 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?  Q: What do you need to yield to in order to move on up, and what is non-negotiable?
A: There’s a tension that doesn’t get talked about enough… The tension between climbing the ladder and keeping your soul intact while you do it. If you’re navigating academic or professional spaces where excellence is expected—but cultural authenticity feels optional—this is for you. Because at some point, you will be asked—directly or indirectly: What are you willing to adjust to move forward? And what will you refuse to give up? That’s not just a career question. That’s an identity decision. During my Ph.D. prospectus defense, I faced this exact tension. To move forward, I had to make significant changes:
Those were not easy decisions. But they were strategic compromises. They strengthened my methodology. They clarified my argument. They changed the how—but not the why. Then came a different kind of feedback: A suggestion to use a “more homogeneous sample” to simplify the study. And I knew immediately—that was a line I would not cross. Because centering the diverse, lived experiences of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women in technology… That wasn’t just part of my research. That was the purpose. And compromising that wouldn’t have made my work stronger--it would have made it incomplete. So how do you navigate that balance? Here’s the framework I want you to carry with you: 1. Protect your “Why,” flex your “How” If feedback helps you improve delivery—structure, clarity, efficiency—stay open. But if it asks you to dilute:
That’s not refinement. That’s redirection. And you get to decide if that aligns. 2. Create a “Not Right Now” strategy Not every idea needs to be executed immediately to be valuable. When I cut those 30 pages, I didn’t erase them—I archived them. Because brilliance doesn’t disappear. It evolves. It finds another entry point. Your ideas still have a future—even if they’re not needed in this moment. 3. Move like a strategist, not just a perfectionist Your journey will require adjustment. Think of it like a jam session--you listen, adapt, and respond in real time. But you never stop playing your instrument. You don’t abandon your sound. You learn when—and how—to bring it in. You do not have to choose between ambition and authenticity. They were never meant to be separated. You can evolve, adapt, and grow--without breaking the core of who you are. Reflect with me: What is one adjustment you’ve made recently that helped you move forward--without compromising your deeper purpose? Let’s talk in the comments 👇🏾 Explore more inside Black-Liberation.Tech (Menu → Podcast | Lessons → Careers)  Q: For women navigating academic or corporate spaces, how do we confidently defend our culturally grounded visions when institutions push us to conform or narrow our focus?
A: There’s a particular kind of weight that comes with striving for excellence in academic or professional spaces—especially when you’re asked to shrink your vision to fit someone else’s definition of “rigor” or “standard.” If you’ve ever been in that position… this is for you. During my dissertation process, I received feedback suggesting that I consider using a “more homogeneous sample” to simplify my research. The implication? That centering the diverse experiences of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women might make the work too complex. I had to pause… and make a decision. I chose to say, respectfully and clearly: “No.” Because I knew this: We are not a homogeneous group. And simplifying our experiences for the sake of comfort or tradition is not rigor—it’s erasure. I wasn’t studying “traditional” computer scientists. I was centering everyday women navigating technology-rich spaces—bringing culture, identity, and lived experience into environments that often overlook them. And I refused to participate in the very exclusion I was trying to dismantle. So how do you hold your ground when institutions ask you to conform? Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. Define your non-negotiables early Flexibility will take you far—but not at the cost of your values. When you’re clear on what you will not compromise, boundaries become easier to hold. Ask yourself: What is essential to who I am and the impact I want to make? 2. Treat your perspective as an asset—not an obstacle Your lived experience is not a limitation. It is data. Insight. Innovation. When you advocate for inclusion—whether in research, leadership, or design—you are strengthening the work. Not complicating it. 3. Learn the power of a grounded, confident “No” You can honor expertise and hold your position. You can be collaborative and culturally anchored. A thoughtful “no” is not resistance—it’s leadership. You do not have to shrink to succeed. You can be rigorous and culturally grounded. You can be excellent and expansive. You can belong without becoming someone else. Reflect with me: What is one idea, vision, or value you’ve had to defend in your academic or professional journey? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your story. Explore more inside Black-Liberation.Tech (Menu → Podcast | Lessons → Careers)  When the Classroom Isn’t Enough: How DIY Girlies Advocate for Themselves
