Deja Craft is a female software engineer originally from New Orleans now residing in Atlanta, Georgia. She has battled ADHD and despite all odds, has became successful in the field and shares her story and journey with us.
What inspired you to keep pushing despite any odds you face?
My younger self, I always knew I wanted to do something big with my life, I was always the imaginative one with the biggest dreams. Whenever I want to give up I have to think back to that younger girl, who would be so proud of what I`m accomplishing now, and if for no one else I have to do it for the other young black girls who face adversities and need the courage to keep going.
Images Courtesy of Deja Craft
Share with us briefly your story.
Well I grew up in New Orleans, we didn’t have much and we also did not have much exposure to the opportunities others outside of our little fishbowl would have. Eventually we lost everything in Hurricane Katrina so my mom moved us to Georgia where I completed high school and finished my associates degree. During my time in college I had a lot of trouble focusing and not to long after I was diagnosed with inattentive adhd and generalized anxiety disorder. It kind of deterred me from pursuing careers like software engineering because I assumed someone like me just couldn’t make it. Well of course I was wrong! I decided to take a leap of faith and attempted a software engineering bootcamp, where I later graduated with one of the highest grades in the cohort and was invited to speak at a new tech companies ribbon cutting ceremony because of my hard work, dedication and background. I later secured my first software development role where I was one of the only women on the team and the youngest. I am now completing my bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics and hold a 3.5 gpa.
How has what you have experienced helped change you?
I think my experience helped me grow more confident in myself, and learn to use my “disorders” as my super power rather than an excuse. My experienced helped me realize just how strong I am and even if I motivate just one person then I`ve done something incredible.
What advice do you have for others facing similar situations as yours?
Never give up, you have to keep going. There’s nothing in life that will come without obstacles, you can either overcome them or become them. I used to think words like that were simply words by people who had it easy, but it’s the truth, you just have to keep going and keep envisioning your end goal. Never lose sight of your end goal and you will get there because you have the universal power to do so. I would also encourage people to avoid comparing themselves to others it’s one of the worst mistakes you can make. Just remember that your journey is yours and yours alone.
What scripture if any is a favorite for you & why?
Not a scripture but a quote, by Martin Luther King. ” If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” It reminds me that we all face situations we may not have wanted or even expected, but you have to keep going or you`ll never reach your destination. It reminds me to take baby steps if I have to, but I have to make progress. I myself am still not at my end goal, but if I stop now and give up, I`ll never get to experience what I`ve worked so hard for.
What’s next for you?
I`m working on my first eBook, and starting my first nonprofit. I plan to move into the specialty of machine learning and artificial intelligence as a software engineer where my focus will be contributing to the development processes. I also plan to devote a lot of my time assisting others and providing resources for entering and navigating the tech field. Through this initiative, I hope to facilitate a smoother and more accessible pathway into the tech industry, fostering greater inclusivity and diversity. It`s an intimidating field to try and jump into, especially for women, so I’m working on creating this business for those a lot like myself.
