Google Lime Scholar Spotlight: Araceliz Gomes

Araceliz Gomes is a Lime Network member and a 2019 Google Lime Scholar. She's currently a senior majoring in Computer Science Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Read about her experience as a Google Lime Scholar.

Why did you decide to apply for the Google Lime Scholarship? 

I applied to the Google Lime Scholarship after attending the Google Students Retreat in 2018 through Google CodeU. During a workshop at the retreat called #IAmRemarkable, I shared about my disability and how it has helped shape me into a more resilient engineer and better problem solver. Shortly after the workshop, I had a chance to meet Lime Connect's CEO, Susan Lang, who introduced me to Lime Connect and the Google Lime Scholarship, and recommended that I apply. Although I was super nervous to share something so personal to a room of strangers, I am grateful for my courage to do so that day, otherwise, I would have never found Lime! 

How has the scholarship helped to support your education and career?

As a student from a lower-income household, my parents were not able to financially support me through college. Because of this, I have worked two jobs while studying full-time to cover academic and living expenses. Through the Google Lime Scholarship, I have been able to work much less and spend more time on my coursework and senior design project. As a Google Lime Scholar, I have been introduced to a network of like-minded, motivated individuals and different opportunities that enable both career and academic success. 

What was your experience like at the Google Scholars Retreat?

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this year's Google Scholars Retreat since I was interning as a Software Developer in Barcelona, Spain. However, I did have an opportunity to attend the retreat the previous year as a 2018 Google Scholar and it was an absolutely amazing experience. 

I think what stood out the most to me about the retreat was the amount of inclusivity and diversity that was all in one place. I was the only student from my university, where I am the only Hispanic woman in my graduating class. Although I felt a little intimidated at the beginning of the retreat, through every workshop and networking session I attended, I grew more comfortable vocalizing my opinions and sharing my story. 

At the retreat, I felt seen and heard which was an unfamiliar feeling for me. It was almost as if the retreat validated the idea that I belonged in engineering and was capable of becoming a software engineer. The Google Student retreat helped expose me to a group of students who faced similar challenges as me while pursuing the field of computer science. I remember entering my next semester of school after the retreat with a sense of confidence that I hadn't possessed beforehand. I realized that I wasn't alone, which was very reassuring.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I am thrilled to have received a full-time offer with The Walt Disney Company. After graduation, I plan to move to Orlando to work for Disney as an Associate Software Engineer. 

Do you have any advice for prospective applicants? 

I think it’s important for prospective applicants to know that their disability is not a weakness. For a long time, I felt like I was not good enough because I learned differently than my peers. I thought that in order to be accepted, I needed to change myself to fit this idea of what a computer scientist is like. But over time, I realized that my different life experiences have actually enabled me to find solutions to problems that others don’t see. As students with disabilities, we may have to work harder than our peers to get just as far, but this creates a work ethic and resilience that is unmatched!