We periodically feature the people from OUSD and Oakland communities whose work positively impacts education for our public school students every day. This month, we’re featuring Otis Ward, a Stanford University student, McClymonds High School graduate, and former TechLink participant.
What is your name and major?
I am Otis Ward IV. I am a computer science major at Stanford University.
What is your background?
I was born and raised in Oakland, and I went to Oakland schools my entire life. I started with Martin Luther King [Jr. Elementary], then to West Oakland Middle School, and McClymonds High School.
I have always been interested in computer science and programming. As a kid, I always wondered what goes into creating the video games my brother and I played and the social media websites.
Before high school, I had a parent-teacher conference with my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Henderson, who told my mom and me, “It’s not if he’s going to college, it’s what college he’s going to.” And that stuck with me.
In middle school, I got sidetracked because I was trying to fit in and be cool, so I became somebody I wasn’t. Middle school is that awkward stage where you are trying to figure out things and sometimes you end up hanging out with the wrong crowd, but I later realized that is not what I wanted for myself. I wanted success.
When I entered high school, I saw that my potential could be so much more. My mom and sister noticed. My sister, who recently graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, and is a teacher at McClymonds High School was always my competition. I wanted to be like her and even better and she set a foundation and a good roadmap for me. She was achieving great things so as soon as I got to McClymonds, I knew it was game time. From ninth grade, I got all As. Then COVID hit in 2020, but I still knew what I had to do from my couch. Then that summer, I started TechLink.
What does TechLink mean to you?
TechLink reminds me of a compass that gives you a sense of direction and offers so many different opportunities. It introduced me to Python and JavaScript programming, my first big push into Computer Science. It was a defining moment for me in life.
TechLink was an amazing opportunity I experienced with my close friends, Ammr Algabri, Meahkrisna Som, and Hazem Gazali. I got to build a video game and that was my highlight! It was great to see what I could do from my computer at home and the projects I created during that time.
What was your favorite part of the program?
When I was building a computer game, I was a rising high school senior but most of my teammates were rising college freshmen. There was a day that after the internship for an extra hour, I was trying to debug my code with the two instructors. My character kept jumping endlessly and could not land. Finally, I realized I had missed a semicolon. It was frustrating, but when I finally figured it out, I felt this sense of fulfillment that’s hard to describe.
What were the key benefits you gained from the program?
I had the opportunity to work with a Pixar employee who served as a mentor to me. Through this experience, I was introduced to the diverse applications of computer science. “Reductive” is an apt term to describe it, as it breaks down the field into its various components and aspects of possibilities.
How did mentorship help?
Mentorship was an amazing experience and I got close to my mentor. He was like a brother, giving me tips when pursuing computer science. It was cool having to talk to such an intelligent person who lives this life of doing computer science.
It makes me want to be a mentor one day when I am more accomplished and motivate others because I know how it feels and the importance of being mentored as a kid in high school.
Did your TechLink internship inform your decision to pursue a degree in Computer Science at Stanford?
Eleventh grade was great because I started to think of college and I got to do another TechLink summer internship. I was on a team of ten where we built a video game. It was an all-around great opportunity and a defining moment for me. It didn’t feel like work, I was creating and developing something. I was learning, but I wasn’t being forced to. I was soaking it all in and absorbing it naturally.
That’s when I knew that STEM computer science was my route. During college applications, I applied to some of the top Tech schools in California like UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, and Stanford. I got accepted into all the schools, but I chose Stanford.
What would you say to donors who made this possible?
Thank you! Thank you! I don’t have the words to express my gratitude. The TechLink opportunity made me realize I wanted to do computer science. I didn’t even think Stanford was a school for me, but here I am at Stanford.
Sometimes in my classes, I encounter concepts that I learned during my time at TechLink. Because of this, I want to become a mentor for young people of color, including students and children in Oakland.
What would you say to Oakland students?
Keep going and do your best, because you get what you put in it. Be determined, and don’t give up. Life gets harder and you face complex challenges but with determination, you can do it.
I always say I am made in West Oakland so if I can do it, you can also do it. Stanford is just the beginning for me, and I know I have a lot more to offer the world.
TechLink Opens Educational and Career Opportunities for Oakland Public School Students
In today’s world, it’s becoming increasingly important for children to have a foundational knowledge of computer science regardless of their future profession. Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), has penetrated all corners of different careers. To work smart in this promising future, one needs to study and understand the importance of technology. It may also help in achieving work-life balance.
However, not all schools can afford to offer such courses due to budget constraints and other circumstances, particularly in certain neighborhoods such as Oakland. To tackle this issue, the Oakland Public School District, the Ed Fund, and donors including Intel, and Pixar launched TechLink.
TechLink is a mentorship and paid summer fellowship program for high school students in the computer science and engineering pathways at four high schools in Oakland. The program targets students of color and girls, who are underrepresented in the tech industry.
TechLink’s goal for participants is to:
- Complete the computer academy or engineering pathway and graduate on time;
- Receive mentorship support through TechLink;
- Have a broader understanding of STEM careers available to each student;
- Pursue a post-secondary education or career in STEM.
Learn more about TechLink.