Creative
Creative
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STEMedia partners in “Making Math Meaningful!”
#MathPaths is “Making Math Meaningful!”
STEMedia is excited to partner with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin to bring you #MathPathways.
The first video in this series features Dr. Nehemiah Mabry, founder of STEMedia and Bridge Design Engineer at Simpson Engineers & Associates in Cary, North Carolina. Check out a promo teaser for the first installment below:
You can watch the full interview of Dr. Nee by visiting MathPaths.org.
Creative
Why We Love SHURI: Young, Black & Super
SPOILER ALERT!
I feel as though this is the perfect time to bring something to the light. March is Womenâs 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 Pantherâs 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! Shuriâs powers however, come from within. She is intelligent, creative, ambitious, funny, caring, beautiful, AND sheâs got the physique to be as bright of a star as TâChalla! If I had to choose a comic book woman crush, Shuri is it!
INTELLIGENCE
When it comes to smarts, Shuriâs gotâem! She is a younger, more melanated version of Tony Stark. At one point in the movie MâBaku comments at how embarrassed he is for Wakanda that a child is in control of their technological advancements, a child who âscoffs at traditionâ at that! Thankfully, he did not come for her womanhood, but coming for her youth is equally bad. Age does NOT determine oneâs 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⊠Iâll 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! Shuriâs creativity MUST NOT BE SLEPT ON! Her and her creativity are essential assets to Wakandian culture!
AMBITIOUS
Shuriâs 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 TâChallaâs shadow. She is vibrant; she is present; she does âtoo cool for school handshakesâ and she cracks jokes during serious moments. Her youth is a pleasant break of tension in the film. Shuri is also supportive. Sheâs 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 âout of this worldâ 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 TâChallaâs 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.
—
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. âAs I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.â -Cynthia M. Sharpe, inspired by Marianne Williamson
Career
Meet Katherine – the Musical Engineer
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Instagram has no shortage of individuals in the STEM fields who embrace a passion for creative expression. One of our favorites is Katherine (@naturallyshe) whose page is filled with awesome, 60 seconds or less, piano covers of anyone from Adele to Stevie Wonder to even Ludwig van Beethoven!
Katherine is an engineer, musician, and teacher in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Inspired by her own personal story and passions, she has been on a journey to highlight the parallels between music and STEM.
Her musicianship started over 20 years ago, when she started taking piano lessons, learning music theory, notation, and performance. She took lessons for 11 years, and since went on to accompany vocalists at church and events, and currently teaches piano to both children and adult students.
As a young child, she had an aptitude and love for math, but didnât quite know how that could translate into a future career. At the time, internet was not ubiquitous; as well, STEM outreach programs were not prevalent, so she wasnât even aware of STEM fields. But a chance conversation with her high school physics teacher steered her to declare an engineering major in college, and she went on to pursue two degrees in Civil Engineering.
Today, Katherine works as both an engineer and a musician. While teaching piano lessons, she began to recognize the parallels between music and engineering. One of the foremost parallels is that the skills gained as a musician (whether learning, listening to, or performing music) develop the ability to recognize and decipher patterns.  Music also develops creative thinking which can strengthen problem solving. Music builds imagination which leads to innovation and new design.
In 2015, Katherine started documenting these parallels and sharing them on Instagram, along with media portraying her embodiment of the music+STEM message. In doing so, she hopes to  shed light on STEM and encourage/inform artistic students that their passion, gifts, skills, and discipline as artists/musicians can be deployed in STEM.
Fun Fact: She also has her Professional Engineering license
Watch this inspiring rendition of her singing “World’s Greatest” đđœ
Career
BELIEVING IS ACHIEVING
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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 40âs. 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, âSurround yourself with people who are smarter than you.â The idea may sound strange at first and possibly a little insulting, but think of it this way; if you are trying to âlevel-upâ, 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. Donât 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 youâre 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 clichĂ©s.) 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 clichĂ©s become clichĂ© 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!
