>> Narrator #1: Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do.

But what about deciding for yourself?

Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to define their own roads in life.

Every summer we bring together three people from different backgrounds.

Together they explore the country interviewing inspiring individuals from all walks of life.

They hit the road in search of wisdom and guidance to find what it actually takes to build a life around doing what you love.

This is what they found.

This is Roadtrip Nation.

[MUSIC] >> Zoed: About to eat worms and crickets.

I don't know, I saw them and I said I'd never eat them so they taste like candy, I might actually eat them.

Supposed to be barbecue sauce so.

[MUSIC] >> Robin: Not bad.

>> Natalie: These are pretty good.

The crickets I'm scared of.

>> Robin: So, crickets.

It's the other green meat.

>> Natalie: [LAUGH] Gross.

>> Natalie: You wanna see its eyes?

>> Robin: Look.

It's got little eyes.

>> Zoed: The cricket, >> Natalie: Ew.

[LAUGH] Cheers.

>> Robin: Clink.

>> Zoed: My goodness.

Tastes weird.

>> Natalie: Ugh!

>> Robin: It's not that bad.

It's not bad.

>> Natalie: It's just gross thinking about it.

Worm takes it.

I tried the worms again, they're like chips.

>> Zoed: Yeah, the worms are nice.

If they weren't so expensive I'd buy them again.

[MUSIC] >> Natalie: It's the end of week three.

My gosh.

Time passed by so fast.

>> Robin: So far on the trip all I had to do was put myself a little out there.

And people are really nice and people are really accommodating.

>> Zoed: Now I'm getting closer and deeper into the computer science field, the people in it, the community.

That's very exciting because doors like these don't open often.

[MUSIC] >> Robin: So from here, we are actually headed to Philadelphia.

It wasn't originally scheduled, but, Zoed really wants to run the rocky stairs.

[MUSIC] >> Zoed: Rocky Balboa in the movie runs those stairs in Philadelphia.

And those have always been something special to me.

>> Natalie: That smile.

He's smiling.

Aw, Zoey.

Zoey's excited.

>> Zoed: Rocky.

I've watched all the series.

Those are all about trials and tribulations.

Hard times, you always come out on top.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Robin: I'm hoping to just kind of seize every moment that's available this last week.

Because I'm not gonna get the chance again.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Zoed: Robin, she's always worried about being classified because she's Native.

People criticizing her intelligence.

>> Robin: I thought maybe along the way I would find other Natives in the field.

And there are some, but I didn't find that group.

I'm not an other, I'm not.

I'm not this idea of what Native is, but I'm also not this idea of what tech is.

Who am I?

How can I define myself?

I want that, I think that's just human nature to fit in, to be part of something.

[MUSIC] >> Leader #1: The community I grew up in, my friends, a lot of them, ended up pregnant, a lot of them ended up in jail, a lot of them ended up dead.

My vision was always to make it out.

In the communities that we're from it's not that people don't want to make it out, I just think that they don't know that they can.

[MUSIC] >> Robin: So in, my kind of culture is very traditional.

There's kind of a sense of, someone once told me like watch out, you're educating yourself out of your community.

Which is really self defeating and I don't think it's good, but that fear is in the back of my head.

Sometimes I don't feel like I'm Native enough, and that's always been a struggle.

It's like I'm either too Native off the Res, but I'm not Native enough?

>> Robin: How do you handle, like what is your, because again, I question like what am I now?

[LAUGH] >> Evin: Yeah, you want to go first?

>> Jessica: This is crazy.

[LAUGH] Evan and I talk about it all of the time, like all of the time.

What's the quote?

>> Evin: Nas, right?

>> Jessica: The rapper.

>> [LAUGH] >> Evin: And I may be misquoting.

The rapper Nas.

He says something like, when you're too hood to fit in the Hollywood circles, but too removed to chill in the hood that birthed you.

So it's that intersection where you become in this weird place where you can't fit in here and you can't fit in here.

And you're in this mid section.

And there's only a select few when you start to kind of break that down, that are actually navigating that environment with you.

And that's something that Jessica and I talk about all the time, because I feel that way that sometimes that I'm stuck there too, right.

But you can't stop there.

If you want to be successful in life you have to understand that everyone has obstacles they have to overcome.

