Browsing: STEM

As a woman, one of my go-to defenses against implicit sexism is repressing my feminine traits in favor of masculine ones. In classes, when I feel underestimated, I quickly bring to mind all my knowledge of football and the stock market. I make sure to hide my pink nails and try not to bring up Taylor Swift. Our “girliness” doesn’t imply inability.

The Beckham Room of the Bill Daniel Student Center was filled with traditional Panamanian stories, clothing, cuisine, music and dancing Wednesday night as the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in STEM (SACNAS) celebrated Afro-Latinx culture and heritage.

Since switching career paths after nearly a full year’s worth of mental breakdowns, I quickly realized that many people still believe the stigma of liberal arts degrees being a waste of time and money, implying that there is little to no return on the investment. However, research and statistics disprove that claim, with liberal arts degrees being shown to provide both wealth and invaluable preparation for the ever-changing job market.

This works for other tasks, like cleaning or anything similarly tedious. And if you’re a complete clown like me that ends up scrolling on my phone when I’m supposed to be working, bring a STEM major friend. They don’t mess around about studying.

Think about the opportunity that lies before you: the opportunity to experience a true liberal arts education. One day, years from now, you may be rounding in a hospital or working in a lab. Taking a few classes in the humanities isn’t going to prevent you from attaining that success. If anything, it will better you both personally and professionally.

“It’s a place for discussion,” Aquino said. “It’s a place for mentorship. It’s a place for networking. Hopefully, the big picture goal or long-term goal is to advance the plight of women in academia and in STEM specifically.”

Baylor has been recognized as a top U.S. college in furthering women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Baylor is ranked 46 out of the top 50 U.S. schools recognized for advancing female enrollment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), according to a Sept. 24 report from the Online College Database.