantras is: “I did it because I can.” That means trusting your ability to learn as you go, adapt when needed, and respond to new information with courage. It also means refusing to confuse silence with competence. If you are in a difficult class, a new internship, a boardroom, or any room where you feel intimidated, remember this: Your curiosity belongs there. Your voice belongs there. Your questions belong there. Seeking clarity is not weakness. It is wisdom. 3. Protect your boundaries, privacy, and peace. We often talk about gaining access—access to tools, platforms, internships, mentors, and networks. But access without protection can become exploitation. You are allowed to ask:
Free is not always free. Prestige is not always peace. Your boundaries are not barriers to success. They are how you sustain it. 4. Protect your connection to community. As you grow, do not let ambition isolate you. My work is deeply grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu: “I am because we are.” Your success is not separate from the people who poured into you, prayed for you, encouraged you, or made sacrifices so you could rise. Stay connected to your roots. Share what you learn. Lift as you climb. Celebrate others on the way up. Individual achievement means more when it contributes to collective healing and possibility. For those trying to move forward without losing themselves: You may need to stretch. You may need to learn new systems. You may need to grow beyond old limits. But you do not need to betray yourself to advance. Read that again. Liberation Lens Reminder: The goal is not just to enter the room. The goal is to remain whole once you get there. Reflect Mode: What is one boundary, value, or part of your identity that you need to name now as non-negotiable before your next opportunity arrives?
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 Persisting Through the “Messy Middle” of the DIY HustleQuestion:
"Passing your prospectus was a major milestone, but you noted that the journey requires intense persistence to keep ‘moving on up.’ For motivated students balancing heavy course loads, side projects, and searching for scholarships on a tight budget, the hustle can lead to burnout. What practical strategies do you use to keep your momentum and stay grounded when the process feels exhausting?" Dr. Renée’s Response: This is such a real and important question because the messy middle is where many dreams get tested. The beginning of a journey often comes with excitement. The finish line carries celebration. But the middle? The middle is where deadlines pile up, money feels tight, energy runs low, and progress can feel invisible. It is where burnout quietly tries to move in. I know that space well. I know what it feels like to balance a full-time job, internships, academic demands, and financial pressure while trying to build something bigger than your current circumstances. It took me seven years to complete my Ph.D., and that journey required more than ambition—it required intentional pacing, self-respect, and endurance. So if you are someone carrying responsibilities while trying to grow, please know this: you do not need to destroy yourself to become yourself. Here are some of the practical ways I stayed grounded and kept moving forward. 1. Give yourself permission to go part-time if needed. There is a myth that success must happen fast to be valid. That is not true. During the fall of my junior year as an undergraduate student, I attempted to take 17 credit hours of demanding science courses all at once. The pressure became so intense that it affected my health, and I had to withdraw to recover. That experience taught me a lifelong lesson: pace matters. Later, while completing my master’s and Ph.D. degrees while working full-time, I intentionally took only two classes per semester. I respected my limits instead of performing urgency. Slow progress is still progress. A delayed timeline is not a denied future. Sometimes the strongest move is choosing sustainability over speed. 2. Schedule sacred time to do absolutely nothing. When you are dependable and driven, people may expect you to always be productive. Sometimes you may expect that from yourself. But constant output without restoration creates emptiness. During my doctoral program, I made Saturdays my recovery day. No papers. No deadlines. No guilt. Sometimes I would enjoy brunch, rest, watch television, or simply exist without producing anything. That kind of rest is not laziness. It is maintenance. Your mind needs silence. Your body needs softness. Your spirit needs room to breathe. 3. Let other parts of you live. Rest does not always mean sleep. Sometimes rest means activating another side of yourself. When I became drained by endless reading, writing, and academic intensity, I turned toward hands-on creative projects around my home—painting murals, installing fixtures, working with my hands, building beauty in physical spaces. You might sing. Dance in the kitchen. Garden. Color. Cook something from memory. Learn a craft. Write poetry no one has to grade. When one part of you is overworked, let another part of you shine. You are more than your deadlines. 4. Break overwhelming goals into small, winnable steps. Sometimes exhaustion is not only physical—it is psychological. Looking at a massive to-do list can make the mind freeze. When that happened, I learned to break large projects into smaller tasks and mix in quick wins. Send one email. Read two pages. Organize one folder. Edit one paragraph. Submit one application. Momentum often returns through movement. Do not underestimate the power of crossing off one small thing. Sometimes one completed step can restart belief. And yes—celebrate the small wins. They are not small when they were hard to do. For those building while tired, stretching dollars, and carrying more than people can see: You are allowed to slow down. You are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to take fewer classes. You are allowed to protect your peace while pursuing your goals. You are allowed to succeed without constant suffering. The path may be slower than you hoped, but slower does not mean lesser. Liberation Lens Reminder: Grinding is not the only path to growth. Rest, strategy, and pacing are forms of wisdom too. Reflect Mode: What part of your current hustle needs adjustment right now: your pace, your expectations, your schedule, or your self-compassion?  I’m Curious About Tech, But I Don’t Fit the “Traditional Tech Girl” Mold. How Do I Find My Lane?Question:
