_<span style="color:teal">Why are you interested in programming? What have you done to expose yourself to programming so far?</span>_

After moving to Seattle, I learned more about programming and decided to investigate further to discover opportunities in the field of programming.
I am very intrigued about all of the applications programming has.
I believe there is a lack of new ideas in urban planning, where programming and software development should be used.
This is where I fit in; with an existing passion for design, urban planning, and community development, I see the world of programming as a way to break barriers.
I am passionate about seeking solutions for problems, whether it be a road design flaws or recurring issues within a community.
Programming is one avenue I feel is valuable, and currently under looked within the urban planning and development sector.

In order to familiarize myself with programming, I have been working on the Jump Start program provided through Ada.
I have also been learning Ruby through Code Academy. There are a few people I have met that have gone through the program or help tutor those in the program who I discuss programming with.

_<span style="color:teal">If you are accepted into our program, where do you see your career in 5 years?</span>_

I see myself as a future leader in the Pacific Northwest as Seattle becomes a hub in the tech industry.
I hope to bring new technology to those working in underserved communities.
I envision myself creating and participating in new processes that have the ability to create a positive ripple effect on the urban planning community along with those they serve around the world.

_<span style="color:teal">After reading Ada's Vision, Mission and Inclusivity Statement, how will you contribute to Ada's vision for an inclusive and diverse community?</span>_

I grew up in a small, diverse, low-income town just 40 miles east of Albuquerque, New Mexico. We did not have public transit a sidewalk system throughout the town.
There were two stop lights in the entire town. When I graduated high school, I moved to Albuquerque and attended the University of New Mexico for a degree in Environmental Planning and Design.
Within the School of Architecture and Planning, I was encouraged to take classes that made me culturally aware which included Chicano Studies, Native American Studies, and Planning on Native American Land.
During my time at the university, I worked within various diverse communities around the city of Albuquerque to solve issues of gentrification, traffic violations, community involvement, and resolving crime through design.

_<span style="color:teal">Tell us about a time you made a mistake that you learned a lot from. If you encountered the situation again, what would you do differently?</span>_

In November 2015, I bought a one-way ticket from Albuquerque, NM to Seattle, WA, without knowing anyone in the area. I purchased the ticket for March, 2016 with only four months to move.
I did not have a plan; I just knew New Mexico was not the place for me to grow. By the time March came, I did not have a job that would start until September, nor did I save enough money to live off of when I got here- but I still decided to make the move.
It has nearly been one year since I decided to take a risk and move to such an unfamiliar place. I have learned a lot about myself. I have had to learn to be open and flexible, adaptive, and imaginative.
Being flexible is something I thought I knew when I got here, but I clearly had no idea how flexible I would need to become in order to survive living on my own.

If I were to encounter this situation again, I would do a few things differently. I have learned the importance of planning ahead; something I am still working on.
I would give myself more than four months to prepare to move, I would save as much money as possible, and I would make sure I had work set up in the new city I decide to move to.