And because you are who you are, that makes you more unique than the other individuals that may not sometimes be in that room with you, right.

It's because people can tell that you're being genuine, that you are smart, that you can navigate in those competitive environments.

But at the same time, you still have your native ways about you that kind of brings that spice.

It brings that spice to the dish, right?

So I want you guys to kind of get that too.

That's what I had to pick up on developing in myself.

>> Jessica: And I think also to add to that, with anything new, people don't know, right.

And when you don't know about something it's hard for you to be an advocate for something.

Sometimes when you're talking about diversity and inclusion and the importance of women in tech and LGBTQA in tech and people of color in tech.

I think sometimes you encounter situations where you are talking to people who don't necessarily get it.

We can't just talk about it as like, my god, this is so important and you should care about it, right?

You need to frame it in the sense of, this is how important it is to your bottom line and this is why you need it to exist by the year 2040.

Blacks and Latinos are gonna make the majority of this country.

Women make 50% of the employee workforce, yet they represent very little numbers in the tech industry, right?

So I think you just have to find ways to motivate people.

And that's when you really transition someone from just being a passerby, as opposed to being an ally.

>> Natalie: Do you ever have those moments where you feel the pressure.

School's really tough, first generation especially, I barely skidded through my freshman year.

How do you get through that, I guess?

>> Jessica: So I mean, I would say that was exactly what my experiences were like in college.

I recognized that I had a lot of insecurities about me and what I was able to achieve.

Because I've never seen anyone else achieve it that looked like me, right?

But then, I think I came to a point in time where I was like, I need to be that person that I'm looking for.

I'm gonna take this opportunity, I'm not gonna make any excuses for myself.

And I'm going to be the face for other young Puerto Rican women who are first generation college students who do need to see that there is a place for them in tech.

And I know that sometimes carrying that burden, because sometimes it is a burden.

It's very difficult but honestly I look at, I'm getting emotional, but I look at like my young nephew and I look at my niece and the fact that she just got her associates and now is going to get an undergraduate degree and said that she did that because of me.

Is all of the affirmation I needed and I feel like that was what I realized was the hard work that I needed to put in.

Because if she didn't see that then she wouldn't know that it was achievable.

So even though I didn't have that person to look to, I realize that I became that person for someone else.

And at that very moment that was the game-changing, life-altering moment for me.

To know that all of my hard work up to that point meant something.

>> Zoed: Thank you.

>> Evin: See you soon.

>> Zoed: Have a good day, thank you.

>> Robin: It seems to be the underlying theme of just don't worry about what other people think of you, like you're different.

And if you're different, do something.

[MUSIC] I want people excited about tech and I want to see more natives in tech.

I don't think people even know tech is an option in my community.

[MUSIC] I can't get complacent with what's going on.

[MUSIC] What am I doing?

Am I actually helping by working with other natives, or spreading what I know to other people?

How do I give other people the chance to learn about themselves like I learned?

Because this is a feeling that I want other people to feel.

This is something that I want other people to know and experience.

[MUSIC] >> Jessica: Own your greatness and the things that make your different, and then create a space for other people to flourish in that greatness as well.

You guys being fabulous women in tech, and being a fabulous Latino in tech.

Always keep in mind the communities that you come from, be proud of those communities.

And then create opportunities for people in those communities to share the successes that you have also been able to benefit from.

[MUSIC] [LAUGH] >> Natalie: We're going back home to Boston and we're finishing there.

At the end of the day you don't want to leave man, they're friends for life for everybody in this RV, at least I think so.

>> Robin: So we're getting Zoed to guess?

>> Natalie: Yeah.

>> [LAUGH] [LAUGH] >> Natalie: And I!

>> Robin: Whitney Houston!

>> Natalie: The movie, the movie.

>> Robin: The movie that she's in.

And she's saved by that Kevin Costner.

>> Natalie: By the person who protects her, protects her.

The Bodyguard!

[LAUGH] >> Zoed: That's a good movie, ya'll.

>> Robin: This one is Keanu Reeves and he's in a- >> Robin: It's been clicking in all of us, like this is it.

That's weird, weird.

[MUSIC] >> Natalie: Boston We're about to interview Aurelie.

She works at MIT, post-doc.

Last one!

>> Zoed: Last interview, man.

