When I think of my community I think of Bakersfield: a city afflicted with low literacy rates, high dropout rates, and an ongoing list of detrimental statistics.
A specific issue that I wanted to see addressed in my community was the lack of hands-on opportunities for the youth in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) associated fields. With STEM subjects dictating curriculum in schools and in the job market, the youth in Bakersfield should have an outlet in the community where they can begin potential research projects or just have a place to get more information for future career paths and goals. I wanted to provide a voice for the youth community in Bakersfield. For me, this meant applying for the first Bakersfield Youth Commission. After submitting
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By becoming a member of this commission, I had access to more resources to get plans enacted and a platform to impact the youth of Bakersfield because of the collaborative aspect that it provided for me to work with co-commissioners, existing councilmen, and the Bakersfield youth. I drew inspiration from my time being a mentor at Lego Mindstorm helping underprivileged children learn to use STEM applications to code robots at a local library. By using special Lego blocks and coding software program, I was able to give these children their first interaction with engineering. Better yet, these children acquired the basic knowledge of coding in a unique and interactive way that turned a daunting task that involved engineering and technology, to an approachable activity. As of now, I am working with the commission to schedule STEM conventions at local schools and having advisers from college campuses provide guidance to students. Not only with STEM, this experience
I am interest in working abroad with an organization that responds to basic needs and encourages peace. My curiosity in these particular fields of study grew stronger when I joined international club at my high school and continued to grow through a cultural experience I had when I spent a month traveling around Europe. Although I have always had some root in pacifism, as a Mennonite, I have recently connected to this idea and have found this world view increasingly compelling. Classes like “World History II” and “Restorative Justice: Theory and Practice,” here at Bluffton, continue to inspire and confirm my desire to work in a field focusing on issues of peace, justice, and development. Bluffton University has many classes that can help me
The value of the STEM system (science, technology, engineering, and math) is steering the education world in a new and positive direction, although some may believe otherwise. In Lloyd Bentsen’s article, “the United States educational system will continue to fail our children,” he talks about how he disagrees with Zakaria, another writer stating his views on the STEM system. Bentsen believes the STEM system will benefit America. In Scott Gerber’s article, “How Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing America,” he talks about how people can correlate their majors into entrepreneurship. Lastly, in Fareed Zakaria’s article, “Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous,” he shares his belief that our obsession with STEM is just a way to overlook
Pacific Oaks College culture and pedagogy encompasses several elements that strongly appeal to me. First and foremost, their emphasis on social justice and equity resonates deeply with my personal values. The college's commitment to creating a just and inclusive society aligns with my belief in the transformative power of education for promoting social change. I am inspired by their dedication to fostering understanding, respect, and advocacy for marginalized communities through their curriculum and campus activities. I have never felt so taken care of by a college as I am at Pacific Oaks.
My desire to help students in Mississippi stems from my personal experience as a student in Mississippi College. Through volunteering as a member of the Balancing The Deficit and engaging faculty and students who are native to the area, I had many interactions with Mississippians and saw the genuine kindness in them. Through those interactions, I learned to appreciate their hospitality and down-to-earth attitude. My affection toward people in Mississippi grew tremendously while in school, and I decided to serve the community after I graduate. I want to serve the community as a peer educator so that I can help teenagers in Mississippi develop good studying habits and help them find purpose and, more importantly, success in their studying
Our community in specific is lacking of many essential needs. I believe that education starts in the very early steps of an individual’s life. I have had a mission on my head for a while now. This mission is to help young Hispanics to have access to early-staged education. I want to see my people achieve their beloved American Dream.
A survey conducted by “Andrew Bennett, a management consultant” showed that 84 out of 100 business leaders “would rather hire smart, passionate people, even if they didn’t have the exact skills their companies needed.” This survey confirms that its better for students to be well rounded in their education rather than have an education based entirely on STEM. Another study conducted by Oxford scholars found that for workers to win the competition against computers for their jobs, “they will have to acquire creative and social skills.” A STEM education won’t teach creativity and social skills; it will stifle them. Overall Zakaria’s abundance of facts were key in persuading the
In doing so, I founded Hack4Progress in 2015, a nonprofit organization that provides web-design support for other nonprofits, programming tutoring and mentorship for youth, and free Raspberry Pi computers for disadvantaged high school students in inner city Dallas. Although I have always been passionate about learning and applying engineering and computer science, Jackie Robinson’s selfless example developed a desire within me to use these disciplines to positively influence others in my community. For that I reason, I plan to pursue a professional degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin and use my acquired knowledge to start a humanitarian engineering and social entrepreneurship fi rm to build technological solutions to problems that persist with society’s most vulnerable, e.g. access to water, energy, health services, and basic
Such success stories are inspirational to perspective student studying and/or working in a STEM field.
I have successfully planned and executed workshops and programs that have significantly contributed to the academic and career development of students, and I am eager to bring this expertise to further enrich the MESA program. Moreover, I have demonstrated proficiency in both English and Spanish, allowing me to effectively communicate with a diverse student body and engage with various communities. My prior involvement in managing the Los Angeles Valley College Biotech academy and participating in grant implementation has honed my skills in grant compliance, and reporting, which will prove invaluable in overseeing the MESA program's activities and ensuring its success. Having worked with postsecondary students in STEM-based fields for four years, I understand the challenges and opportunities they face.
Coming from a different culture but still embracing the Christian values that Loma Linda University emphasizes, I believe that my unique background and personal experiences distinguish my application from others. Growing up in Egypt, where the gap between social classes is significant, my parents always stressed the need to prioritize service into my life encouraging me to dedicate time in volunteering and helping others. As a result, my experience has grown from volunteering to serve as a camp leader for orphans in the summer to participating in international dental service trips. These involvements would allow me to use my skills in organizing missions trips at Loma Linda. Being a Coptic Orthodox Christian enables me to add diversity to the
Ever since grade school, I was passionate about working in the field of medicine, and science. I enjoyed anatomy, medical spelling and terminology, and reading about the healthcare industry. Because of my passion for healthcare, I decided to to attend Health Sciences High. There, I was given the best opportunities, such as, medical internships and college health courses. My plans and goals had turned me into a mature young adult.
Although there are many circumstances that contribute to choosing a STEM career, positive role models are the most influential in empowering adolescents to choose an education in STEM. Currently in the United States, while the dependence on STEM workers is increasing, the interest
A little inspiration goes a long way. Inspiring children to become successful by setting up mentoring and job training opportunity programs at general areas that are easy for students to get to from more
As a dreamer and queer woman of color, pursuing a career in STEM has been quite challenging. But I have never let anything get in the way of reaching my goals and dreams. I have swam against the current in order to be where I am today, where I have dreamt of being. I am currently a second year student at Trinity Washington University majoring in biochemistry and minoring in mathematics. I am a dedicated student and an analytical and skilled critical thinker who is eager to learn.
While I was searching for the college I wanted to begin the next part of my life in, I decided I wanted to attend an HBCU that was in a large city. Not only does Howard University fulfill both of these, but Howard also has all of my passions and interests in and outside of the classroom. I am interested in pursuing a Sociology degree within The College of Arts and Sciences. I want to organize my studies with a focus around the black community and urban development. The required and elective courses such as Problems in the Black Community within Howard’s Sociology curriculum will allow me to shape my classes to do this.