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
Creative
Why Elsa would make an Awesome Architectural Engineer
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Disneyâs Frozen was a smashing success, which introduced Elsa, a new royal role model who learns to embrace her inner power. Initially, Elsaâ parents keeps her in a controlled environment during her childhood, but through an unexpected burst of passion, Elsa reveals her powers to her whole kingdom. As the movie progresses, it becomes more evident that Elsa would make the perfect architectural engineer.
Architectural Engineer (with a Specialization in Castles)
- Regards efficiency as paramount
- Seamlessly incorporates beauty into every aspect of the final project.
- Provide everything required for building the perfect castle: plumbing, air-conditioning, heating; design, budget, and customer preferences; building materials, terrain, and climate.
- Delicately balances each component while maintaining the vision of the final project.
Efficiency
The movie Frozen only shows one side of Elsaâthe isolated, repressed teenager who discovers her powers are her strength. However, since she built a multistory ice castle by the time she finishes her song, the movie should have been about her engineering genius. How many castles have been completed in under five minutes?
Beauty
Have you seen that dress? Have you seen that chandelier? I mean, come onâŠ.
Services of Elsaâs Firm
- Air-conditioning included*
- Design from a tortured artist
- Cost is subsidized by the starving tax payers of Arendelle**
- Customer satisfaction is guaranteed***
- Free building materials
Specialist in arctic climate construction near cliffs
*Plumbing and heating not included.
**Feudalism was a dark time in the worldâs history
***Scarred from growing up in isolation, the owner of Snow Industries is still learning social formalities, and is perhaps too eager to please her customers.
Balance
- Problem: Anna illogically âfalls in loveâ with a man sheâs only met once
- Mistake 1: Elsa forbids Anna from marrying the prince without an explanation
- Mistake 2: Elsa shoots Anna in the heart with ice
- Resolution: The prince reveals he doesnât love her, and Anna realizes she loves a husky woodsman who eventually helps save her life.
Like many engineering students, Elsa gets the right answer by making two mistakes that eventually cancel out.
Visionary
Engineers must envision a grand venture and passionately drive it towards completion. Elsa comes up with the unique idea of using her powers to build a castle. Her only competition would be the Minnesotan engineer who 3-D printed a concrete castle in his backyard. Unfortunately for him, the snow monster kept melting before it was done printing.
Engineering is Better than Love
Comparing the socially awkward, depressed sister to an engineer is perhaps too stereotypical. However, in The Snow Queen, the book on which Frozen was based, Hans Christian Anderson portrays the snow queen (Elsa) as a powerful matriarch with a flock of magic snow bees that guard her ice castle. Gerda (Anna) is a pathetic peasant who risks her life to change her scathing boyfriend by removing the magic ice from his eyes. Who wouldnât take the nanobot-snow-bees and become the engineer that her mother always wanted her to marry?
Like all math and science nerds going through puberty, Elsa also had to work through issues with her parents, emotions, and special abilities. Moreover, like all engineers in adulthood, Elsa is able to forge awe-inspiring structures, soar to the top of management, and domineer all the social science majorsâŠOh, I mean, subjects of her kingdom.
Written by: Sarah K. R. Long >> “After graduating with a bachelorâs degree in chemical engineering at NC State University, I adventured to Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel for a medical doctorate. My compliant southern demeanor was squeezed in the aggressive, blunt culture of Israel and the weighty expectations of my teachers. I exploded into words.”
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Creative
Technimetric I STEM_Poetry â Cynthiaâs Reflection
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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!
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
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Creative
A Military Veteran and former Science Major Join Forces…
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NSBEpreneur Podcast
Show Notes
Episode 3 â Michael Garvin (Interview): A Military Veteran and former Science Major Join Forces to start a Sneaker Boutique
Michael Garvin is co-founder of REDtro Habitat, a sneaker restoration and consignment apparel store. The business provides restoration of old or new sneakers, redesigning custom or exclusive sneakers, and consignment apparel. The initial restoring and repairing sneakers to a factory look is the primary focus and the base of their work; however retail is the majority of what is done. REDtro Habitat is located in the downtown area of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The organization is committed to providing the highest quality workmanship and customer service, while supporting the sneaker community with another location to purchase goods and services. To be successful, they implement and maintain the latest, exclusive trends in sneakers and apparel, while training likeminded employees/team members.
