Girls in STEM activities - My personal experience

 

Since I was 14-years-old I opted for an educational background strictly related to scientific area. I attended a scientific path in high school and then I started Engineering course at university. As DC in NESTOR project, I currently have the opportunity to enjoy research activities and make experience in Information Science and Technology area.
During these years, I often heard about the theme of being girls in STEM nowadays. For sure this is a very delicate and complex theme to treat and discuss, but I often find myself wonder: if I had the opportunity, what would I have liked to say to 14-years-old me?
The challengers are many, but for sure the best advice I would have liked  to receive is: don’t be afraid to fail.
Especially during University period, it is very common to want to give our best and show our values. Still, it is easy to confuse this feeling with the idea we should be perfect and never commit mistakes. Although this easy concept can be valid for both the genres, the perception is that -when STEMs items are treated - girls are more often under the bias pressure of demonstrating their value. As personal experience, the result is that most of us live university as a period where we constantly proof something to someone, instead of living study and research as a possibility to learn. This slight difference in educational path perception can lead to huge differences at the end. Failing is part of the process, and only by trying and committing mistakes it is possible to acquire the ability to think independently and out of the schemes. Being brave is the first step of a long journey to acquire confidence in ourselves and gain the experience to perform activities in the most professional way.
Another important advice that I would have liked to receive at the beginning of my studies is that putting myself in a comfortable environment is the best way to achieve better performances and be more creative. For this reason, express us, our thoughts and our way to do is very important.
Empowering girls in STEM is essential for fostering innovation, economic growth, and addressing global challenges. While significant progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to break down the barriers that girls face. Through educational programs, mentorship, scholarships and awareness campaigns, we can create a more inclusive and diverse STEM landscape. By supporting and encouraging girls in STEM, we are investing in a brighter and more equitable future for all.