I was around thirteen years old when I attended the GOALS for Girls Summer Intensive at the Intrepid Museum. Here, I learned about various areas of STEM through hands-on activities, field trips, and mentorship. I was constantly surrounded by intelligent, ambitious girls and women. This not only inspired me to pursue a career in STEM but also empowered me to face the challenges of being a woman of color in this field. I soon discovered that many young women do not have access to programs like this or even have the support to pursue STEM. Since then, it has been my personal goal to provide that empowerment in any way I can, especially for girls of color.

During my undergrad, I reconnected with the Intrepid, working as a Museum Junior Educator and, later on, an Afterschool Educator. This is when my understanding of STEM became STEAM, as I moved from the lab to engaging with the public, which required experience beyond science and mathematics. I joined Teach for America after college and continued my work in STEAM education as a science teacher. At the same time, I started to think about how STEM can be combined with other career paths.

This past year, I had the incredible opportunity of being a member of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) Anniversary Fellowship. I served on the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), giving monthly presentations on STEAM-related topics to inspire participants as they moved through different stages of their life. At each meeting, we discussed a different sector of the professional world, how STEAM skills can be applied, and potential careers in that sector. This culminated in a final discussion about the functionality of STEAM in any path we choose.

There are ways to combine STEAM with other experiences and, in doing so, you expand your understanding of the field. Through this experience, I was able to meet amazing girls with different backgrounds and stories. We had insightful discussions and it gave them ideas about careers to explore in college and beyond. The staff meetings and training were also helpful in thinking about creating gender equity in the STEAM field. This experience has helped me grow in communication, collaboration, and leadership. Now more than ever, it is so important to inspire young girls to enter the STEAM field. Furthermore, we must continually support their related interests so they feel welcomed and encouraged to excel. It has been a privilege to be part of an organization dedicated to outreach and the promotion of this mission. I hope to stay involved with NGCP in the years to come.