Special Edition Empowering the Future: Girls and their Perspectives on STEM – Ronalda L. 11 years old (Trinidad and Tobago)

Welcome to a special edition of STEM Demystified, shining a spotlight on the voices of younger girls, aged 11+, to gain insight into how they view the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

While my mission has always been to inspire women to break into STEM fields, I believe that spark of interest begins long before career decisions are made. That’s why in this edition, we’re diving into the thoughts, dreams, and curiosities of the next generation.

The motivation behind this special edition comes from a simple truth: girls at a young age often miss out on information and role models in STEM. With this project, I want to uncover what girls in this age group already know about these careers and how we can make them more accessible, exciting, and relatable. Hearing their perspectives allows us to better shape the future and ensure that no girl feels left behind when it comes to pursuing her dreams in STEM.

Let me introduce you to Ronalda L., an inspiring 11-year-old girl from Trinidad with a dream of becoming a veterinarian. Her passion for helping animals—both sick and healthy—fuels her desire to one day make a difference in their lives. Outside of her love for animals, Ronalda enjoys playing tennis, gardening, and painting. She envisions a future where she uses science to give hope to pets and their owners, showing us that even at a young age, her drive to combine STEM with her compassion is already taking root.

What do you think of when you hear about careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)? Are there any jobs that interest you? If not, tell me why.

When I heard about the careers in STEM it gave me some motivation knowing that I’m not the only girl who’s interested in the science area of STEM. Yes, I’m interested in the Science part of STEM.

When you think about your future career, what kind of work do you imagine doing? Can you see yourself using science, technology, engineering, or math in your job?

When I think of my future career, I can imagine myself being a veterinarian. Yes, I can see myself using Science in my job. Science experiments can help me be more interested in STEM.

 Activities that would make STEM more attractive to girls like me is doing background research on pets example looking at the different species and their environment and how they survive.

How important is it for you to see women working in STEM roles? Do you think seeing more women in these careers would make you feel more confident about pursuing a similar path?

It is very important for me to see women working in STEM roles. Yes, I think seeing women in STEM careers would be me feel more confident and to pursue a similar path.

Create a drawing of how you see a STEM professional.

My drawing represents that a person has so much potential to go down different paths, different jobs they apply for. However, with STEM success is guaranteed. The middle one represents STEM as I thought of trees. I thought that trees are different and so are humans.

As we hear from incredible girls like Ronalda, it becomes clear that young minds are full of curiosity, ambition, and potential. These girls already dream big and see a place for themselves in STEM – whether it’s through engineering, technology, or even helping animals as future veterinarians. Their voices remind us that with the right support, encouragement, and visibility of female role models, they can build amazing futures in these fields.

Let’s continue to show them that STEM isn’t just about solving equations or building robots – it’s about solving real-world problems and shaping the future. By making STEM more relatable, exciting, and empowering for girls, we open doors to endless possibilities. These young girls are the future of STEM, and their perspectives can help us create a more inclusive, innovative, and diverse world.

Now, it’s time for all of us to act. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or professional in STEM, you can play a part in encouraging young girls to explore these fields. Start by sharing stories of female role models, creating fun STEM activities, or simply having conversations about the exciting opportunities available. Together, we can inspire and support the next generation of girls to pursue their passion and realize their potential in STEM!

Let’s empower the future STEM leaders and innovators together.