Cynthia Sharpe – STEMedia

Why We Love SHURI: Young, Black & Super

May 14, 2018July 9, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

SPOILER ALERT!

I feel as though this is the perfect time to bring something to the light. March is Women’s History Month and we just slid out of Black History Month…

Did anyone else watch Black Panther and by the end think there was definitely more than one hero in the film? Every character had their moments of heroism, but I would definitely say that Shuri could have had more limelight. I at least would love to see her have her own movie in the future. She really lit up the screen!

I know in the past, we had our eye on RiRi Williams being a big comic book figure for African American women, but Shuri is starting to win over my affection. I mean, she has the whole package! The Black Panther’s powers come from consuming a plant. Yes, it makes him stronger and faster and more agile, but those powers are made better by the suit he wears, designed by Shuri! Shuri’s powers however, come from within. She is intelligent, creative, ambitious, funny, caring, beautiful, AND she’s got the physique to be as bright of a star as T’Challa! If I had to choose a comic book woman crush, Shuri is it!

INTELLIGENCE
When it comes to smarts, Shuri’s got’em! She is a younger, more melanated version of Tony Stark. At one point in the movie M’Baku comments at how embarrassed he is for Wakanda that a child is in control of their technological advancements, a child who “scoffs at tradition” at that! Thankfully, he did not come for her womanhood, but coming for her youth is equally bad. Age does NOT determine one’s ability to contribute to a community OR to invent.

The technology Shuri has developed is used throughout Wakanda and sets the nation apart from the rest of the world. From weaponry to bodysuits, to transportation, to medicine, prosthetics, and protection, Shuri has managed to intertwine vibranium into the DNA of Wakanda. She saves life without risking her own. She improves lives just by manifesting her own ideas. Show me another black female who has created a magnetic transportation system and helps fight bad guys all by/at age 16… I’ll wait.

CREATIVITY
To accompany her technical intelligence, Shuri surely has creative genius. The proof is in the inventions. Firstly, two words: arm cannons. Secondly, instead of wearing an Apple Watch or having cell phones, she creates a Kimoyo beaded bracelet with multiple functions. Each bead had a different action, one is equipped with medical assistance, used to stabilize the government agent; another is a communicator that produces a hologram of the person speaking; another controls things around the city.

However, I think one of the COOLEST displays of technology created by Shuri was being able to control a vehicle from a remote location! With technology like this, you can send your vehicle to pick up your groceries at Walmart Pick-Up; you can safely chase and cut off a criminal without risking the lives of law enforcement; just imagine the benefits if this technology really existed! Seeing it on the big screen was awesome, but thinking about this kind of thing becoming a reality is what really blows the mind! Shuri’s creativity MUST NOT BE SLEPT ON! Her and her creativity are essential assets to Wakandian culture!

AMBITIOUS
Shuri’s ambition is inspiring. This young lady is nowhere near done improving her nation. She is glued to her and has a never-ending excitement about her work. She is confident in what she does and has a classic childlike curiosity about the endless possibilities of vibranium. She does what she loves, is eager to share her creations, and really puts in the hours to make things happen, values we can all learn from.

PERSONALITY
Lots of little sisters get a bad rap for being brats or unpleasant sometimes, but Shuri is really funny and caring. She is not a quiet sibling hiding in big brother T’Challa’s shadow. She is vibrant; she is present; she does “too cool for school handshakes” and she cracks jokes during serious moments. Her youth is a pleasant break of tension in the film. Shuri is also supportive. She’s a fighter, helping her big brother in the best ways she knows how. I would love to have her as my tech provider or little sis any day! SIDENOTE: If you peep STEMedia on Instagram, you can see Letitia Wright (the actor who plays Shuri) rap a few bars too!

BEAUTY
I would like for us to take a moment to just appreciate the undeniable beauty of Shuri. From her smile to the “out of this world” clothes she wears, to the haircut design in the back of her head, she is just amazing! Her style is futuristic and graceful and fun. She wears fishnet dresses with tennis shoes. Even when she is in traditional Wakandan attire, she shines.

In the comics, Shuri really is a superSHEro. Though not really highlighted in the movie, she has an essential role in not only T’Challa’s success, but all of Wakanda. With beauty, an innovative spirit, and a passion for family, nation, and science burning within, Shuri honestly could prosper in her own movie. Just like The Black Panther, she could inspire young people (especially women) as well, if not more since she is a youth herself. Black Panther made history last month, but I look forward to the historic impact Shuri has on women, on African Americans, on youth, and on STEM.

