Completely unexpectedly, we received the email below from one of the girls who participated in our STEM/ STEAM challenge a few years back. It makes for wonderful reading; Eve has said she is very happy for us to share this widely. Very well done to her and to the SIB Steam group!
Hello there,
About seven years ago my friend and I entered the STEM challenge, and it has genuinely changed the trajectory of my life. Lucy and I won back-to-back competitions in 2018 and 2019 which gained us a lot of recognition from the school and was the reason we were put forward for many other extra-curricular scientific projects. This spurred me to take A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths and now I am an undergraduate studying Chemistry at the University of York.
Just recently I have been selected for a summer studentship researching Self-healing organometallic catalysts for next generation advanced boron nitride materials for eight weeks at Yale University. In my interview they asked me what the achievement was I was most proud of to which I responded with the STEM challenges and competitions. I began to realise what an important turning point in my life that was. It was the first time since being in Secondary school I didn’t have to play down my intelligence and I could be proud of what I achieved. Since I have never once questioned my ability public speaking or questioned whether I was good enough to do something and have thrown myself into numerous different projects. As a young girl it was not always easy to feel confident, at STEM I did not have to worry about that and could just do what I enjoyed. Just recently I have been asked to be a sub-editor of Chemistry Review magazine who I have been writing for over the past year at university, another opportunity I could have so easily missed.
Your investment in the future generation is an inspiration. I cannot truly say I would be where I am today if I hadn’t taken the leap and participated in the STEM challenge. I wanted to share my successes with you as the STEM competitions were the spark that set me off. Thank you for all the hard work you continue to do, I’m sure it is no easy feat! I am incredibly grateful to all of you and hope one day I can inspire the next generation of young girls to be scientists.
It would be lovely to hear from you and what your latest projects entail.
Many thanks,
Eve Whiting
Two SIB members have responded to Eve and will update her on our latest achievements. We hope to keep in touch with her and learn more of her career.
If you are interested in this and would like to come along to a Soroptimist International Bournemouth meeting to find out more, please email us at sigbibournemouth@hotmail.co.uk.