A Real Talk Guide for the DIY Girly in the Room It’s 11:47 p.m. Your laptop screen glows in the dark while the rest of the house sleeps. Three browser tabs are open: a YouTube tutorial, a forum thread, and a PDF of your textbook. You’ve paused the video for the fourth time. Your notebook is full of arrows, stars, and question marks. You’re trying—really trying—to understand this concept before tomorrow’s class. But earlier that day, when the teacher explained it, something didn’t click. And now you’re sitting there wondering: Was it me? Did everyone else get it? If I ask again, will they think I wasn’t paying attention? So instead of asking, you open another tab. You search again. You teach yourself. If this scene feels familiar, you might be what I call a DIY Girlie—someone who refuses to let confusion stop her, even when the system doesn’t give her everything she needs. And here’s the truth: That instinct to figure things out for yourself is not a weakness. It’s a superpower. But even superpowers need strategy. So let’s talk about something many DIY learners struggle with: How do you advocate for yourself without getting labeled as “difficult”? Q: If my teacher or institution isn’t providing what I need, how do I advocate for myself without getting labeled as difficult? A: First, I want you to take a deep breath and hear this clearly: The fear of being labeled “difficult” is incredibly common. So many students—especially high-achieving, thoughtful students—stay silent because they don’t want to look like they’re complaining. But let’s redefine something together. Being “difficult” doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes it simply means you’re asking the questions that disrupt silence. When a class isn’t giving you what you need, I actually want you to become what I call a constructively challenging student. Not confrontational. Not disrespectful. But curious enough to refuse silence. Because silence helps no one—not you, and not the next student who will struggle with the same concept. Step 1: Show Up With Receipts One of the most powerful things a DIY learner can do is show up with evidence of effort. Never walk into a professor’s office empty-handed. Bring your work. Bring your notes. Bring your attempts. Imagine saying something like: “I read the textbook section, watched these two tutorials, and here are the notes I took. I’m still confused about this part—could you help me figure out where I went off track?” That small shift changes everything. Now you’re not a student complaining. You’re a student collaborating. And educators respect that energy. Because it shows you’re not asking them to do the work for you—you’re asking them to help you refine the work you’ve already started. That’s exactly what strong learners do. Step 2: Let the Rubric Do the Talking Sometimes advocating for yourself feels emotional. But you don’t have to rely on emotion at all. Your syllabus and grading rubric are actually some of the most powerful tools in the classroom. Think of the rubric as a map to the highest grade possible. Instead of saying: “I’m confused.” Try framing your question around the learning goal: “According to the rubric, the highest score requires demonstrating this skill. I want to make sure I’m moving in the right direction—could you look at my outline and let me know if I’m on track?” See the difference? You’re not challenging the teacher. You’re aligning yourself with the standard they already set. That keeps the conversation focused on learning—not feelings. Step 3: Remember Your Teacher Is Not Your Only Resource This is one of the biggest mindset shifts DIY learners need to embrace. Your teacher is a resource. But they are not the only resource. If you’re not getting the support you need, take ownership of your learning ecosystem. Look for:
And yes--generative AI tools can also serve as powerful study companions. You can use them to:
