Sydney Guillory
My name is Sydney (You can call me Syd), I'm 17, and I'm a senior in high school with an admittedly poorly balanced workload and tons of college duties to fulfill. Between college applications and classes, I've had barely enough time to sleep and eat. It's a lot but I'm determined to get through it no matter what, even if I have late nights where I really don't think I will. When I'm doing something that I like or I'm working towards something that I want, I know that, regardless of whatever happens, it'll be worth it somehow.
One question I always get is, "If you're so interested in engineering, why aren't you in more science/math/engineering/etc. classes/clubs?" My answer is that I believe I'm more than my STEM interests. Or, rather, my interests don't stop at STEM.
I'm interested in everything. I like superheroes and secret agents. I watch too much anime and I study lectures on psychology in my spare time. I read everything that I can get my hands on and I'm in love with Broadway. I have a major weakness when it comes to online shopping and I find filling in spreadsheets to be relaxing.
What I really like about science is that I can apply it to all of my interests. If there's anything I've learned from our experience, it's that science can be found in every aspect of your life. It's found at the movies and in the tablet in your lap. It's found at the airport and at your local zoo. It's found in your garden, in your grocery store, in your television, in your Christmas tree, and at your favorite theme park. It's literally everywhere.
I became interested in engineering because of a trip to Disney World when I was little. I was fascinated with what went on there. It was so big and so complex that it seemed like it shouldn't have worked as well as it did. I wanted to know how it worked, what made it so that it could run and seemingly never stop. As I got older, I discovered that a lot of it was thanks to science. But it's not science alone that can create magic. It takes imagination and creativity and other skills and traits that can be developed outside of your Calculus class.
I became interested in STEM because I wanted to create. I became interested in everything else because I wanted to create magic. For me, it's important to develop interests outside of STEM because I think I already know what I want to do with my life (industrial engineering). I'm just figuring out what exactly I want to apply it to. I don't think enough people realize that, in order to do science, one doesn't have to wear a lab coat or lock themselves up in a dark room and research all day long (although if you're into that, awesome. I'm counting on you to find a cure for cancer and procrastination). Science is everywhere and can do just about anything. A personal goal of mine is to show girls (and everyone else) just how they can apply science to their own lives.
Growing up, I had to find out on my own what exactly science was and how it came into play into my everyday life. I want to show people that science is more than beakers and test tubes, and that it's closer than you think. I think that one way to get more girls into STEM is to show them all that can be done with it, especially the everyday stuff that you don't really think about. I want them to look for the UL logo everywhere (Has anyone else been doing that? Because my mom and I have and it's disconcerting when it's not there) and to look at the world with curiosity coloring their vision.
But, above all else, I want to inspire them to ask two questions. When they see something amazing, I want them to ask, "Now how did they do that?" And, when they encounter a new subject or skill or any unfamiliar territory, I want them to ask, "Now what can I do with this?"
Well I've said my piece (finally). And it's a lot longer than I expected it to be. Sorry about that. But, happy holidays everyone and I hope that your new year is filled to the brim with wonder and joy.
One question I always get is, "If you're so interested in engineering, why aren't you in more science/math/engineering/etc. classes/clubs?" My answer is that I believe I'm more than my STEM interests. Or, rather, my interests don't stop at STEM.
I'm interested in everything. I like superheroes and secret agents. I watch too much anime and I study lectures on psychology in my spare time. I read everything that I can get my hands on and I'm in love with Broadway. I have a major weakness when it comes to online shopping and I find filling in spreadsheets to be relaxing.
What I really like about science is that I can apply it to all of my interests. If there's anything I've learned from our experience, it's that science can be found in every aspect of your life. It's found at the movies and in the tablet in your lap. It's found at the airport and at your local zoo. It's found in your garden, in your grocery store, in your television, in your Christmas tree, and at your favorite theme park. It's literally everywhere.
I became interested in engineering because of a trip to Disney World when I was little. I was fascinated with what went on there. It was so big and so complex that it seemed like it shouldn't have worked as well as it did. I wanted to know how it worked, what made it so that it could run and seemingly never stop. As I got older, I discovered that a lot of it was thanks to science. But it's not science alone that can create magic. It takes imagination and creativity and other skills and traits that can be developed outside of your Calculus class.
I became interested in STEM because I wanted to create. I became interested in everything else because I wanted to create magic. For me, it's important to develop interests outside of STEM because I think I already know what I want to do with my life (industrial engineering). I'm just figuring out what exactly I want to apply it to. I don't think enough people realize that, in order to do science, one doesn't have to wear a lab coat or lock themselves up in a dark room and research all day long (although if you're into that, awesome. I'm counting on you to find a cure for cancer and procrastination). Science is everywhere and can do just about anything. A personal goal of mine is to show girls (and everyone else) just how they can apply science to their own lives.
Growing up, I had to find out on my own what exactly science was and how it came into play into my everyday life. I want to show people that science is more than beakers and test tubes, and that it's closer than you think. I think that one way to get more girls into STEM is to show them all that can be done with it, especially the everyday stuff that you don't really think about. I want them to look for the UL logo everywhere (Has anyone else been doing that? Because my mom and I have and it's disconcerting when it's not there) and to look at the world with curiosity coloring their vision.
But, above all else, I want to inspire them to ask two questions. When they see something amazing, I want them to ask, "Now how did they do that?" And, when they encounter a new subject or skill or any unfamiliar territory, I want them to ask, "Now what can I do with this?"
Well I've said my piece (finally). And it's a lot longer than I expected it to be. Sorry about that. But, happy holidays everyone and I hope that your new year is filled to the brim with wonder and joy.