I learnt what STEAM meant two years ago, when I attended the WiSci (women in science) camp in the summer of 2015. I was super excited; because, it combined everything I loved. Math has been my love since a very tender age, although neither my older brother nor sister was fond of it. I was amazed by how science can answer many questions about how the world works. Technological advances had provided us with lots of practical inventions making the world more connected. Finally engineering is the thread holding all of these together, by creating awesome things for us to use.
I was just a small five year old playing with children in the neighborhood when my interest in STEAM was sparked. We were playing with a catapult, and I was intrigued at how a stick and rubber band can make something so functional. I did not know it then, but I fell in love with making things at that instant. Since then I have worked on various project involving making things. For example, I designed a transportation system with the aim of avoiding overpopulation in the bus. We installed touch sensors on our prototype so that whenever a person enters the bus, they are counted. When the bus is full, the entrance doors are locked until there is a free spot.
However, all is not well at Kumansenu. Not everyone understands that women should be involved in STEAM. I once met with a childhood guy friend. When I told him that I majored in Physics, Math and Chemistry (PCM); his reaction was one of disbelief. He asked me whether I was forced to take that major, for he couldn't believe that I chose it myself. PCM is a combination reputed to be extremely hard and only meant for boys. His reaction was one of the many negative ones I get whenever I say that I chose to major in hard sciences. Many people believe that girls should major in softer subjects like humanities and social sciences. Whenever a girl decides to go against the norms and majors in Science, she is called Igishegabo, roughly translating to 'the one who aspires to be a man.'
I was lucky to study in all-girls schools during high school. I got all the support I needed as a girl who aspired to have a career in STEAM- fields. However not all girls get the same chance. I had a chance to witness the scarcity of girls in STEAM when I went for the national science competitions. A big number of the participants were boys. I was competing in math and got the second place; however I was the only girl in the top three for all the subjects we competed in. My little sister also took the same road, but she studies in a co-ed school. They are only ten girls out of fifty students in her class.
I have been heavily involved in STEAM awareness programs to encourage girls to go against the norms. Together with the girls who attended the WiSci camp, we created WiSci Rwanda. We worked with different partners and sponsors to organize annual STEAM camps for girls. We taught them how to use Science and Technology to solve multiple problems our country, and the world at large, are facing. After a week of intensive studying, they made amazing projects that went on to compete on international level.
Despite all the efforts devised, there is still a long way to go. A big number of girls do not understand why they should join STEAM related fields. It is our job to be the pioneers. I acknowledge that I still have a long way to go to consider myself a woman in STEAM. This fall, I shall go to one of the world's best school in STEAM to major in mechanical engineering. I still get lots of negative reaction when I say this. Some people doubt my physical strength, others my mental capacity to handle such a major. However I will keep going, for I know my future is mine to define.
I was just a small five year old playing with children in the neighborhood when my interest in STEAM was sparked. We were playing with a catapult, and I was intrigued at how a stick and rubber band can make something so functional. I did not know it then, but I fell in love with making things at that instant. Since then I have worked on various project involving making things. For example, I designed a transportation system with the aim of avoiding overpopulation in the bus. We installed touch sensors on our prototype so that whenever a person enters the bus, they are counted. When the bus is full, the entrance doors are locked until there is a free spot.
However, all is not well at Kumansenu. Not everyone understands that women should be involved in STEAM. I once met with a childhood guy friend. When I told him that I majored in Physics, Math and Chemistry (PCM); his reaction was one of disbelief. He asked me whether I was forced to take that major, for he couldn't believe that I chose it myself. PCM is a combination reputed to be extremely hard and only meant for boys. His reaction was one of the many negative ones I get whenever I say that I chose to major in hard sciences. Many people believe that girls should major in softer subjects like humanities and social sciences. Whenever a girl decides to go against the norms and majors in Science, she is called Igishegabo, roughly translating to 'the one who aspires to be a man.'
I was lucky to study in all-girls schools during high school. I got all the support I needed as a girl who aspired to have a career in STEAM- fields. However not all girls get the same chance. I had a chance to witness the scarcity of girls in STEAM when I went for the national science competitions. A big number of the participants were boys. I was competing in math and got the second place; however I was the only girl in the top three for all the subjects we competed in. My little sister also took the same road, but she studies in a co-ed school. They are only ten girls out of fifty students in her class.
I have been heavily involved in STEAM awareness programs to encourage girls to go against the norms. Together with the girls who attended the WiSci camp, we created WiSci Rwanda. We worked with different partners and sponsors to organize annual STEAM camps for girls. We taught them how to use Science and Technology to solve multiple problems our country, and the world at large, are facing. After a week of intensive studying, they made amazing projects that went on to compete on international level.
Despite all the efforts devised, there is still a long way to go. A big number of girls do not understand why they should join STEAM related fields. It is our job to be the pioneers. I acknowledge that I still have a long way to go to consider myself a woman in STEAM. This fall, I shall go to one of the world's best school in STEAM to major in mechanical engineering. I still get lots of negative reaction when I say this. Some people doubt my physical strength, others my mental capacity to handle such a major. However I will keep going, for I know my future is mine to define.
Commentaires
Enregistrer un commentaire