‘I can do it.’ Tarrant County program builds girls’ confidence in STEM
Valeria Venegas wants to be a pediatrician.
She faces an obstacle: the gender divide in the STEM workforce. Men make up 65% of the industry, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
However, Valeria, an incoming junior at Fort Worth ISD's Paschal High School, said she has become more confident in her ability to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math as a woman. She attributes that confidence to her participation in Girls Inc. of Tarrant County's Eureka! , a five-year program that ignites students' confidence and skills in STEM.
"Something that has changed since joining the program is the positivity that I have about being a girl in STEM," Valeria said. "I am more confident and assured that I can do it."
The program teaches young women about personal development, college preparation, workforce readiness and healthy practices, said Taylor Williams, STEM program coordinator.
Workshops give members more knowledge about how they can enter different fields and topics like scientific explorations and discoveries made by women. One workshop focused on progress made in understanding cell development, Valeria said.
"For my friend and I, it set an example because we want to be in the medical field," Valeria said.
Aside from workshops, field trips allow members to be exposed to new careers and processes they might not have otherwise considered pursuing — including those not in STEM.
"When we have taken the girls on field trips they figure out their major in college," Williams said. "One girl was set on doing marine biology in college, but we went to Quorum over the summer and they talked to them about interior design, and she could see herself doing that too."
Members also participate in hands-on activities relating to STEM and personal well-being. Creating scented body scrubs and bath bombs exposes members to specific careers that use STEM knowledge, like cosmetic chemistry. Taking yoga classes and making stress balls teach students about the importance of physical and mental health.
During school breaks, Eureka! participants go on three-day trips to different colleges, such as Oklahoma State University, Texas Woman's University and Tulsa Technology Center.
While some programs offer similar experiences, the values of Eureka! and the connections made are two things that set it apart from other programs, Valeria said.
"The program has stepping stones for all the girls," Valeria said. "I've seen all of us expand and look toward the future."
Georgie London is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. at . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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