Mingspiration Blog Nurturing female student interests in STEM

Mingspiration Blog

Nurturing female student interests in STEM

Identity is very important; seeing yourself in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, is integral to student success. After a "Women in Engineering" panel discussion that I offered at ACHS, a high school junior female student who was very accomplished athletically and academically wrote an extra credit paper for one of my colleagues about the event. Below is an excerpt from her paper:

"Having a visual on the successful black men and women in the engineering field was meaningful to me because it made me realize that the engineering field is becoming more diverse, it is possible to become an engineer with an Archbishop Carroll High School education, and that it is possible for black women to get into any field of engineering. Being able to see with my own eyes so many young black men and women on that Zoom talking about their success, opens up a new drive in me that I could possibly be successful like them one day. It gives me hope and understanding that black people in the engineering field are still the minority, but it is still possible for us to get our work noticed and respected. Having people in the panel who went to the same school as me makes me realize that the education system can help lead me to a good career. It makes me want to put more faith in my teachers that they know what they are doing and it's for my own well-being. Lastly, from there being not only black men but black women, it gives me a deeper drive on wanting to become an engineer because that is my own kind. It shows that through all of the judgment that black women might go through from other races feeling as if they aren't smart enough, it is possible to keep going on, proving them wrong."

Continuing to expose students to those who are successful and look like them in the field of STEM is integral in helping students to work through the difficulties that they may face with a drive and determination to succeed because they have seen that others have pushed through and found success in STEM.