This is crazy.

>> Natalie: So sad.

Come here.

I'll miss you guys.

>> Zoed: Can't be sad, yet.

>> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: First of all, I really believe that what you've done guys, is amazing because you need to know about things.

I mean, in my family, nobody has a PhD except me, so nobody really could help me about science, engineering or computer science was like no, totally.

[MUSIC] When I was little, I always wanted to learn.

I knew about MIT actually when I was seven or eight years old.

We didn't really have money to buy a computer at home.

And I had my first computer at 18 years old.

And I think when I went to college, I was amazed by the knowledge of my professors.

So I really wanted to be like them.

So I actually graduated from natural science and engineering.

I did my undergrad in physics and math, then I did a minor in mechanics, mechanical engineering.

So I did many, many different things.

But what I'm doing now is that I'm using coding to develop softwares to actually simulate the mechanical response of materials and mostly human tissues.

So I work on the brain, on the heart, on bone, so I'm coding in Python and C++ and I love it.

>> Robin: Do you find as a woman or even just not coming from a CS background and going into that, was there any sort of hesitation from other people and how did that affect you?

>> Aurelie: See, it's very personal because it's about women.

Sorry, Zef, I mean, so sorry.

>> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: But if you have a girl one day, you know, you will, you won't forget my advice.

>> [LAUGH] >> Aurelie: Being a woman in computer science, it's not easy.

I'm sure it will be easy in like many, many years but not today, not tomorrow.

So I graduated from science, you know.

In my university, we're not many girls.

Among over, maybe, 80 students we were less than ten girls.

So, it was tough and we tried to support each other a lot.

We met a lot outside the lab, you know, just because we needed to talk to each other about what we felt, you know, about how difficult it was and also about technical stuff.

This is what I try here.

I try to attract a lot of students, undergraduate girls, who came and I teach them how to code.

And they love it, and are more confident.

You know.

>> Natalie: You jumped into a lot of unknowns throughout your life, and you kind of just tackled them on, very well.

Do you have any advice for people who, like I don't really know what's ahead in CompSci, but I'm ready to tackle if.

Do you have any advice for that?

>> Aurelie: Actually, what you're doing now.

Is the thing to do.

Which is, trying to talk to people.

Trying to be inspired by other people.

Trying to see what is possible.

Because you don't know what's possible, you know?

I don't believe that people are where they are because they decided everything and they knew exactly where to go.

If you make a decision, you can still go back to your decision.

If you go to grad school and after a year, say, hm, It's not for me.

That's okay.

There is nothing bad with that.

It's an experience.

You learn something.

So it helps you to be stronger.

Don't put too much pressure on you.

This is always what I say.

Year after year, you will build your self confidence.

For instance, you went to computer science because you liked computer science.

So you knew about that, you are sure about that.

This is a big deal.

This is a lot.

In the future, you will have more and more self confidence about what you want, about what you like.

My advice is be open, you know, listen to people.

Try to learn from them, try to see what they did.

Which is really important so it gives you ideas.

And don't be afraid to jump on any opportunities, and you see if you like it, and be strong.

Really, be strong, because you are good.

You are really good.

[MUSIC] >> Robin: This trip has been incredible.

It's here, it's the end of it, but it's the end of just this one chapter.

>> Natalie: It's really just the beginning.

Can't believe we're in Boston.

I feel like we were having our first interview forever ago.

>> Zoed: What was our route?

>> Robin: We started in Costa Mesa.

>> Natalie: Costa Mesa.

Right here.

>> Zoed: I can't believe we're gonna be driving this big old thing.

>> Natalie: I really miss the water right on the side.

[LAUGH] [MUSIC] You could say, I, when on a road trip across the country, but for four weeks I transformed myself in a way, like I spoke to all these amazing people and I've learned so much from them.

>> Zoed: Yeah, I came back for Laura.

>> Natalie: We saw Laura.

>> Zoed: Awesome interview.

>> Laura: Stay true and loyal to your potential, not anyone else's, but yours, your own.

[MUSIC] >> Natalie: I'm 100% more comfortable in my skin than I was in the beginning of this.

I used to be scared.

I used to be really scared of the future and like, my gosh, I'm not gonna pass this class, I'm not going to find a good job.