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This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Cynthia M. Sharpe, is a May 2015 graduate of NC State University. Cynthia graduated with a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and currently aspires to pursue an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. “As I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Cynthia M. Sharpe, inspired by Marianne Williamson

Career

BELIEVING IS ACHIEVING

March 21, 2018July 9, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

Sometimes, our biggest obstacle is ourselves. With so many things on our plate and so much that seems to stand in our way, it is easy to lose faith, to stop believing and end up off our intended path. You may even lose sight of the end-goal. Here is what you need to know before getting melancholy about your aspirations.

Seeing is Believing

Find people to look up to, preferably in your field, but anyone who has reached their desired goal can inspire you to continue to reach for yours. Sometimes you just have to see that it is possible and that something has already been done in order to see yourself there. For example, Chance The Rapper is 23 years old, making money off of what he loves to do, and helping people in the process. Vera Wang did not start designing wedding dresses until she was in her 40’s. Who do you look up to? Who makes you want to be better?

Action

Be about action. The more you do for your dream, the more attainable it begins to seem.

To read more about how to take action click here!

Surroundings

Surround yourself with believers. Believers are a combination of dreamers/hopefuls and move-makers. They can provide words of encouragement, wisdom and positivity. Entrepreneur, producer, and author, Russell Simmons, (as well as multiple other successful people) said, “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.” The idea may sound strange at first and possibly a little insulting, but think of it this way; if you are trying to “level-up”, who better to learn from than someone who has already made it to a level beyond yours?

Fear, Laziness & Distraction

Being fearful or uncertain, being lazy, and becoming distracted, are three things that can easily and quickly throw you off your chartered course. Don’t be afraid. People always say that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Let’s go against that and use fear as a propeller. If your goals make you feel less than certain about life, then you’re likely on the right track. Fear is sometimes referred to as the acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real”. It is just the mind’s way of making things seem worse or more intimidating than they really are. So again, do not be afraid.

Another thing just itching to hold you back is laziness. You can make a list of things to do all you want, but another part of you can say you have all the time in the world to do it. You can be extremely focused on Tuesday and by next Tuesday you will have forgotten you had a plan to keep in motion. That may be a combination of laziness and distraction. It is so easy to find something else to occupy your mind and your time and before you know it, weeks go by with no progress towards your goal. It doesn’t mean you do not want to reach your goal. It just means you are human and could use some help getting back on track.

One good way to combat laziness is to stand up. It is simple and it works. You can say you’re going to the library all you want while laying in bed, but until you stand up, put your shoes on, and pack your backpack, you are likely going nowhere. After all the effort, it took to get up and get ready, you might as well keep pushing right?

One good way to combat distraction is to learn your habits. If you know your pitfalls, you have a better chance of avoiding them. If you learn the areas in which you thrive, you will be able to make the most of your time. For example, you may be able to do math homework in the comfortability of your room, but not read in your room. You may read better on the bus or in a coffee shop setting. Television may distract you but not the background noise of people going about their day.

For some tips on how to deal with time management, click here!

Setbacks

(Prepare yourself for a bombardment of clichés.) Messing up is something that comes with finally moving. You cannot fail if you do not try, but if you do not try, then you automatically fail. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. It is not about how you fall; it’s about how you bounce back. If you believe something to be your purpose, do not be discouraged by “No’s” and setbacks. Stay consistent. Some clichés become cliché for good reason; they prove to be true time and time again.

Motivation

When fear, laziness, distractions and setbacks are keeping you bound, you must fall back on your motivation. Remember why your goal is what it is. Remember who you are reaching it for. If your goal has no good reasoning behind it, then you may want to rethink your goal.

Believing is seeing

Ultimately, if you do not visualize yourself there, you may never take action. If you do not believe in your own abilities, you may never envision a better future.

The poem “Invictus” reads, “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” Know your worth. Operate in that worth. With the right mindset, the unfathomable can become feasible.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Creative Arts

Why Every Nerd Needs a Creative Side (and vice…

March 5, 2018July 9, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

Leonardo Da Vinci, architect, mathematician, scientist, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, astronomer, paleontologist, cartographer and botanist, Leonardo Da Vinci. A left-brain thinker if there ever was one. Some of you think of Da Vinci and think of how much he accomplished and discovered that we still benefit from today. I mean, what is Da Vinci without his Vitruvian Man and his dedication to human flight?

