How Girls Can Get Involved in STEM: A guide to getting involved in STEM activities.
STEM activities are focused on sciences, technology, engineering and math. They are a growing area that is vital to the future of the world.
Science, technology, engineering, math careers offer exciting opportunities for women who want to pursue their passions while making a difference in society.
However, girls tend to shy away from these fields because they believe they aren’t interested in science or math. In fact, only 20% of computer science professionals are women.
This blog will look at how girls can get involved in STEM activities and destroy all those stereotypes.
What is STEM?
Science, technology, engineering, and math has become increasingly popular among students today. Many schools now require their students to learn these subjects at least through high school.However, what does STEM mean exactly? And why should everyone care?
Here's everything you need to know about STEM education.
Science
The study of nature using natural methods. This includes topics like biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy.It also encompasses any scientific research including medical studies, nutrition etc.
Technology
Using mathematics and logic to create machines, tools, weapons, structures, robots, vehicles, planes etc.
Engineering
Taking information provided by scientist sand technologists and applying it towards real-life situations. For example, engineers design bridges, buildings, dams, airplanes, cars, power plants, water systems etc.
Math
Studying numbers, data, measurement, time management etc.
Computing
Computers may be used as an aid to help solve problems, develop products, manage projects etc.
Do you join or start your own STEM club?
If there isn't one already then, I would suggest starting on up! You could do this with friends, family members or even online.
Here are some common questions most young girls ask:
● What if I don't have access to a lot of money?
● How much would it cost me?
● Is there funding available for this kind of thing?
● Who else is doing similar things?
These questions might sound silly, but they're actually very important when thinking about joining or starting a STEM club. And the simple answer is all you need is a dash of determination and some knowledge of what is involved.
If you decide to start up a STEM club, here are some tips:
● Make sure you choose something that interests you — Don't just pick anything — make sure it fits with your personality.
● Find people who share your passion — Ask around at college/university, ask friends, family members, teachers etc.
● Start small — Choose one topic and focus on learning about it first. Then expand into other areas once you feel confident enough.
● Be creative — Think outside the box. Use resources such as YouTube videos, books, magazines, websites etc.
● Get support — Talk to parents, teachers, mentors, peers etc.
Why should girls get involved in STEM?
Girls today are being encouraged to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. However, why exactly should girls choose these fields? Is it because they want to become doctors or scientists? Or maybe they just like playing video games? Whatever their reasons may be, let's explore what makes STEM appealing to women.
1. You'll make a big impact!
In STEM jobs, your work matters. Your ideas matter. The results you produce affect people around the globe. In fact, many STEM workers say that working with computers helps them think more creatively than when they were not coding.
2. There are lots of career options!
There are so many types of STEM jobs out there. From software development to medicine, there are endless possibilities for someone looking into STEM.
3. You could end up saving lives!
There are currently over 100 million unemployed Americans right now. That means there are millions of positions opening up across America. If you're passionate about something then go ahead and apply for one of those jobs. You never know where life might take you.
4. You'll meet new friends!
STEM clubs often attract members from diverse backgrounds. Whether you’re interested in programming, robotics, music production, graphic designing, business administration or anything else, chances are there will always be other people who share your interests. These friendships can last a lifetime once formed.
5. You'll feel accomplished!
STEM isn't easy. But anyone willing to put forth some effort will find themselves on top of the world. When you complete a project successfully, whether it was building a robot arm or writing code, you'll feel great! And best of all: no one can tell you didn't do everything yourself.
Ways you can get involved instep.
Science, technology, engineering, mathematics careers offer exciting opportunities for young students who want to pursue their interests in these fields. However, getting started in any career field requires planning ahead. Here are some ways you can start preparing now for what may lie ahead.
● Start small. Start with a simple activity such as making slime at home. This way, you won't overwhelm yourself too soon.
● Find mentors. Find someone who has already been through the process and ask questions. They can show you how to tackle bigger tasks later down the road.
● Get creative. Use whatever resources you have at hand. For example, use old CDs to create art instead of throwing away perfectly good materials.
● Get inspired by others. Watch videos online of successful female engineers. Read books written by famous female inventors. Learn from their experiences.
● Take risks. Don't worry about failing; try anyway. It's better to fail fast than to keep trying until success comes knocking.
● Donate your skills. Volunteer to teach kids computer classes or tutor students in school.
The benefits of getting involved in STEM activities.
1. You learn things quickly.
When you work hard at an interest-based task, you tend to pick it up faster because you enjoy doing it. The same is true for learning math, science, English, history, etc. By taking part in fun projects like this, you gain knowledge much quicker than if you had just sat back and let information come to you passively.
2. You develop confidence.
If you've ever tried to build a model airplane but failed miserably, you probably felt pretty bad afterward. On the other hand, when you succeed, you feel really proud of yourself.
In fact, many scientists say that feeling confident boosts self-esteem which leads to more motivation. So even though you don't necessarily need to become an expert in order to participate in STEM activities, being able to accomplish them gives you a sense of accomplishment.
3. You meet new friends.
It doesn't matter where you live, everyone needs friends. Whether they're close family members or classmates, having friends makes life easier.
If you join clubs or sports teams, you also make connections with people outside your immediate circle. As long as you stay open-minded, you should never run out of potential friends.
4. Your future looks brighter.
A lot of jobs require college degrees nowadays. But not every person wants to go to college right after high school.Some choose to take on internships while still in high school, so they can see what kind of job they might be interested in pursuing further into adulthood.
Others decide to skip college altogether and focus solely on earning money. Either way, there will always be plenty of options available to those who put forth effort.
5. You'll find something you love.
STEM subjects aren't only useful for helping us solve problems today. Many experts believe that these fields are going to play a huge role in our society tomorrow.
That means we could potentially end up working in industries related to computers, engineering, medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, etc.
Even if you don't want to pursue any particular career path now, knowing some of these concepts will help you understand why certain careers exist and give you insight into how different professions operate.
6. You get paid well.
According to PayScale.com, engineers earn$100k per year on average. Doctors make around $200k annually. Computer programmers pull down over $70k each year. And chemists bring home nearly $60kper year.
These numbers may seem low compared to salaries earned by teachers or lawyers, but remember that most professionals have advanced degrees. Plus, their education has taken years to complete.
What do you think?
Resources for Girls Interested in STEM
Conclusion
Girls don't need to be the minority in STEM activities. They simply need to know about it and learn from others'experiences. Once they realize all the benefits above, I'm sure they won't hesitate to try anything once!
I hope this article helped answer some questions regarding girls' interest in STEM. If you found it helpful, please share it with someone else. Thanks :)