"I’m interested in technology, but I don’t see myself as a coder or someone who fits the typical image of a tech professional. I have interests in other areas too. How can I find a path that makes sense for me?" Dr. Renée’s Response: That is such an important question, and it gets to the heart of why I designed my dissertation study the way I did. When many people hear the phrase tech career, society often defaults to the image of a Silicon Valley coder or software engineer. But the truth is, almost every field today is a technology-saturated industry. You do not need a computer science degree to recognize that technology is all around you—or that you can lead within those spaces. If you look at my own journey, it has been deeply interdisciplinary. I earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, worked in accounts payable and receivable, became a high school biology teacher, and later transitioned into roles as an instructional technologist, grant administrator, and associate director. I did not take a traditional tech route. What I recognized early, however, was that education itself is a technology-rich field. Because I stayed curious, learned the tools, and helped others use them, I naturally carved out my own lane. That is the reminder I want to offer you: there is more than one pathway into tech-informed work. 1. Embrace your intersections and refuse to shrink yourself. Many people have been taught to believe they must choose one identity, one talent, or one lane. That is simply not true. In one of my AI literacy workshops, we explored interests in biology, technology, and art. By exploring those intersections, we uncovered possibilities such as biomedical illustration and user experience research in health and biotech spaces. Your interests may be writing and technology. They may be healthcare and design. They may be organizing, education, beauty, business, or storytelling combined with digital tools. You do not have to shrink yourself to fit one category. Your intersections may be the very source of your future opportunities. 2. Focus on the problem you want to solve, not just the title you want to hold.Technology is ultimately a tool. The deeper question is: How do you want your work to serve people? Do you care about educational access? Healthcare equity? Environmental justice? Mental wellness? Community storytelling? Economic mobility? When you stop seeing tech as only coding and start seeing it as a set of tools for solving meaningful problems, your lane becomes clearer. Titles may change over time, but purpose creates direction. 3. Use AI as a thinking partner to explore possibilities you may not yet see. If your path still feels unclear, use generative AI tools thoughtfully as brainstorming partners. Share your interests, strengths, lived experiences, and values. Ask for career ideas that blend your passions with growing digital opportunities. You can use AI to:
For those who have ever felt “too layered” to fit one box: Your many interests are not confusion. They may be evidence of range. Your nonlinear path is not failure. It may be preparation. Your curiosity is not random. It may be pointing you toward a future others have not yet named. Liberation Lens Reminder: You do not need permission from a traditional gatekeeper to build meaningful work in a digital world. Reflect Mode: What themes keep showing up across your interests, talents, and lived experiences? That pattern may be the beginning of your lane.  The Fine Line Between Taking Feedback and Compromising Your VisionQuestion:
"You talked about receiving heavy feedback on your prospectus and having to change your main research question from ‘why’ to ‘what are the perspectives.’ As DIY learners, we are constantly seeking feedback to improve our digital portfolios, resumes, or projects. How do we know when we should be flexible and adapt to critique, versus when we need to stand our ground on something that is non-negotiable for us?" Dr. Renée’s Response: This is an excellent question, especially for those who are self-directed, resourceful, and trying to build something meaningful while balancing real-life responsibilities. When you are teaching yourself new skills, updating your résumé after work hours, building a portfolio on a budget, or creating opportunities without a clear roadmap, feedback can feel deeply personal. Your work often represents sacrifice, resilience, and hope for something better. That is why one of the most important skills a DIY learner can develop is learning how to separate helpful feedback from feedback that asks you to abandon yourself. When I was working through my dissertation prospectus defense, I received substantial feedback that required me to revise my main research question. Initially, I asked: “Why do Latinas and Black women engage their digital literacies?” My advisors explained that using the word “why” suggested uncovering hidden motivations. They recommended reframing the question to: “What are the perspectives of Latinas and Black women on their digital literacies?” That may seem like a small wording shift, but it was significant. It made the question more accurate, more respectful, and better aligned with hearing participants describe their own experiences in their own voices. Most importantly, the feedback changed the tool—not the mission. My purpose remained the same: to center the voices of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women navigating technology-rich spaces. The critique did not erase the heart of the work. It sharpened how I could carry it out. That kind of feedback is valuable. How do you know when to adapt versus stand firm? Ask yourself this question: Is this feedback improving my clarity—or asking me to erase my core?Be flexible when feedback helps with clarity:
Stand your ground when feedback threatens your core:
For those building from grit, faith, creativity, and limited resources: You may need to revise the format, but you do not need to revise your worth. You may need to update the strategy, but you do not need to abandon the vision. You may need to refine the presentation, but you do not need to erase your story. Sometimes wisdom means adjusting the route. Sometimes wisdom means refusing to leave the road you were called to travel. Liberation Lens Reminder: Feedback should help you grow, not disappear. Reflect Mode: Think about a recent critique you received. Did it improve your clarity—or challenge your core? |
AuthorThis blog post was created through a collaborative effort, incorporating valuable insights from Dr. Jordan and contributors, prompt engineering and editing by Dr. Jordan, and the assistance of NotebookLM, Janiyah GPT and Gemini for generating and refining content. Archives
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