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Friends and supporters,
Today I need your help funding my technology journey for the next 3 months. I was selected to partake as a participant in the Adobe Digital Academy offers nontraditional candidates the education and, contingent upon technical performance, the experience they need to launch successful careers in web development.
A bit about myself and my journey
My name is Martín Vargas-Vega, I was born and raised in the city of Watsonville and the son of two immigrant parents. Growing up, I worked side by side with my parents in agriculture, picking raspberries and strawberries all throughout my childhood up to my time in college. My time working with them in the fields motivated me to attend college and study my way out of a job with limited growth potential. This experience led to me to a path of becoming a cook, cashier, and ultimately landing me a position in college counseling with a cohort of high school students at the school I used to attend.
My experience growing up in Watsonville made me pursue a career in education and policy to help improve access for minority students to attend higher education. In the past, individuals saw a Bachelor’s degree as their gateway key the American dream or a steady income. I now see technology and coding as that key that will help get those individuals into higher paying positions and achieve a better life for them and their loved ones.
Why Tech?
Being a founding member of the Digital NEST lead me on my young tech journey. I was one of the first founding Digital NEST members, member #12 to be precise. This journey has taken me everywhere from local tech event in the Santa Cruz Area to as far as the state capital. As a member of the Digital NEST I held many positions from a volunteer, technology consultant, bizzNEST Client Coordinator, and ultimately my last positions as a Web member consultant.
Prior to me being a Member-Consultant, I wouldn’t have considered becoming a web developer, let alone think of applying to the Adobe Digital Academy with the intention of being a developer.
Where am I now?
Currently, I am part of the Adobe Digital Academy and have made the move to the San Francisco Bay Area. I am in the bootcamp section of the program that will go until the end of April.
Depending on my performance I am eligible to obtain an internship with Adobe,
I have used all of my reserved funds to cover as many as my personal expenses that I can and those funds have run out.
Future Plans
Feb 14- Hackthon GA- Developer
Feb 17- EdTech Hackthon Developer Participant
April 27- DREAMerHack: Hackthon - (Pending)
May-August- Interning for a Technology company as a developer
How you can help
I am here today asking for any type of donation that you are willing to give, whether that is $3,$5,$10, or whatever you feel like giving. These funds will only be used to cover my living expenses which currently only consist of food at the moment. I have been able to reduce my cost of living to around $800.00 a month, but I am still struggling to cover my food cost. However, I learned to feed myself for a week with around $80.00 dollars per week depending on how good my bargaining skills are at the grocery store.
The act for me to ask for help is a difficult thing for me to do, but I appricate any help or support that you can give.
Thank you again.
Fundraising Goals
-Food
-Personal expenses (Soap, toothpaste , phone bill, etc)
Your donation would be tremendously appreciated and I cannot thank you enough; I will make sure to update everyone on my progress @ Adobe Digital Academy
Today I need your help funding my technology journey for the next 3 months. I was selected to partake as a participant in the Adobe Digital Academy offers nontraditional candidates the education and, contingent upon technical performance, the experience they need to launch successful careers in web development.
A bit about myself and my journey
My name is Martín Vargas-Vega, I was born and raised in the city of Watsonville and the son of two immigrant parents. Growing up, I worked side by side with my parents in agriculture, picking raspberries and strawberries all throughout my childhood up to my time in college. My time working with them in the fields motivated me to attend college and study my way out of a job with limited growth potential. This experience led to me to a path of becoming a cook, cashier, and ultimately landing me a position in college counseling with a cohort of high school students at the school I used to attend.
My experience growing up in Watsonville made me pursue a career in education and policy to help improve access for minority students to attend higher education. In the past, individuals saw a Bachelor’s degree as their gateway key the American dream or a steady income. I now see technology and coding as that key that will help get those individuals into higher paying positions and achieve a better life for them and their loved ones.
Why Tech?
Being a founding member of the Digital NEST lead me on my young tech journey. I was one of the first founding Digital NEST members, member #12 to be precise. This journey has taken me everywhere from local tech event in the Santa Cruz Area to as far as the state capital. As a member of the Digital NEST I held many positions from a volunteer, technology consultant, bizzNEST Client Coordinator, and ultimately my last positions as a Web member consultant.
Prior to me being a Member-Consultant, I wouldn’t have considered becoming a web developer, let alone think of applying to the Adobe Digital Academy with the intention of being a developer.
Where am I now?
Currently, I am part of the Adobe Digital Academy and have made the move to the San Francisco Bay Area. I am in the bootcamp section of the program that will go until the end of April.
Depending on my performance I am eligible to obtain an internship with Adobe,
I have used all of my reserved funds to cover as many as my personal expenses that I can and those funds have run out.
Future Plans
Feb 14- Hackthon GA- Developer
Feb 17- EdTech Hackthon Developer Participant
April 27- DREAMerHack: Hackthon - (Pending)
May-August- Interning for a Technology company as a developer
How you can help
I am here today asking for any type of donation that you are willing to give, whether that is $3,$5,$10, or whatever you feel like giving. These funds will only be used to cover my living expenses which currently only consist of food at the moment. I have been able to reduce my cost of living to around $800.00 a month, but I am still struggling to cover my food cost. However, I learned to feed myself for a week with around $80.00 dollars per week depending on how good my bargaining skills are at the grocery store.
The act for me to ask for help is a difficult thing for me to do, but I appricate any help or support that you can give.
Thank you again.
Fundraising Goals
-Food
-Personal expenses (Soap, toothpaste , phone bill, etc)
Your donation would be tremendously appreciated and I cannot thank you enough; I will make sure to update everyone on my progress @ Adobe Digital Academy