WWhat happens when you fail your first computer science test in high school?
When I was in college, I did an internship at Microsoft.
At universities around the world, women are less likely than men to earn a STEM degree (48 percent vs. 65 percent). But an even sadder figure is the number of women who don't even make it that far. Research shows that many women don't embark on STEM paths because they don't believe they're capable, even though they're just as ready as men. Women are more likely to feel marginalized as an isolated minority in their field even before entering the workforce, worsening recruitment and retention rates. Courses are difficult, job opportunities are competitive, and finding women in any of these roles is difficult. With prospects like this, they often drop out.
If men and women enter college with equal preparation, but women don't believe there's a space for them, then it doesn't matter how much they learned to code or how good their teachers were. It does not matter. Until we change women's perceptions of what is possible, we will never increase the number of women in the technology talent pipeline. Without them, you'll miss out on important insights and ideas to solve your biggest problems.
Angela was smart, ambitious, and bravely embraced the challenge of being one of the few girls in her high school senior computer science class. Angela was interested in this field, but one experience shook her confidence. As a result of her tremendous amount of studying, she failed her first computer science exam. Her diligent efforts should have shown otherwise, but this feedback made her feel as though her brain wasn't built for this kind of work and therefore didn't need to continue. , I came to the conclusion that computer science wasn't for me.
At just the right time, a friend told her about a program like this: SeatecThere, she was able to meet women working in technology jobs and learn what it's like to work in STEM fields. Angela attended SheTech Explorer Day in hopes of being introduced to an alternative field to computer science and gaining more confidence. Instead, she learned more about computer science jobs than she ever imagined. Angela met dozens of women working in the field who had fascinating professional and personal lives, and she took the time to talk with them about their interests and futures.
SheTech Explorer Day convinced Angela that she had the ability to succeed and that the course she was taking would challenge anyone. Stories about their own struggles and setbacks helped her understand that there was a place for her in STEM. This experience inspired Angela to change her ideas about herself and keep moving forward with a new vision of what was possible for her own personal future.
Currently, Angela is studying (you guessed it!) Computer Science at the University of Utah. Angela graduated from high school in Computer Technology as a Sterling Scholar and is currently excelling in college. She recently completed her internship at Microsoft. Although her college courses are much more difficult than the ones she started in high school, she tries again when she gets stuck and that setbacks and failures make her lose confidence in her chosen career path. there is no. Angela's entire life trajectory changed because real women in STEM inspired her to keep pushing forward and do more than she ever thought possible.
This is the activation that every girl needs. No matter what they are interested in, they will learn that technology is part of the field and that there is a path for them in STEM fields with so many opportunities and possibilities. You are entitled to opportunities.
The next SheTech Explorer Day is March 14, 2024. No matter where you work or live, talk to the high school girls you know about their interests, their futures, and the opportunities that await them in the tech industry. Sign up to help us connect with role models who will inspire you and support your life trajectory. We need them in her STEM fields, and they need us to help them understand how true that is. 