I need to provide for my family, this, that, but throughout these four weeks, a lot of people felt the way I felt.

[MUSIC] I'm just seeing what makes me happy, instead of trying to fit myself into what makes other people happy, I'm going to find what I'm amazing at doing, and I'm gonna go for it.

>> Natalie: To Seattle.

>> Zoed: I didn't know what to expect exactly, but we got together to search what's ahead of us.

It's the drive, it's the will.

It's the struggle.

That's what we got in common.

>> Andre: You guys are impressive people.

The energy to be successful is 100% in you.

And technology is gonna enable you to do some things, possibly change the world.

But it's not gonna change who you are.

What you are, who you are, is enough.

You have to do what is in your heart.

It will carry you to precisely where you need to go.

>> Natalie: Earlier on, I was like, I love computer science.

But with this trip, I realize I can't just say I love computer science cuz there's so much that it has to offer.

I want to explore more of what, specifically, within that, I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.

>> Robin: And that's a great thing that this trip has shown, there's so many other avenues in tech than just coding.

Like, coding is just a small fraction of what you can do in tech and what's possible.

That's really exciting.

And we went in Lake Michigan.

>> Zoed: How do you drive a jet ski?

To Now.

>> Robin: Yeah.

16 states.

That's crazy.

>> Aurelie: What you've done, guys, is amazing because you need to meet with people.

You need to talk to people.

You need to be inspired.

Ask questions and be curious.

Because if you face a challenge, you're not the only one who faced this challenge.

So the next step for you guys, you have to give back and talk to other people to help other people, which is really important.

Next time, if someone, even a high school kid, comes to you and asks you any question about, how is my college?

How can I choose my place?

What do I do?

Which major do I choose?

Take some time to talk to him or her because that.

Also, don't stop talking to each other.

I want you to keep in touch.

I want you to meet every year if you can, you know?

And, bring new people and try to build something.

>> Zoed: We're leaving right back to the challenges, right back to the hard parts, but I know I'm moving forward.

I've gotten so much motivation out of the journey, adventure, of computer science.

And I hope my son does see it one day, and I hope he gets inspired by it, at least even a fraction of what I got out of it.

It's definitely changed my life forever.

>> Natalie: In the beginning I was hoping that, by the end of this trip, I would make a group of friends that weren't just friends, but my family.

And I feel like I have that.

We've all left the doors open for each other.

>> Robin: Natalie and Zoed are two of the kindest, open, sweetest people I know.

This trip was made awesome by the two of them.

I really do care about them, and I know that, it's not that I hope, I know that they'll do great.

I know it.

>> Zoed: Ladies.

>> Zoed: I am going to cry, it's okay.

>> [LAUGH] >> Zoed: Wow.

[MUSIC] >> Natalie: When I'm older and I look back on this, I wanna be like, wow, this trip helped me realize that it's okay to be me.

And as long as I'm doing what I love and I love myself, it's fine and, ah I'm so excited for the future.

[MUSIC] >> Narrator #2: Roadtrip Nation extends beyond this program.

Online you'll find a video library containing thousands of stories from the road.

Here's a snapshot of an interview from this trip you can find online.

>> Julie: There was a philosopher or something who said, the more you learn, the more learn how little you know.

Life is hard where you are, right?

It's hard to make decisions about what's next for you.

There's no straight path from where you are today to, for example, where I am.

My road has been up and down and back and forth.

And I have made different choices along the way.

We always think maybe there's just a straight path from here to there.

There's where I want to go and I'm going to go straight down there.

And it doesn't always work that way.

And I think for you hearing all the stories of people I hope that you've learned that people have to make different choices and experience all on the way.

And you just always have to true back to who you are and that's where you'll draw your passion and you'll decide where to go next.

I would love to be able to tell you that I had all this great wisdom and tell you exactly how your life is going to progress from here.

I think for me, the most important thing is what is your moral compass?

What do you believe in?

How would you write your story, at the end of your life, that would make you proud?

Life will throw things at you constantly.

Some of the choices will be easy, and some of them will be hard.

But I just always think at the end of the day true back to who you are and you'll be fine.

[MUSIC] >> Narrator #3: To learn more about how to get involved or to watch interviews from The Road, visit roadtripnation.com.

[MUSIC]