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Studying STEM has been an incredibly rewarding journey for me, filled with moments of discovery and the thrill of solving a problem. However, I’ve also faced more challenging times when concepts seem difficult, projects take longer than expected, or results don’t turn out as planned. It is easy to feel discouraged, but I’ve learned that staying motivated is key to pushing through and achieving goals. Here are some strategies that have helped me maintain the drive even when things get tough.
One of the best ways to stay motivated is by setting clear, achievable goals. When I break down tasks into smaller pieces, they feel less overwhelming and more manageable. Even with a simple daily to-do list, checking items off can let me feel a sense of progress, which can be especially encouraging when the finish line, or a final result, feels far away. STEM can sometimes feel isolating, especially when working on complex problems alone. Joining STEM clubs (or even starting one) or attending workshops, such as those hosted by AGSS, has helped me find a larger community of those who share similar interests. Not only have these connections provided support and encouragement, but they also offer opportunities to learn from others and exchange ideas. STEM is full of collaboration–scientists, engineers, and researchers work together to solve complicated problems. When things get rough, I try to remember why I am pursuing STEM in the first place. For me, an important part is to overcome the challenges and contribute something meaningful to the world. Even in the case that parts of STEM may be parts of school requirements or a career path, focusing on the skills I am developing can assist me in other areas of life, like critical thinking or problem-solving. At the same time, I have found that taking breaks and caring for mental and physical well-being is essential for keeping long-term motivation. I’ve tried the Pomodoro Technique, where I work in focused 25-minute sessions, followed by a 5-minute break for a refresher. Also, engaging in other hobbies that I enjoy, such as music and golf, helps me balance my workload and relax. After all, a healthy body fuels a productive mind. Most importantly, I remind myself that STEM is about exploration, and part of the excitement comes with learning about how the world works, even when that knowledge doesn’t always come easily. Motivation is different for everyone, and it’s key to find what works best for you. With the right mindset and strategies, we can all overcome obstacles and continue our journey with resilience, making progress in STEM–one step at a time!
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By: Anabel WeinsteinIn late 1952, one of the most influential discoveries was made. A year later, in 1953, this same discovery was made for the second time. And the second discovery was the story told; the first discovery, the story untold. It wasn’t until after Rosalind Franklin’s death that she got the credit she deserved for first discovering the structure of a DNA molecule through her use of X-Ray diffraction. She completely changed the field of molecular biology, but her story was never credited enough. Franklin isn’t the only one whose story was overshadowed by men in STEM, and Franklin isn’t the only one who’s story remained untold.
Eunice Foote discovered the greenhouse effect long before the term “greenhouse gas” was used. She was an American scientist in the 1800s who used experimentation to demonstrate how carbon dioxide heated up much more quickly than regular air. She was then the first individual to predict that as carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increased, so would the temperature of the world. Thus, Foote was the first person to predict global warming. However, Foote’s story is one that was mostly left untold, overshadowed by men who gained more credit later on. Lise Meitner was an Austrian physicist who was incredibly influential in the discoveries of nuclear fission and protactinium. Meitner then went on to become the first female professor of physics in Germany. She almost undoubtedly deserved a Nobel Prize for her research, but she did not receive one due to the fact that women were not allowed higher education in her time period, and thus all her research was overlooked. There are so many more influential women in STEM fields that never got the credit they deserved, and the way to fix this is by talking about them. In AGSS workshops, volunteers always make sure to tell the stories of the women whose stories were never fully told. These untold stories are some of the most important parts of history, or rather, her-story. |
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