Actually, he is an artist. It is equally fair to ask, what is Da Vinci without his Mona Lisa, without The Last Supper? Some people think of Da Vinci and they think of a sculptor, a painter, a musician, a historian, a writer.

Both sides of Da Vinci, his “nerdy” side and his artistic side, help make him so great even today. Had he focused only on mathematics, we may never have had the chance to appreciate his “Head of a Woman” or “Leonardo’s Horse”. And vice versa, had he only concentrated on his music, we may not have had drafts for today’s war machines. Take it from Da Vinci, it is not so bad to be a “jack of all trades”. Though we live in a time different from Da Vinci’s, the concept still applies, just in a different way.

Nerds of the world, do not count yourself out of being an artist. & Artists, do not think yourself unable to function amongst a group of nerds. All are capable of having both artistic and nerdy characteristics and it really is to your benefit.

Today, employees are not just looking for strategists and folks who can “crunch the numbers”. They are looking for creativity and innovation. Marketing is one growing industry that requires imagination. But to go along with that imagination, there is also a statistical component as well as a research component to marketing. Well-roundedness is something that all employers can value. (Insert fact)

Another reason to have both an artistic side and a nerdy side, is to network. If there is one thing that you learn in college, it’s that it’s not necessarily what you know, but who you know, and better yet, who knows you. So express yourself, make your abilities known, learn the abilities of others, and network!

Reason number three to be both artistic and nerdy is, both can have a way of relaxing you. It’s is more obvious that art is a calming agent. Being imaginative has been known to decrease negative emotions and aid in preventing depression. For you artists, trying some math or science may be something new to try that just re-centers you and lets you know that there are some definites in the world.

Reason number four is, no matter how left-brained a left-brainer may be or how right-brained a right-brainer may be, there are still two sides to the brain that compliment each other. You may not think they need each other, but to be a better functioning human being, both are necessary.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Creative

Technimetric I STEM_Poetry – Cynthia’s Reflection

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

I sat there, scanning through a list of words I hadn’t heard of since middle school. I had already looked over the words I knew I recognized Sent from iPhone

I’ll be honest with you all, I have made a C in every math class I have ever taken in college, but I found a friend in science. What I realized as I conducted my research about STEM was that, I don’t know a whole lot about one specific area, but I know a little bit of something about everything. And by-George, just because I did not take a bunch of Engineering classes, it does not mean that I did not take poetry workshops and that I have been writing poetry since elementary school. And by-George I know I’m pretty good at it! So I took that confidence and ran with it. Right at the deadline for interested performers to apply, I sent in my not-so developed thoughts:

“Hello Mr. Mabry,

I am Cynthia M. Sharpe and I would like to participate in the STEM Poetry Slam on January 30th. I am no STEM major, so I figured it would be appropriate for me to write about how I don’t know much about STEM, but I do know about Chemistry between two people. Something to that liking. And then use STEM terms in a different way, in a way I prefer to understand them. For example, I’ve heard Java as being a computer engineering headache, but I understand Java as soothing coffee with some coffee cake where two beings can simply conversate on how they want to further complicate their ironic, iconic, ionic bond. These are just a few thoughts that I hope will encourage you to consider me as a participant.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Engineering

How To Bounce Back From a Bad Semester

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

A bad GPA from one semester is not the end of the world IF you respond correctly.

We all have tough semesters. It felt like a professor was against you the entire time; a family issue took up most of your energy; too many programs wouldn’t work no matter how long you spent coding; or maybe, you just played Call of Duty way too much last semester. So you didn’t do too well last semester GPA-wise; that’s OK! You can bounce back! Just DON’T do these things:

