Hello freeends!
This is one of my favorite time of the year here on Dev.to!

I get to read from other awesome women, connect with allies and learn more about the work they are doing, and I get to write about myself LOL

First, it is almost unbelievable how much my life life has changed since the last March, and no, I am not talking about pandemic related changes.
I found a career within tech that I truly love,
I got a job that I have absolutely no complains about,
and I am growing every day, being challenged without being overwhelmed.

My most recent achievement was…

My new job! Actually, it has been 3 months since I started, so it is not super new anymore.
But I am a developer relations engineer at New Relic, where I get to stream live code, create content for other developers, and build connections with awesome people!

Advocating for myself looks like…

• Saying NO when I need,
• Taking breaks, and respecting my body signs to slow down,
• Being true to myself, even when it is not "female" behavior

My biggest goal is…

Ready for the cliché?
To make a difference!

Coding and Live coding changed my live, for the better!

And I want to share it with people, specially women of color. It is interesting how many women I chat with that never thought they could be programmers, and I was them one day.

Honestly, if I can help one person to get a career that better their lives, I will feel great. But I won't stop on that one!

My advice for allies to support underrepresented folks who code is...

First, thank you Dev.to, for the extra step of having someone reading the #shecoded posts before accepting it to make sure they are safe.

And my advice is simple.
We don't need you to say you are an ally.
We need you do the work.

How?

• Call out people when you hear/read them with sexist and discrimination BS,
• DO NOT give us advice without being asked, specially if we are not close, if you have to say "I hope I don't sound condescending" it is because you are being condescending.
• The base minimum is step out of our way! Sometimes if is better if you say nothing than Twitte about how great an ally you are, when you are doing nothing to help.

Note that while I am a bubbly happy person, when I walk about being a women in tech I get mad, because there is so much wrong! I used to apologize for this rage, but not anymore.

Xoxo,
Pachi C.