Aspirations in Computing Award Ceremony

Wow!  What a great time.
Somehow, I was one of 32 girls selected for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (and after hearing about all the awesome accomplishments of the other winners, I’m not sure how!). 
The award ceremony last week at Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina was a spectacular event.  During the day, we got to hear the technology stories of some of Bank of America’s top technology executives and visit the Bank of America headquarters.  I was amazed by how much technology Bank of America uses, since I never thought of them as a “technology” company.  As a Bank of America customer, it was exciting to get a glimpse of the what the future Bank of America might look like. 
While at headquarters, I got to have my first personal experience with Cisco Telepresence (it was even cooler in person than it looks on TV!)  The size and quality of the screens really made it seem like the people were there.  I was impressed by how the real-life table in our room seemed to blend with the table on the screen from the other rooms. 
My favorite part of the day, however, was getting to see the Innovation Lab at Bank of America headquarters.  I could not believe I actually got to sit down and play with a Microsoft Surface (it’s a really cool touch-screen table!)  I was impressed by the breadth of the applications of technology in the Innovation Lab.  There was everything from phone applications, to egg-shaped colored lights that convey information. 
Overall, the experience of visiting Bank of America and receiving the award was both humbling and inspiring.  As a senior in high school, I have yet to decide on a college (probably Stanford or Caltech…can anyone help me out with that decision?) but I know wherever I go, technology will be a large part of my studies for the next four years. 
I just have one thing to say: Thanks, NCWIT and Bank of America, for giving me this opportunity to explore technology and my future!