Becoming a woman in science can seem like a daunting feat. However, we should take pride in the fact that many strong women have paved the way. We should also continue to empower our fellow women in STEM to ensure no one interested in this amazing field is deterred or scared of the road ahead. Here is a starting point: read this article and hopefully you are able to gather some new insight on how to take your next stride in college!

Get involved as soon as possible.

I don’t say this to stress you out but to encourage you.

It can seem daunting, but I encourage you to start something today, no matter how small, to prove to yourself that you’ve got this! Whether that is researching about a certain topic, brainstorming a project idea, or figuring out a game plan for the future. Starting is the hardest part. Therefore I commend you for even reading this article because that means you are taking positive action today to further your STEM career.

Microscope: Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

Most of the time we don’t start something  because we’re too scared of it not working out. I felt that way too, but after forcing myself to be more outgoing, I realized failure isn’t the worst outcome. Rather, it is the failure of not even trying that will really haunt you. You try finding organizations in or outside your college campus to get involved in to build on your passions. Having a like minded group of individuals all around you helps foster a positive environment in the strenuous STEM landscape. This will help you not burn out and give you something to be excited about.

Vanessa Li, a biomedical engineering PhD candidate, described in an interview with us that in order to be a successful researcher one must be “endlessly curious” and “be aware of the science that is happening” and what better way to do so than being involved in the field itself!

“To make a difference, you have to have large aspirations.“

Roshni Nadar, Executive Director and CEO of HCL Enterprise.

Reach out to mentors

You are never alone in STEM.

Whether you need help with gaining experience, picking a project up off the ground, or in life in general, there are always people there to support you. In my experience, joining clubs has helped tremendously in helping connect with peers who are now my close friends. We talk about anything from opportunities that we are involved in, our classes, or just ways to continue to uplift one another. Reaching out to family members who may have kids that go to the same university as you that can help guide you is a good option. This way it may be more comfortable for you to have open conversations with them as you already have a connection with them.

Dr. Nandyala, a board certified cardiologist, mentioned in her interview with us, that the journey “can’t be done alone” so she recommends “finding people who really want you to succeed and using their advice stories as inspiration”. Building a genuine network can help you not only professionally, but also as an individual. Remember, every person has something to teach you.

“I believe that fortitude is key. More than anything, be consistent. Go at it. Go at it. Go at it. When you succeed, don’t forget the responsibility of making someone else succeed with you.”

Antonia Novello, Former Surgeon General.

Take diverse classes

An easy way to figure out your likes and dislikes is by taking different classes.

Yes I know this is maybe the least interesting tip here, but trust me. We will never have the opportunity to  engage with such a vast arena of education than we do when we first enter university. Thus, exploring classes (STEM or outside of STEM) can help guide you forward in your professional path. Taking classes gives you a long enough time to truly immerse yourself in the content while also still being short enough to be bearable on the off chance you don’t like the topic.

It is also important to expose yourself to classes outside of the STEM field as they will challenge you to look at life in a different way. For example, I took a challenging philosophy class and it really exercised all of the parts of my brain I rarely use in my STEM classes. It helped me become a better critical thinker which in turn allowed me to do better in my other classes.

This is why many top tier institutions employ a liberal arts education emphasis even while you are trying to attain a degree in STEM. They realize that many subjects connect and build on one another. 

“Sciences provide an understanding of a universal experience, Arts are a universal understanding of personal experience. The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity”

Mae Jemison, First African American woman astronaut in space

Find study methods that work for YOU

Every single person is unique and amazing in their own ways.

This sentiment also pertains to how we each retain information. Personally, I am a visual learner, so wherever I don’t understand something I draw it out or watch videos about it. I also really enjoy studying in groups and I find it highly effective because, usually, when I don’t know something, someone else does, and vice versa. Here as some interesting and effective studying practices you can choose from to try out!

I encourage you to reflect on your academic journey thus far and figure out how best you like to learn.

“All sorts of things can happen when you’re open to new ideas and playing around with things.”

Stephanie Kwolek, Chemist
Women in STEM
Women in STEM: Photo by Lars Kienle on Unsplash

Persist! Persist! Persist!

The STEM road is a long and windy road, but once you get through it, it will be worth it.

Trust me, everyone has moments when they don’t feel like they’re good enough or worthy of a place in STEM. Well guess what, EVERYONE has a place in STEM no matter your gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, race, or brains! There are so many brilliant people (including you of course) that the world is waiting for. Never let any person or circumstance tell you otherwise. You got this!

In our interview with Dr. Jacquline von Salm, Co-Founder and CSO of  Psilera Bioscience, she stated that she considers success to be “when your mind, body and spirit are all taken care of… many scientists get caught up on the “mind” part and burn out or cut corners over time, which leads to obvious problems.” So please remember to take care of yourself, so you can continue to strive for your goals in the long terms. It’s a marathon not a race! Who knows, maybe in the future we will be writing a post about you :). 

“I tell young people: Do not think of yourself, think of others. Think of the future that awaits you, think about what you can do and do not fear anything.”

Rita Levi – Montalcini, neurologist and Nobel Prize winner in Physiology.

Because Women in Science Exist!

With all of that said, the hardest step in any process is taking that initial necessary action. I encourage you to do just that today. Whether it’s one step or multiple. Brainstorm ways to get involved in your community. Create contact sheets of people you know who may help guide you. Try and add new people to your list by reaching out to them, research classes that you maybe interested in taking in the future, and most importantly find ways to take care of yourself in order to better enjoy the journey! 

“This job is a great scientific adventure. But it’s also a great human adventure. Mankind has made giant steps forward. However, what we know is really very, very little compared to what we still have to know.”

Fabiola Gianotti, Higgs Boson physicist

“Women in Science, we exist.” 🙂

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