My Story
When I was five, my parents bought me a huge K’Nex set. K’nex is like Legos but with different building pieces. I immediately loved K’Nex, and I’d spend days working on building a moving vehicle. I’d construct something and roll it across floors and along ramps. Then, I’d disassemble and reassemble it. I’d always try to make it stronger, prettier, faster. That’s when my love of engineering started. It was later in middle school when my interest in engineering wavered. I wanted to join an engineering club in sixth grade, but I only saw boys there. I realized how boys dominated in the field of engineering. That deterred me from joining the club.
Now, a few years later, I’m part of a nonprofit STEM organization that encourages kids to join STEM and have conducted my own small civil and mechanical engineering projects in summer camps. I realize that boys dominating in engineering shouldn’t push girls away from it; instead, this should be all the more reason for girls to get involved. Girls shouldn’t miss the opportunity to engineer. Engineering is too fun for this! Since I was personally deterred from engineering for that ridiculous reason, I want to ensure other young girls don’t make the same mistake. I can make a real difference as an EngineerGirl Ambassador. I am very passionate about engineering and female empowerment. Plus, I have leadership skills and experience supporting younger girls in engineering through my work in the STEM organization I am part of!
My Project
From September 2022 to May 2023, high schoolers will offer an after-school program at Great Neck South Middle School in which middle school girls lacking role models and experience in engineering will participate in hands-on engineering activities and meet females in STEM, ultimately culminating in increased engineering skills and passion.