Think of AI not as a shortcut—but as a study partner that helps you think through problems step by step. The Truth DIY Girlies Need to Remember Advocating for yourself isn’t about making noise. It’s about claiming your place in the room. You belong in that classroom. You belong in that program. You belong in every opportunity you are working toward. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply say: “I’m trying. I’ve done the work. And I’m ready to understand this better.” That’s not being difficult. That’s being determined. And determined students? They change their futures. Reflection for the DIY Girlies reading this tonight If you’re the one with ten tabs open and a notebook full of question marks… You’re not behind. You’re building the muscle of self-directed learning. And that muscle will carry you much further than you realize. So keep asking. Keep searching. Keep showing up. The classroom may not always give you everything you need. But the combination of curiosity, strategy, and courage? That will take you anywhere.  When No One Is Checking On You — How DIY Learners Stay Motivated
It’s Saturday afternoon. Your laptop is open on the kitchen table. Sunlight spills through the window, but you’ve barely noticed. A half-finished tutorial sits paused on your screen. Your notebook is open beside you with scribbles, arrows, and a checklist you made earlier this week. The problem is… no one knows you’re working on this. There’s no professor waiting for your assignment. No team expecting your contribution. No deadline flashing red on a learning portal. Just you. You stare at the screen for a moment and think: "Does this even matter if nobody’s checking?" When you’re a DIY learner—teaching yourself new skills at night, chasing opportunities you can’t always see yet—it can feel like you’re walking a long road alone. And the hardest part isn’t always the learning. Sometimes the hardest part is staying motivated when there’s no structure pushing you forward. So How Do You Stay Motivated Without Deadlines or Feedback? I completely understand this struggle. When you are a DIY learner putting in late hours, there is no professor handing you a syllabus, and no one checking to see if you watched that YouTube tutorial or finished that practice project. When there is no structure, deadline, or feedback pushing you forward, you have to build that structure yourself. And that begins with three important shifts. 1. Become Your Own Project Manager The first step is realizing that when you’re learning independently, you are not just the student. You’re also the project manager. That means setting your own deadlines and working backward from a goal. Start by choosing something specific and tangible. Maybe it’s:
Now give that goal a real deadline. Not a vague “someday.” A real date. Once you have that date, work backward and ask yourself: What needs to be finished three weeks from now? What needs to happen this week? What small step can I take today? If the goal feels overwhelming, this is where AI can help. You can ask a generative AI tool: "Help me break this goal into a four-week learning plan." Suddenly, the mountain becomes a series of small, manageable steps. And progress becomes visible. 2. Don’t Wait for Feedback — Go Find It In traditional classrooms, feedback is automatic. Your professor grades your work. Your instructor comments on your progress. But in the DIY learning world, no one is automatically reviewing your work. That means you have to seek feedback intentionally. This is where your elevator pitch becomes powerful. Prepare a simple 60–90 second explanation of what you’re working on: "Hi, I’ve been teaching myself data visualization and I just built a dashboard project. I’d love feedback from people who have experience in this field." Then share your work. Post it in:
And here’s an important rule: Never show up empty-handed when asking for feedback. Bring something. A draft. A prototype. A rough version. People are far more willing to help when they can see your effort. 3. Your Motivation Must Come From Within This might be the hardest truth about the DIY learning journey. External motivation only goes so far. Eventually, your drive has to come from something deeper. So ask yourself: Why did I start this journey in the first place? Maybe you wanted to:
Whatever your reason is, hold onto it. Because when motivation fades—and it will—that purpose becomes the fuel that keeps you moving. You can still seek inspiration. Listen to podcasts. Attend workshops. Watch other women succeed in the field you want to enter. But inspiration is temporary. Purpose is what sustains you. The Truth About DIY Learners Here’s something I want every DIY learner to remember: The people who succeed in self-directed learning aren’t the ones who feel motivated every day. They’re the ones who build systems that keep them moving forward even on the days they don’t feel like it. They create their own structure. They seek their own feedback. And they reconnect with their purpose when the road gets quiet. Because sometimes the most important growth happens when no one is watching. And if you’re putting in the work right now—even when there’s no applause yet—remember this: You’re not behind. You’re building momentum.  AI Isn’t Cheating — When It’s Your Study Partner
