<aside> 📎 Created in 1994 and inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the AnitaB.org flagship event Grace Hopper Celebration brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront (read more).

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Hi there! My name is Nina, and I’m currently a 3B computer science student at the University of Waterloo. I just spent 3 days at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing ****(GHC) with approximately 20 other fantastic individuals from the university. This year, the conference was held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Here, I plan to recount my experience and share some tips that you might find helpful in case you’re planning to go to GHC as well!

Day 1: Flying to Orlando and checking in at GHC

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We arrived the day before the conference actually began. This was the perfect opportunity to meet and talk with the other University of Waterloo students going to GHC! After settling in at the hotel, we walked over to the Orange County Convention Center and got our badges which granted us access to the conference.

My advice:

• Plan ahead and look into what workshops/presentations/panels you want to attend during the conference (there are many, and it helps to establish your personal itinerary to make the most out of your GHC experience).
• Create a group chat with your peers if one has not already been made! Try making dinner plans with others and sharing cool findings with each other (exciting encounters, limited edition swag, events worth attending, etc.) from the conference.

Day 2: Opening ceremony and career fair

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The energy from GHC on the first day was something else! Do attend the opening ceremony. Many inspiring leaders in technology and the community will give keynote presentations, and you just might just learn something that will shift your perspective about what it means to be a technologist in today’s day and age.

My advice:

• Spark a conversation with the person next to you! There will be many times at GHC where you find yourself in a line-up or sitting between strangers. Take the time to connect with others and learn about them. You never know where your relationships might take you!
• If you plan on attending a session/workshop/presentation, arrive early. Line-ups do happen and if the room becomes full, you will not be able to listen in.
• If you are a co-op student on a work-search term, I would recommend that you try heading over to the career fair on the first day. Over the course of the conference, companies may try to schedule an on-site interview with you. Do not forget to upload your resume to the GHC database!

Day 3: Rewriting the Code (RTC) and more workshops

Remember what I said about sparking a conversation with the person next to you? It just so happened that Sue Harnett, the founder of Rewriting the Code, was right beside me when I was exploring the career fair! I met Sue on the second day of the conference, and we (the University of Waterloo crowd) all ended up having brunch in the hotel.

My advice:

• If you happen to spot a role model or inspirational figure, now’s not the time to be shy! GHC fosters a very open and supportive environment where people expect you to approach them. Try to set up a coffee chat or simply get their contact information.