Name: Jessica
Nickname: Jess
Tenure: 2nd Season
Hometown: Diamond Bar
Occupation: Software Engineer
College: University of California, San Diego
Degree: Computer Science
Languages: Mandarin Chinese
GR Leadership Position: Social Squad – I help manage the Gold Rush Instagram, highlighting all the incredible people, unique backgrounds, and unforgettable moments that make Gold Rush the amazing team that it is!
Hobbies: Eating out with friends, fitness, arts and crafts, the NYT games, and volunteering

Favorites
Song: Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) - Ashanti
Food: Bah Tzang (Rice Dumplings)
Store: Pop Mart
App: Canva
Travel Destination: Taiwan
Holiday: Lunar New Year
TV Show: Avatar the Last Airbender
Chips: Hot Cheetos
School Subject: Literature

Where were you born and where do you live now?
I was born in Taiwan and moved to Southern California shortly after. I now live right here in the Bay Area!

Tell us more about your job.
I am a Full Stack Software Engineer at a gaming technology platform company here in the Bay Area. I work on everything from the user interface to the backend services that power parts of the platform. The technology I work on is used by over 300 million monthly users!

What is a non-profit organization you're involved in and why did you choose to get involved?
I mentor students through CodePath, a non-profit dedicated to diversifying tech by offering free, tailored resources to students from underrepresented backgrounds. As a CodePath alumna and first-generation college graduate, I've experienced firsthand the impact of this program and now, I get to pay it forward. One of the highlights of my journey was speaking at CodePath's 2024 Emerging Engineers Summit, an inspiring event focused on empowering early career talent. Supporting students who are navigating paths similar to mine is a full-circle moment I'm deeply grateful for.

Who or what inspires you?
My parents are my biggest inspirations. They came to America not knowing anyone here in hopes of providing a better life for my family and me. I am where I am today because of all the opportunities they worked so hard to give me, and I am so grateful.

What's something our fans would be surprised to learn about you?
By the age of 5, I had lived in 3 different countries!

What was your first job?
Before diving into tech, I had a few different jobs—waitress, bobarista, tutor— but I consider my first job ever to be helping my parents run a snack bar at the baseball and softball batting cage facility they used to operate. I was only around 10 years old, but I ran that place like a pro! I helped pick the inventory, designed and printed rotating menus, and after school, I'd manage sales at the counter. The most popular snack? Sour Patch Straws, hands down!

What's the energy like in the Gold Rush locker room on game day?
To me, the energy in the Gold Rush locker room on game day feels like comforting chaos. Everyone is frantically getting glammed up, music is blasting on the speaker, people are practicing routines, and we are all preparing to take the stage. But amid the pandemonium, there's always a deep sense of gratitude amongst the team for being able to experience it all together. It is altogether the most nerve-wracking yet reassuring environment, and I always try to pause for a moment to take it all in and appreciate that I get to be a part of it.

How has being a part of Gold Rush affected your life?
Being part of Gold Rush has enriched my life in countless ways. It has given me the opportunity to share my passion for dance on one of the world's biggest stages while I continue to pursue my professional goals. It has also opened doors for me to give back to my community and impact the next generation. Most of all, it has surrounded me with a group of the most wonderful, inspiring people who push me to be my best every day.

What do you like most about the 49ers organization?
I love that the 49ers organization not only boasts an amazing football team, but also an equally amazing foundation committed to giving back to the Bay Area. The 49ers Foundation's dedication to empowering the Bay Area Youth is so inspiring, with programs like PREP and EDU paving the way to a more equitable and inclusive future. I love that I can be proud of my team both on and off the field.

Tell us about your favorite community appearance that you've attended as a Gold Rush Cheerleader.
For the past two years, I have had the honor of participating in the 49ers Foundation's Players for a Purpose, an event where the entire 49ers community, from players and staff to the Faithful fans, comes together to raise funds for the Bay Area youth. It's a truly special evening that deepens my own sense of what it means to be Faithful to the Bay and reaffirms how fortunate I am to represent an organization and fan base that lives out that commitment through service to our community.