It’s late. Your laptop is open. Three tabs are stacked across the top of your browser: YouTube. A tutorial blog. And a blank Google Doc. You’ve been trying to understand the same concept for almost an hour. The instructor in the video moves fast, like everyone watching already knows half the material. The blog post is full of terms that feel just slightly out of reach. Your notes are messy—arrows, circles, question marks everywhere. You pause the video. Lean back. And glance at another tab quietly waiting at the top of your screen. ChatGPT. Your mouse hovers over it. A thought pops into your mind: “Maybe I could just ask it to explain this.” But almost immediately another voice interrupts. “Wait… is that cheating?” Because when you’re a DIY learner—when you’re the one teaching yourself late at night, piecing knowledge together from tutorials, articles, and trial-and-error—you want to know that you actually earned what you learned. You don’t want shortcuts. You want understanding. And that’s why this question comes up so often. So… Is Using AI Cheating? I completely understand that fear. When you are a DIY learner putting in the late hours, teaching yourself new skills and chasing goals that sometimes feel bigger than the support around you, you want to know that your knowledge is real. You want to know that you didn’t just take the easy way out. But here is the truth: Using AI or the internet isn’t cutting corners if you use them as your personal tutor and thinking partner—not a cheat sheet. The difference isn’t the tool. The difference is how you use it. Don’t Ask AI for the Answer. Ask It for the Path. One of the biggest mistakes I see students make is treating AI like an answer machine. They paste their homework question into the chat and ask for the final response. They ask it to write their paper or generate the finished code. The problem with that approach is simple: You’re not learning how to think through the problem. You’re skipping the process. And the process is where real understanding lives. Instead of asking AI for the answer, ask it to help you find the path to the answer. For example, you might say: “Act like an expert instructor. These are my learning goals. Can you generate guiding questions that help me test my understanding?” Or: “Explain this concept like I’m a third grader so I can understand the core idea before I go deeper.” When you do that, AI becomes something powerful: A patient tutor that never gets tired of explaining things differently. Use AI to Challenge Your Thinking Another powerful way to use AI is after you’ve already done the work. Let’s say you draft a project plan, an essay outline, or a persuasive argument. Instead of asking AI to replace your thinking, ask it to stress-test your thinking. You could say: “Here are my bullet points. Where are the holes in my logic?” Or: “What perspectives might I be missing?” Or: “How would a professor or hiring manager evaluate this response?” Now AI isn’t doing the work for you. It’s helping you refine the work you already created. And that’s where real learning deepens. Reduce the Mental Overload Learning something new can feel overwhelming because your brain is juggling so many tasks at once. Understanding the concept. Organizing the information. Figuring out what to study next. AI can help reduce that cognitive load. You can use it to:
When AI handles the organizational weight, your brain has more space for the part that really matters: Deep thinking and real understanding. The Golden Rule: Verify, Then Trust But there’s one rule you should never forget. Verify first. Then trust. AI can make mistakes. It can hallucinate facts. And it carries the biases of the internet it was trained on. That means you still have an important role to play. Take the AI’s output and ask yourself: Is this accurate? What sources support this? What perspectives might be missing? Cross-reference information with trusted sources like: .edu websites .gov research scholarly publications And then make the knowledge your own. The Real Power of AI for DIY Learners Here’s the thing I want you to remember. Using tools like AI isn’t cheating. It’s learning how to learn better. The most successful DIY learners aren’t the ones who struggle alone the longest. They’re the ones who learn how to: Ask better questions. Test their understanding. Refine their thinking. And verify their knowledge. AI can support that process. But you are still the thinker. You are still the learner. You are still the one building the skill. And when you use these tools intentionally, you’re not cutting corners. You’re doing something much more powerful. You’re taking control of how you learn.  Everyone Else Seems Ahead. But You’re Not Starting From Zero.