DON’T DWELL ON IT
- The longer you dwell on the situation, the longer you prevent progress. Your GPA does not define you. You DO deserve to be here. You are not perfect; no person is.
DON’T IGNORE IT
- Dwelling on it is a no-no, but USING your GPA to make goals is a “yes-yes”! How are you going to know where you are heading and how to get there without looking back, at least briefly? Use last semester’s GPA to calculate what grades you need to get this semester in order reach your preferred GPA. The NC State website has a GPA calculator available for use.
DON’T SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP
- During the first few weeks of class (if not the first day of class), at the end of the session, you should introduce yourself to the professor. This sets up the potential for future interactions that can one day work to your benefit. The professor now knows your face and/or name, so when you start participating in class and sending emails, you are familiar to them. When extra credit opportunities arise, do them. When you can answer a question, answer. Do NOT dim your light and by the end of the semester when it is time for exams to be curved and grades to be determined, your participation in class and sometimes outside of class in a club or event related to the subject, may speak for itself. You could be setting yourself up to earn a better grade than what you would have gotten had you sat down and shut up.
DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AS LAST SEMESTER
- Did you suffer from poor study habits last year? Couldn’t get your head in the books and your body out of the party? Took too many difficult classes at once? Didn’t carve out enough time to properly prepare for each class? Priorities got a little mixed up? Just flat out had a negative attitude? That’s OK, just don’t do it again this semester. You know what you did that didn’t benefit your GPA before; and if you don’t know, reflect on it, and grow from it so that this semester can be better than the last.
DON’T EXCLUDE EXCLUSIONS
- Yes, the dreaded and blessed grade exclusion, it is not a myth. It can be your new best friend or your deal with the devil. Use it too soon or for a grade that is not that terrible, and you could regret it down the road. But use it at just the right time, for just the worst grade, and it can do wonders for your GPA. Talk to your advisor about the best decision for you and if using one is necessary. See if grade exclusions are an option at your university and ask your advisor if it may be right for you. Also, have an idea of how your future courses per semester will be in order to minimize your chances of needing another exclusion. It is best to make a well-informed decision and sometimes you are an even better determiner of that than an advisor.
DON’T LOSE FOCUS
- We all get off-track every now-and-then, but don’t let it be a permanent derailment. Find your motivation for doing well and use that drive throughout the semester until you finish strong. Why are you in school? Why do you want/need to do well? Who else wants success for you? Do you plan on graduating? –ever? If you do, get it together and let’s make it happen.
DON’T GO WITHOUT A SUPPORT SYSTEM
- The recovery process is not always easy or speedy, so try to have someone there to help you along the way: a counselor, a friend, a parent; someone who can help take some weight off your shoulders. You may even want to form a study group or get a buddy from class to help hold you accountable for classwork and you do the same for them.
DON’T TRY TO BE PERFECT
- Just be great!

All of these “DON’Ts” can be beneficial, but the best way to start this new semester is to speak over it; go ahead and declare that this semester will be better than the last and claim that you will already achieve the GPA that you are confident you can accomplish by the time the semester draws to a close. Remember, you CAN bounce back from a rough semester.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Creative

Funny Ways to Say “WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?”…

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

We don’t always have the right words to say, or know exactly what to do, but there are indeed some clever ways for getting connected to your Valentine.

JUST ASK

So, there is always the grade school method, “Do you like me? Check ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.” Straightforward, cute, simple, and allows expedition of Valentine’s Day plans. It all comes down to probability. The odds can only be 50/50. And if you’re that confident, try the “Check ‘Yes’ or ‘Yes’ option.”

USE YOUR WORDS

You knew it was coming; use your words! Somewhere in you is a poet. It doesn’t have to rhyme. It doesn’t have to be super serious. It just has to get across your affections. Try starting with the basics, the colors of roses and violets; you may be surprised where it leads you.

PICK UP LINES

They come in segments, as tangents, even as parallels, and now they come as pick ups; I’m talking about lines. Use them at your own risk. Every pick up line has a pinch of corny, but a dash of confidence and hope in them as well, not to mention cute. So muster up your best forms of flattery and put them to the test! Can’t think of any right off the dome? Here are a few to tuck away in your pocket.

SWEET THANG

If you feed them, they will come. Some folks just need a little sweet temptation to get in the Valentine’s Day spirit. Go with flowers if you want, but chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, or a slice of red velvet with buttercream icing will do nicely.

GET CREATIVE

Find your own way to express your affection and appreciation. Whether you express it in code, with your own invention, by using the lights you never took down for Christmas, or by typing “I Love You” in the calculator, express.

S.A.D.

Singles Awareness Day is real.

