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In the keynote address at RailsConf 2021, Eileen Uchitelle discussed her personal journey in programming and the insights she gained about overcoming self-doubt and internalized fears. She emphasized the struggles many face in their professional lives and the unique ways to tackle these challenges through persistence and gradual progress. The talk is divided into three parts:

- **Personal Journey**: Uchitelle shared her initial fear of public speaking and contributions to open-source projects like Rails, detailing her unexpected entry into programming via an Adobe Flash class. She recounted her career path from graphic design to web development, highlighting influential moments such as her first successful public talk, which led her to contribute to Rails.

- **Collaborative Programming**: Joining her was guest speaker John Capezi, with whom she discussed the importance of pairing in programming. They provided a deep dive into the technical aspects of connection management in Rails, particularly focusing on granular connection swapping for applications using multiple databases. This segment showcased their ongoing work to improve Rails' scalability and efficiency through collaboration.

- **Overcoming Self-Doubt**: Uchitelle's overarching message stressed that the perceived limits we place on ourselves are often untrue. She advocated for challenging these fears by celebrating small successes, seeking help, and measuring progress toward goals. Her narrative encouraged participants to pursue what they believe they cannot do, illustrating that success is a journey of continuous effort rather than a fixed state.

In conclusion, Uchitelle urged attendees to acknowledge their fears, understand them, and take action, sharing that the journey to success requires both time and support from the community. The speech serves as an inspirational reminder that everyone is capable of growth and change, regardless of their past experiences or perceived limitations.

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