You walk into the classroom a few minutes early, clutching your notebook like it might somehow absorb knowledge through the cover. The room is already buzzing. Laptops are open. Someone in the corner is talking about a coding framework you’ve never heard of. Two students in the front row are laughing about a project they apparently started weeks ago. You slide into your seat quietly. The professor hasn’t even started yet, but it already feels like everyone else got the memo except you. Someone behind you says, "Oh yeah, I already built a prototype for that." Your stomach drops a little. You open your laptop and stare at the blank screen thinking: "Wait… did I miss something?" And suddenly the room feels louder, the material feels harder, and a quiet thought starts creeping in: Maybe I’m already behind. Q: What should I do when I feel behind because other students seem to already know what they’re doing? I hear this question all the time, and the first thing I want you to know is this: learning is not a race against the people sitting next to you. When you walk into a classroom, a lab, or a new project space, it can feel like everyone else already got the instruction manual. They’re speaking the language, typing confidently on their laptops, throwing around terms you’ve never heard before. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there thinking: "Wait… did I miss something?" It’s easy in those moments to look around and think, “Oh my gosh, I’m behind. They already know what they’re doing.” But here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud: everyone walks into the room carrying different pieces of the puzzle. Some students may have taken a similar class before. Some learned the material from a summer program. Some had a mentor, a parent, or a sibling who explained things early. And if you’re a DIY girly—someone who learned to figure things out on your own, without a roadmap—you’re probably used to building those pieces yourself. And some—like many of the DIY girlies I meet—are figuring it out from scratch. But let me pause that thought right there. Because you are never actually starting from zero. You are walking into this new space with a whole toolkit of experiences, skills, and perspectives that are entirely your own—and highly valuable. Think about a time in your past when you faced something completely new or challenging and still figured out how to succeed. Maybe it was teaching yourself a hobby, organizing a project, learning a new sport, or mastering a completely different subject. The simple fact that you have learned something new before means you already have a blueprint for doing it again. To find your best approach now, reflect on the things you already know the most about and ask yourself: How did I go about learning those things? Did you watch tutorials? Did you experiment until something worked? Did you ask questions? Did you break a big problem into smaller pieces? Whether you realized it or not, you were building a learning process. Now take those same actions and transferable skills—your resilience, your resourcefulness, your problem-solving—and apply them to this new area where you might be struggling. You are not empty-handed when you walk into a new space. You bring knowledge. You bring curiosity. You bring lived experience. And learning how to pull from that toolkit is one of your greatest superpowers. I know what it feels like to sit in those rooms and silently wonder if you’re good enough. I know what it’s like to compare yourself to the people who seem confident and prepared. But over time I realized something important: We are not all running the same race. We are building our own lanes. That student who looks perfectly prepared might also be nervous. They might just be better at hiding it. So instead of letting that feeling isolate you—or keeping quiet just to appear like you already understand—I want you to do something powerful: Use your voice. Talk to the people around you. Ask your classmates how they learned the material. Ask what helped them understand the topic. You might discover a YouTube channel that explains things better than the textbook, a LinkedIn Learning course that fills in the gaps, or a study guide someone created after struggling with the same concepts. And if you find someone who seems a little further along, consider asking them to be a near-peer accountability buddy. Not a tutor. Not someone you depend on. Just someone who checks in with you, shares resources, and helps you navigate the parts that feel confusing. Those small connections can make a huge difference. Your Secret Superpower as a DIY Learner If you feel like you're missing foundational knowledge for a class or project, you don’t have to wait for someone to teach it to you. You can build your own bridge. Use generative AI as your personal tutor and thinking partner. Ask it to break complicated ideas into smaller pieces. Ask it to explain concepts in simpler language. Ask it for examples, practice problems, or step-by-step walkthroughs. For example, you could ask: "Explain this concept to me like I’m brand new to it and give me three practice examples so I can test my understanding." Piece by piece, you’ll start filling in the gaps. Not because someone handed you the answers—but because you built the understanding yourself. And that kind of learning sticks. So if you ever sit in a room and feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing, remember this: You are not behind. You are learning how to learn. And that skill—the DIY mindset, the curiosity, and the courage to ask questions—will carry you much further than pretending you already have it all figured out. The students who succeed long-term aren’t the ones who knew everything on day one. They’re the ones who kept showing up, asking questions, and building their understanding piece by piece. DIY Girly Action Step Before your next class, project, or study session:
It’s a learning signal. |
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
April 2026
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