I asked my valentine out by writing “____, will you be my valentine…please?” between the lines on the back of a clothing store receipt. It was cute, unexpected, and from the heart; and the answer was yes; so, don’t underestimate the importance of presentation. May the force be with you as you ask away, for someone to be yours this Valentine’s Day.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Internship

How to Approach Your Internship Search

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

You’re back from spring break. Now time is ticking. The countdown has begun for either graduation, end of semester exams, a fantastic summer, or hopefully more than one of the three. And for some of you, that countdown is to an internship or beginning to search for one. Here is the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why” and “how” of internships.

Who should you be?
When applying for an internship, the question, “Should I be myself of someone else?” may pop into your head. The answer is, be your best self, professional but unique. Why should you impersonate someone else unless you do not believe that you are good enough for the position?

What is an internship?
1. An internship is supervised training.
2. It is not slavery. If something seems extremely wrong, escape… quickly.
3. An internship can be paid or unpaid. Not being paid does not mean it is slavery. It means you are willing to do what it takes to make yourself more marketable for the career you aspire to take on, a self-motivated worker that values the field.
4. An internship gives you the skills and necessary knowledge to enter a profession by helping you gain work experience. It is called an internSHIP for a reason, it should help you reach another destination.
When should I look for one/attain one?
Now! It’s never too early to look! Juniors and seniors should especially put internship at the top of their list.

Where should I look?
I was one of the lucky ones. I had the opportunity to take a class specifically directed at getting students in contact with internship opportunities for those who may need help finding one and getting more out of the internship experience for those who have already found one. See if your school and major offers such classes. Also, career fairs are a great way to find internships. The opportunities are brought right to your doorstep. All you have to do is get dressed, walk over with a ready resume, introduce yourself, and shine!

Many engineers find internships through personal connections, family ties, friends of friends, you never know who holds one of the many keys to your future occupational success. And do not forget to check online, it’s what this generation of college students does best right? One of those sites could be your launching point to applying for multiple internships. Lastly on the list of places to look, just ask! What is the company you want to work for? Go to it and ask if there are any internships available or if they have considered having an intern, if so, you may be just who they are looking for or quite possibly the asset they did not know they needed.

Here are some places you can start looking:

Why should I apply to an internship?
Refer back to what an internship is, would you not like something so valuable that could help you go places you may not have even envisioned yourself in?

An internship will also build your network of professionals. A common expression is, it’s not what you know, but who you know and sometimes more importantly, who knows you. Do not underestimate the value of an internship and its ability to not only highlight but build your strengths and give you a chance to be known.

Internships also allow you to get your feet wet. You never know what you’ll learn once you test the waters. You are bound to encounter things you don’t like about the career or environment just as you should encounter things you appreciate.

How should I apply?
Just do it….Carefully.

You have been given the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why” and “how” of internships. Use them wisely. Where will your internship search take you?

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Career

How to Find Meaningful Work 💓 [video]

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

What makes you tick? What makes you feel alive? What makes you feel most like yourself? Some people ignore these questions when job searching. Many are more motivated by the question, “How much does the job pay?” in order to live a preferred lifestyle. It makes sense; we work in order to live and we cannot live without money, so we find the best paying, tolerable job we can and begin “living”. Problem is, “living” is only “existing” if you find no meaning in your work. Yes, the number one requirement of a job is for it to pay, but explore the option of the number one requirement being for the job to have meaning.

Not everyone will find the same things meaningful. A baker may not find meaning in stock-broking. A teacher may not find meaning in building vehicles. It is important to find work that: 1) is fulfilling, 2) serves humanity, and 3) allows you to sense the impact of the work daily. Finding work that best suits you allows you to do your best, which allows your work to better the world around you.

Without directly mentioning it, the video below gave me tips on how to make a current job that ISN’T my dream job, more meaningful. For some, it could be a change in thinking that helps you hang in there with a job that you need, but do not prefer, the job on your way to your dream job.

Take a look at the video [below] yourself to learn more about meaningful work; not only how to find it, but how society got to a place where it is not highly valued and how to help create a system that supports finding it.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Education

Black Women…The Most Educated Group in U.S.?? [Op-Ed]

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

I recently read a report entitled, “Black Women Have Become The Most Educated Group In The U.S.” I read the title with a hint of disbelief and a hope of pride to draw from it. Questions ran through my head; “What? When did this happen? Nuuh. Where is the proof?” The article began by stating, According to The National Center for Education Statistics, black women have recently emerged as the most educated population of people by race and gender in the United States. That makes them a powerful force in the political and business world… Among U.S. residents, Black females earned 68 percent of associate’s degrees, 66 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 71 percent of master’s degrees, and 65 percent of all doctor’s degrees awarded to Black students.” Mislead by the first sentence mentioning “by race and gender”, I was excited until I noticed the “awarded to Black students” statement in the last sentence. Truth is, black women becoming the most educated group in the U.S. is an exaggeration.

