Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle women under-representation in STEM. This weekly Newsletter will showcase how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.
Today, Angelica Arra Fernandez is our STEM role model. Born in the Philippines, curiosity has always been one of her driving forces. She grew up watching Japanese animes, and this hobby has highly influenced her professional journey.
Arra describes herself as a jill-of-all-trades multimedia designer. She has more than 10 years of professional experience and has worked for different industries; science & technology, advertising, tech startups, telecommunications, and e-commerce. Along the way, she held different titles and handled many different tasks: from a graphic designer creating logos, to a motion designer creating motion graphic ads and animations, to a 3d artist creating 3d models and assets, to a well-rounded multimedia designer creating all kinds of graphic and design projects.
Outside of work, Arra loves spending time outdoors, travelling or lazing down by the beach. Now let’s find out how her teenager passion for Japanese animes got her into STEM.
What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally or academically?
I majored in digital illustration and animation in school so where I am right now professionally isn’t that far from what I studied, although I originally wanted to be an animator in Japan working in the anime industry because I grew up watching them.
What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?
My path into STEM was unplanned. When I was a kid until I was in elementary school, I always thought I’d pursue a career in Journalism. When I reached high school, I got into anime so much that I told myself I want to be an animator (I also started honing my drawing/illustration skill at this point).
But there are no colleges or universities that offer animation courses at that time, from where I live. My mom wanted me to major in Accountancy and be a CPA lawyer but I didn’t really feel that it was the path for me. Halfway through senior year, I still haven’t applied to any college/university.
But during our career/college open house day, I learned that one of the major universities in our city has started offering a new course/major under the college of computer studies, which I eventually enrolled and majored in; Bachelor of Science in Digital Illustration and Animation.
To be honest I’m not entirely sure if my profession falls under STEM. But most of the industries I’ve worked for and the scope of work I do falls under a lot of different strands, one of which is STEM.
What’s your most important professional or academic achievement?
The most important academic achievement I have is being part of a team who received a national award for a short animation film project. Professionally, one of my biggest achievements is designing and launching an app/brand from scratch by myself for the first time.
Did you face any challenge throughout your professional/academic journey? How did you overcome it?
As with all of us, I have had my fair share of academic and professional challenges. Mostly about differences in opinion or approach on certain matters or biting more than I could chew and eventually failing to provide the expected output, and of course being laid-off without a backup plan.
I always try to keep an open and positive mind (after having a bit of a breakdown initially lol). When I was starting out, whenever I would face a challenge, I would always take it personally, always feeling that it’s entirely my fault and beating myself up about it so much. But as time passed, I learned to grow with the challenges as well. I’ve learned to accept things as they are, and not to take things personally. I’ve learned to live the “this too shall pass” mentality because it always does just pass.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?
I believe there needs to be more immersive, face to face events for girls and women that focuses on in-depth introduction to and education about STEM.
What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?
I’d say educate yourself, do some research before diving in. STEM can be overwhelming at first with all the technicalities and all the branches but once you get immersed, it’s very rewarding and fulfilling as well. Get yourself a mentor, join communities of like-minded people.
Arra has a great story, that shows us that STEM is not all about mathematics and experiments in labs. Her story is a great example of how our passions and hobbies outside school can indeed lead us to pursue a successful career in STEM. I’m sure many will take inspiration from her fantastic journey so far.
If you are a woman working in any field of STEM and would like to help breaking stereotypes, please reach out. You could be the next STEM role model and inspire more women.
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