Hey! I’m Anna, a sophomore at MIT studying computer science. I grew up in Canton, Michigan, and though my schools were relatively diverse, I became painfully aware of the deeply embedded gender bias created by society’s cultural expectations and traditions. Being one of four girls in my advanced math and science classes and belittled by my male classmates during team math competitions, I was driven to change perspectives. 

From an early age, children already have strong ideas about gender roles, which is why it is important for parents to encourage their children, both boys, and girls, to foster their passions for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). As a result, I self-published Sara’s Spark for STEM, available on Amazon, written with the intention of clearing the doubts of young women like me, but also to ensure that parents treat their kids equally.

In the book, Sara and her twin brother receive gifts on their birthday from their parents. However, Sara liked her brother’s present a lot more. Throughout the story, Sara discovers her passion for STEM while her parents learn a valuable lesson to not make assumptions about their children’s preferences.

If you are interested in making an impact with this book before society molds children to believe in these unfair gender roles, please spread the word and visit Sara's Spark for STEM to find out how to donate a copy of Sara's Spark for STEM. Together we can encourage children to explore their passions open-heartedly!

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, feel free to reach out to me at annasun@mit.edu! Collectively, we can change perspectives so that society will eventually realize that the 29% of women working in STEM fields do have meaningful contributions.