Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on your graduation!

All of us at Break Through Tech are so proud of your many accomplishments, and we know that this is just the beginning of your journey to change the world in so many positive ways.

We understand you’re facing many unique challenges amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in our city and and the many racial injustices currently being highlighted in the news. Break Through Tech, at its core, is committed to a more equal and just world and we want you to know that we stand with you in solidarity as we work towards a more inclusive and fair society.

We know our graduates are entering the job market at an unprecedented and extremely difficult time. But we also know that you are all uniquely prepared to succeed because we’ve already seen you accomplish so much, and we want you to know that we’re committed to supporting all of you, even after your graduation.

As always, our promises to you,
and to our community remain:

 

1. We promise to raise our hands.

To advocate for you. To support you. To share our resources and networks. Please feel free to reach out to anyone on our team (including me) with questions or requests, and we will do our best to help. My email is below.

 

2. We promise to raise expectations.


We will continue to work closely with our partners in the tech industry and we will make sure they’re looking out for your emails and resumes. As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, technology continues to be an area of economic growth and there continue to be jobs available in the tech sector. Your education in tech is the key that will unlock doors for you.

 

3. We promise to raise each other up.


We can all be rocket boosters for each other. As you propel yourself forward, always remember to look for ways you can help others. Reach out to a classmate or a colleague, especially one you haven’t spoken with in a while. I can tell you from my own experience, the more women you have surrounding you as you move forward, the better it will be for you and for all of us.

 

You inspire all of us here at Break Through Tech with your courage, determination, hard work, and diversity. Thank you for participating in our programs, and we look forward to seeing what you do next. You are the future of tech. You are the ones who are going to innovate our way into a future that we all want to be a part of!

Stay safe and be well,

 

Judith Spitz, PhD
Founder, Break Through Tech
jas962@cornell.edu