XPRIZE Connect provides learning opportunities, by democratizing technology and giving everyone equal access to education. This fall, XPRIZE Connect sponsored a next-gen innovator to attend AfroTech World 2020, one of the largest multicultural tech conferences in the U.S. 

XPRIZE selected Eternity, age 14, from Compton, CA to attend the conference and recently caught up with her to learn more about what engineering and art mean to her, how she’s juggling high school and college, and hear more about her first ever AfroTech experience. Learn more about Eternity through her Instagram art portfolio here. 

Eternity T., Los Angeles

Where are you at right now? I'm in Mountain Home, California. 

And what grade are you in?

Ninth grade. 

You just shared that you are actually digitally attending a college class. So explain how you're simultaneously in ninth grade, and also in college.

Okay. So I go to Compton Early College High School, which means they have normal high school classes, but they also have a college program where you can do college classes too. And the credits will still count when you actually go to college. So instead of going for like four years, you only go for two.

Talk about accelerating your future! Is that why you're doing that?

I think so. I think it's pretty good. And it's not as hard as I thought it would be. 

That's great. Essentially you're four years ahead of the game. What courses are you taking?

Right now I'm just in music. It's the history of music.

Are any other students going through this experience with you or are you doing it alone?

Yeah, I have my best friend Ariana in here. And my friend, Ruby's in here. I made a few other friends through other people.

What are a few of your favorite subjects?

I like art. That's probably the main thing I like: art. That's pretty much my only hobby.

What type of art?

I just got into digital. I used to do pencil and paper. I do it a little less now that I learned how to do digital. I did a couple of shoe designs actually.

A favorite of Eternity’s form her artwork portfolio

What inspires you and your art?

I'm going to have to say my mom because she was a super good artist. She would draw all over the wall. She would drill in little cups, little designs and stuff. And she would make shoes, too. She did a bunch of art stuff. She never taught me how, but I just looked at her stuff and tried to copy it. And that's how I started.

That's awesome. How was your AfroTech experience? How did it feel being selected to attend AfroTech 2020?

It was definitely unexpected. I just filled out the form just to, you know, be included. I didn't think I was actually gonna do it. And then when you guys reached out to me I was like, oh, oh, okay.

What do you think of it now that you've had a little bit more exposure?

I think it was really cool. I mean like the whole design of the place.

Virtually, it looks fun because they’re doing some far out stuff - I saw people riding virtual motor boats!

Yeah. I rode one of them. It was cool!

Is there anything else that stands out for you from AfroTech?

I mean, I think it was really cool how they had the whole Disney, Facebook, Google Chrome room. And companies, when I walked up to a booth, a video started playing and it was job offers and everything. 

Nice. Are you applying for jobs too on top of ninth grade and being in college?

Um, no. Not yet. Not yet. 

What are some other things that you learned from going to AfroTech? What sessions did you go to?

I did a lot of exploring as far as sessions. I think when I got on, I just got lucky catching them because I had trouble with the schedule a little bit. So I don't know the names of any sessions, but I did make a few. 

You were mentioning the design was really cool, so I'm sure the artwork of it stood out. 

They had a whole art gallery! There was some AfroTech stuff, but there was other people's art, too.

Wouldn't it be cool if yours was in the gallery next year?

(nods head and smiles)

A favorite of Eternity’s from her artwork portfolio

Learn more about XPRIZE Connect here.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.