The journey doesn't end in 5th grade! Meet young ladies who started their path with STEM Like a Girl as they share their stories.
Gatee
STEM Like a Girl Class 2021
When Gatee walked into her first STEM Like a Girl workshop as a 3rd grader, she remembers feeling a mix of emotions. “I was excited because I liked trying new things but kind of nervous because I hadn’t done much in STEM and had this notion that only boys do STEM related projects.” But in a room of all girls, she realized that she could be herself and was free to explore her interests. By her side were her parents, who have each participated along with her to solve hands-on challenges. “I really enjoyed being there with them because we got to work together,” remembers Gatee. “Having a younger brother means it’s not always easy to get time alone with just my parents so it was really nice.”
When asked what her favorite project was, Gatee named a few that stood out. She recalled working with her dad on the Windy Art challenge, where participants are tasked with designing a kinetic sculpture that moves in the wind. “It was engaging and hard with so many different materials to work with.” She also remembers extracting DNA from a strawberry and asking her mom lots of questions on the car ride home to learn more about how DNA works.
Gatee carried her new interest in designing and exploring home after each workshop. Her mom, Urja, noticed Gatee becoming more interested in STEM related projects in general after attending the workshops. “She tried using more household items to build things as she saw that being done at the workshops. She made pulley systems, marble runs, and dinosaur enclosures using cardboard boxes. It was exciting to see her rummaging through the garage to find objects to create useful tools,” remembered Urja.
This curiosity in STEM, and specifically medical science, led Gatee to apply to a science and engineering focus option high school in Oregon where she is encouraged to pursue her growing interest in STEM fields. She is involved in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competitions around lab sciences. Gatee feels confident participating in these competitions and sharing her ideas due in part to her time with STEM Like a Girl. “The workshops highlighted that failure is not a bad thing. To a 3rd-5th grader, failing is something you think you want to avoid at all costs. Over time, it became a big message in my head, and I became comfortable saying ‘I don’t know.’”
Gatee’s mom also observed an increase in confidence in her daughter when asking questions and communicating with peers in high school. “When you are a kid, asking questions to strangers can be intimidating, but she learned to ask questions to the STEM Like a Girl mentors, which I think taught her how to think logically or think in scientific ways.”
This past fall, as a sophomore in high school, Gatee was able to return to STEM Like a Girl as a volunteer and Design Challenge Leader. “It felt like a full loop for me to be able to come back and present a challenge that I had done as a third grader.” During the workshop, Gatee also shared her experiences as a student interested in STEM on the mentor panel to inspire and relate to the elementary school girls in attendance. “I love that I could start as a student in the program and now able to volunteer. I would encourage other younger women like me to volunteer.”
When asked what advice she would give to younger girls just starting out in STEM Like a Girl, Gatee replied “Don’t be afraid to share and ask questions. In STEM, that is where a lot of the learning happens. Don’t be afraid to try new things and make changes if something doesn’t work out.”