The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) has launched a new campaign – called I’M IIBA – uplifting what we know to be the true character and positive contributions of immigrants in the Bay Area.
This week we’re featuring Katerine, a graphic designer at IIBA
I’M Katerine
I was born and raised in a little town called Vacamonte in Panama. Growing up there shaped the person I am today because that place holds many of my happiest memories as well as lessons learned. One of the happiest memories that I can recall is all the times I ran around and played with my siblings and cousins by the hills. We would use large chunks of flat cardboard and sit on them to slide on the hills.
I vividly remember all the bruises we all got, as well as all the scolding from our parents from seeing how dirty our clothes were. But, what I remember most is the laughter. Laughter that made our stomach hurt, laughter that bonded each and every one of us. We still laugh out loud when we talk about this day.
I’M AN IMMIGRANT
As a kid, I grew up watching American TV shows like Hannah Montana, iCarly, and How I Met Your Mother. These shows sparked my fascination with life in the U.S., and when I visited San Francisco for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the city. I begged my mom to let me move there, dreaming of going to high school in the U.S., attending college, and, most importantly, chasing the American dream.
Leaving my family in Panama was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but in 2015, I took a leap of faith and moved to San Francisco to turn my dreams into reality. Adjusting to a new country with a different culture and language was challenging, but I was determined to adapt and make it work. Today, I’m proud to say I’m on my way to accomplishing that dream. I recently graduated from UC Berkeley and I couldn’t be prouder of how far I’ve come. This journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped me into the person I am today.
I’M A DATA ANALYST
At UC Berkeley I majored in Applied Mathematics, which ignited my passion for data. I’m fascinated by how numbers can reveal trends and correlations that help us understand history and inform the future. Driven by this ambition, I began exploring data more deeply and took on various data analysis projects to enhance my skills.
I joined COOP, a unique fellowship program designed to empower first-generation college graduates. Through COOP, I gained invaluable data analytics skills and built a strong peer network that continues to support me on my journey. Now, I’m proud to be part of COOP as an instructor, giving back to the community and helping others learn the data analytics skills.
I’M AN IIBA GRAPHIC DESIGNER
I discovered Photoshop and Illustrator in my Media Arts class during my sophomore year of high school, and that’s when my creativity truly took off. My early projects ranged from photoshopping an extra eye on my forehead to removing unwanted people and restoring vintage photos from the 1960s.
While I’m passionate about data analysis, I also consider myself a creative person. When I’m not working on data projects, you’ll often find me designing invitations for our next family gathering. I love experimenting with different design formats and creating things that are visually aesthetic.
I’M IIBA
This passion for design has led me to my current role at IIBA, where I’m part of the communications team. Here, I get to use my creativity to design graphics, craft social media posts, and help spread awareness about the resources we offer to the community.
I’m proud to be working at IIBA because, as an immigrant myself, it’s deeply important to me to empower others in similar situations and help them access the resources they need to thrive in their new communities.