A: FROM MENTOR MINI VARUGHESE IN MD
I am Indian. And yes, race has effected me. I once interviewed to join a
high powered lab and was asked for my math grades. This was a small
department where I was already the best student in the program and the
program required advanced calculus. The interviewer knew this. I was
stunned by the request. I took a good look at the people in the lab
after the interview and figured out why. Not one non-white person in the
lab at all. I walked away.
Being a mother forces you to be very focused. What you used to do in 10
hours, you can now now in 6. Amazing how much goofing off I used to do
before I had a child and never realized it.
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A: FROM MENTOR BRENDA WOLFE IN CO
I have been a working mom for my entire career -
1. Being a mom has never effected the quality of my work - but you have to expect to give more than your 8 eight hours at the desk. I have tended to leave no later than 5 pm to have time with the kids - but have often put in many more hours after they went to bed. You must realize that you can not do it all - something must give. For me that is house-work. The house is never in perfect condition - if you can afford a maid - go for it!, for your sanity.

The key is to find an employer who allows some flex time. My job is a salaried position - as opposed to an hourly position. I get paid to do a job - no matter the time it takes. Therefore, if I need to leave for a while to take a kid to an appt - I can and make the time up later. Find a company or boss that understands that the amount of time sitting at your desk each day , does not equate entirely to of quality work.

Hope this helps-
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A: FROM MENTOR BETSY NORTON-MIDDAUGH IN WA
I can't answer your questions about racial tension, but I do have some
experience to share about having a career and children. My twins were
two years old when I went back to school and four years old when I
started in software. I found that having a family made me much more
focused both in school and at work. I had other responsibilities
waiting for me at home so I wanted to work hard and work efficiently
while I was at work. I spent less time goofing off because I wanted to
get my work done and get back to my kids. My social life wasn't at work
or at school as much as it was for other people who didn't have a
family. I had to be organized because I wanted to get my work done and
get home.

My husband and I have always shared the work and responsibility for our
children. To be perfectly honest, he's much better at being the primary
parent than I am and much happier doing it so he's been the one to get
them to and from school, doctor appointments, etc. I'm happier at work
and have had the more ambitious jobs. This has worked out well in our
family. I'm fortunate that he is so interested in doing this and
comfortable taking a non-traditional role. Our children are now 20
years old and tell us that they always knew they were loved and cared
for and felt that we both were fully involved in their lives. As far as
I'm concerned, that's as successful as I could ever want to be.