Here is the real deal. The National Center for Education Statistics actually shows that black women are ahead only other minorities and their male counterparts. The white population gaining an education beyond high school is many times greater than the black population combined. Seeing as how the black population size is often right behind the white population size in statistics, black women have not made it very far in comparison. The results for education in STEM specifically are not much better. However, it is true that black women are on the rise in education. To see the stats yourself, visit https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=72 and the STEM link below the chart. They are not as encouraging as the article title mentioned before would have you to believe.

Ironically, those statistics encourage me to encourage you reader, to force a change in these statistics, to increase the number of not only black women, but black men who advance their education. I encourage you to help make the title of that article more believable and true. As a black woman, I understand we cannot change the population size so vastly so quickly, nor can we force anyone to attend an institution of higher learning, but we can encourage, we can enlighten, we can uplift others to do so, whether it’s in politics, psychology or a STEM field. We can be an example for youth to follow in our footsteps and not make graduating high school our only expectation, our black males especially. In the meantime, it is good to see the song becoming reality, that “sisters are doin’ it for themselves.”

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!
Cynthia M. Sharpe, is a May 2015 graduate of NC State University. Cynthia graduated with a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and currently aspires to pursue an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. “As I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Cynthia M. Sharpe, inspired by Marianne Williamson

Education

3 Important Reasons to Do STEM Outreach

March 5, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

Do you desire to pass on knowledge? -to inspire, teach, befriend and motivate others? Would you like to impact youth or work with STEM outside of work? Maybe you want to use your free time to be more involved in your community. Maybe your summer would have felt more fulfilling if you placed your efforts elsewhere. Well, maybe what you should be looking into is STEM Outreach, where you can use your share your knowledge and your valuable time with youth. There are plenty of reasons why you should participate in STEM Outreach, and here they are.

1. YOU:

A) Volunteering and/or working at a camp looks good on a resume. It makes you more hireable and because you work with kids, it speaks to your adaptability and communication skills.

B) You could get paid, depending on the position and organization.

C) Networking can be a great benefit to you whether you’re in the workforce yet or not and by volunteering/working in outreach, you never know what adults or companies or parents/relatives are watching you. They may be affiliated with a company you may be interested in joining.

D) It may do you some good to refresh your memory of concepts or you never know what little ones can teach you, about STEM, the world, or about yourself.

E) Socializing makes you live longer and helping others may endure a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

2. THEM:

A) This could be your chance to inspire someone to go to college and enter a STEM field. They may even go to YOUR college.

B) You may run into someone who does not even like STEM and was forced into camp, but you show them something that sparks a love for it.

C) If you are a part of an underrepresented group in STEM, you may be bringing someone of your same group into your area of study.

D) Every little person needs a big person, that’s just how life goes. They need guidance and someone to teach them, but they also need a friend, someone with similar interests: someone not there to judge them, but to help them.

E) Kids are often eager to learn and this stage in life is the perfect time for them to do so. But, they’re not just looking to you for STEM knowledge; they’re looking to you for the way you act, habits, the way you treat others and process information. They are sponges. Saturate them with good things.

F) You’re helping give these young people something productive, fun and challenging to do with their time, instead of something nonproductive or potentially detrimental.

G) You could be helping a child overcome something, whether it’s a fear or a concept.

3. STEM:

A) There are camps and other organizations that are seeking volunteers and/or employees to educate folks about STEM topics.

B) People often say the children are our future. They also say STEM is the future. Well, it may be smart to combine the two and get kids involved in STEM…seeing as how they are both our future. Having youth grow up with STEM can help them develop future technologies and innovate to better humanity’s way of life and hopefully the world we live in.

Consider being that unforgettable camp counselor or instructor for some young person, that person who recognized their potential, who made them feel special, like they could do anything and be anything. There are plenty of reasons to do STEM outreach. I encourage you to find your own reason. So, reach out, for you, for them, for STEM.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!