The Closeness of a Cohort
By: Sandy Liu
I thought I’d be walking into a classroom, not an arena with 20,000 screaming fans. I don’t know basketball. In fact, I don’t follow sports at all. So when a trip to a Warriors game came up in my Hack the Hood program, I was a little confused. I thought I was here to learn data science, not the science of getting that perfect jumpshot. But little did I know it was the start of an unshakeable bond.
Okay, let’s talk tech.
My time with Hack the Hood was just last year. Fall 2024 was a huge shift for me, and for my cohort as well. We were all new to this. Entering a new program can be daunting. The nervous silence of that first classroom, broken only by clacking keys. But Hack the Hood somehow made us all comfortable. They made space for us to actually be together.
What helped was the structure. We had biweekly meetings, did homework side by side, and hung out before events, just like the Warriors game. I really felt at home with my cohort. Our bond went much deeper than just showing up in the same space. We truly cared about each other, texting and worrying when someone was late. The accountability was in noticing when someone wasn’t there. Togetherness, not grades, is what helps us thrive. We learned to rely on each other and lift each other up.
This support became critical when I learned about an internship at Genentech. I knew I had the skills, but I was nervous. I was able to connect with the Hack the Hood team, and their guidance helped me feel less alone. Just knowing I had people in my corner made me brave enough to try. It definitely paid off. I landed a Strategy & Business Operations internship at Genentech—the only position I applied to that summer.
I've learned that a community that gives you the confidence to take a chance is the real foundation for a career.
This foundation is still with me. The bond we formed didn’t end when the program did. A few weeks ago, I hung out with some of the students from my cohort. Was it a basketball game? No. But it was exciting nonetheless. That’s how you know a program is working: the community sustains itself.
In tech, what you know and who you know matter. But what Hack the Hood taught me is that who you’re surrounded by matters most. That brings me joy and hope for the future of this industry. We stick by each other like a team. A team that cheers you on, notices when you’re struggling or late, and gives you the confidence to take risks.
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