You come from a heritage of great scientists.
Hey there TechDiva!
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a STEM career. As a black female, you come from a heritage of great scientists. Some, such as Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson, worked as mathematicians and human computers 60 years ago to launch the United States into space. Without that work, we would never have made it to the moon and the Space Shuttle would have never launched.
The challenges we face as a country today have somewhat changed. What has not changed, however, is the importance that science and technology play in providing solutions to those challenges. We have seen with the recent pandemic the absolutely crucial role that communications have played – connecting not only students to their classrooms, but also families across the globe, and continuing to enable companies to do business. STEM careers are the foundations on which this country, its businesses, and its dreams are built.
I have three daughters and a son (the youngest). My oldest one took a liking to math, science, computers, and technology. She recently graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Computer Science Engineering. She did some work in industry but found that her calling was not in a company. Instead, she found that she had a knack for taking things that were really complicated and complex and simplifying them so that others could comprehend and learn them. She continued her education and is about to receive her teaching credentials where she will then take those skills into the classroom to teach middle and high school students and help them grasp scientific theories and principles.
Yes – science and tech can be scary at first. There’s so much out there. There’s so much to learn. That just means there are so many areas to flourish in. The concepts learned from coding and programming apply to so many fields in STEM. These skills have become core to most all STEM careers because computers have become the central tool common to all industries alike.
As an example, my teams are responsible for operating one of the largest Wireless Networks in the United States. Some team members write code, some deploy the software and make sure it integrates into the network, and some are responsible for the upkeep and repair of the computer hardware that the programs run on. When you make a call on your mobile phone or you go online to post a video or chat to your friends, there’s a lot that goes on in the background to make it happen. The programs help attach or connect your device to the network, they tell the cell sites to give you a frequency to operate off of, and they help protect against robo and spam calls – all before your phone starts ringing. That’s what the engineers with their STEM careers do on my teams.
I would encourage you to look at things you enjoy doing – look at things that interest you or that you have a passion for. Maybe it’s law enforcement. Maybe it’s teaching. Maybe it’s with NASA and Aerospace. Maybe it’s going into space and conducting experiments on the Space Station. Maybe it’s self-driving cars. Maybe it’s electric cars and vehicles. Maybe it’s Healthcare. Maybe it is communications. Find something that you would enjoy getting up in the morning and doing – you can almost guarantee that there are STEM careers that make it call come together. Pick that career, and pursue it. Your coding skills will be a great asset to you. It won’t feel like work because you’ll enjoy what you do. When you do that, you’ll make a difference in this world. You’ll make this a better place to live in and help others to overcome obstacles by bringing solutions.
Here’s a picture of the three ladies who were instrumental in getting America into space (from left to right, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan). You can watch their story in the movie, “Hidden Figures” (or read the book by the same name, authored by Margot Lee Shetterly).
Joseph
Joseph is a Director for Verizon’s Wireless Network organization. He graduated with a degree in Math with an emphasis in Computer Sciences from California State University in Long Beach, California. He has recently also completed his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Joseph is a big proponent of STEM careers and is also heavily involved in the development of Women as Leaders in Verizon.