Random Fact:
Michael is a wounded warrior, a war veteran who still currently serves our country in the military.
The Idea:
A conversation sparked after watching a TV commercial which lead to a plan for starting the first local sneaker boutique in Fayetteville, NC. Both founders drew upon the youth experiences and ongoing love for nice shoes as inspiration to offer something that was missing in the existing market.
First Steps:
They wrote out a business plan which got the idea out from inside their heads. They examined the target market, price points, locations, etc⊠From there they combined funds to establish a starting inventory, secured the necessary permits and launched the business on the designated start date.
Early Challenge:
Reading the motives of others. Determining who, of the individuals came around them, had their best interest in mind versus just wanting to hop on the bandwagon.
Advice:
- Itâs OK to hear âNoâ â You will hear a lot of âNoâsâ from people at first but keep a clear vision of your goal and keep moving towards it.
- Stay earlier and donât waste any time #TimeisMoney â Make sure every minute you are doing something positive towards your goal
- Always Plan and Progress
- Donât Forget about the People who care about you
*Book and/or Resource:
- âThe Art Of War
â (book) by Sun Tzu
- âThe Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage)
â (book) by Barak Obama
*Books are Amazon affiliate links.
Quote:
7 Ps â âProper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performanceâ – Military Adage
Contact info:
Facebook: /REDtroHabitatSneakerBoutique
Twitter: @RedtroHabitat
*BONUS Video: REDtro Habitat Sneaker Boutique: The Journey Begins
Creative
Itâs Not Complicated: INC Tutoring is making a direct…
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NSBEpreneur Podcast
Show Notes
Episode 6 â Itâs Not Complicated: INC Tutoring is making a direct impact in the lives of students. (Interview w/ Jay Veal)
Jay Veal is the Founder and CEO of INC Tutoring, a private, prescriptive tutoring company specializing in individual one-on-one tutoring that achieves RESULTS. Serving clients at all academic levels in math, science and standardized test preparation, their tutors are passionate about providing a collaborative learning environment specifically tailored to the studentâs learning style. The curriculum is not a âone size fits allâ cookie cutter template but a holistic one that includes input from parents teachers and the student to develop lessons that foster accelerated learning/ which equals lower customer cost. INC Tutoring is one of the most sought after tutoring organizations and the only minority owned, private, prescriptive tutoring company in the Dallas area.
Random Fact:
Jay is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish; which he learning as the child of military parents once stationed in Arizona.
The Idea:
He started tutoring college students in Math as a 10 year. Throughout the years he continued to get request for teaching and tutoring in the STEM subjects. After a short stint actually teaching Math in high school, her discovered that it was a way for him to combine his passion with profit.
First Steps:
He first steps were to master the craft of teaching. He recognized that effective teaching s quite different than simply delivering information. Next, his goal was to build clientel and beginning marketing both online and going door to door.
Early Challenge:
It was a surprise to find out that an existing software could not be used to quickly build the product but things would need to be create from the ground up.
Advice:
- Start your company as early as early as you can.
- Guard your ideas â Hone in on things that you are passionate about
- Keep Your Drive â To the point that no one else can beat you at your own game.
*Book and/or Resource:-
- âThink and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller – Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
â (book) by Napoleon Hill
- âRich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
â (book) by Guy Kawasaki
- Coursera.org – Take free online classes from 120+ top universities and educational organizations
- MITx – Free Courses from MIT | edX
*Books are Amazon affiliate links.
Favorite Quote:
âTo lead an orchestra, you must turn your back on the crowd.â âAristotle
Contact info:
Email: info@inctutoring
Jay Veal on LinkedIN
Twitter: @INCTUTORING
Facebook: /ItsNotComplicatedTutoring
Instagram: @inctutoring