By Rebecca Cole | Student

If someone had told me that at 18 years old, I would attend a summit to represent girls in STEM — or that I would write this article — I would have told them they were crazy. I was never one of those kids who knew what they wanted to be. At 15, I wanted to be an animator. At 16, I thought I would be a librarian. Yet, here I am, ready to speak at the statewide STEM Summit about my passion for STEM. 

I remember growing up and watching my mother work each day in a factory, excelling at her job, even compared to her male counterparts. She is the one who encouraged me to pursue STEM as a career and helped me fall in love with welding and engineering. 

It was my school, however, that gave me the tools I needed to pursue my dreams. West Delaware County Community School District has a partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College called Career Learning Link (CLL). It provides students with the opportunity to test different career paths. It was my connection with CLL that allowed me to work toward and eventually receive my welding certificate. I received a CLL grant that allowed me to take night classes — with no expense to me or my family. Without this system, I would not have earned my welding certificate or feel as prepared for college.

Welding, and STEM careers in general, may seem intimidating to women because we don’t see ourselves represented in these fields. Without my mom, I don’t think I ever would have understood what a STEM career could look like for me. Welding isn’t a male-dominated field because men are more skilled; it’s a male-dominated field because there are simply more men interested in pursuing it. If we want girls to feel comfortable advancing in STEM fields, we need female representation to show fellow women they are not alone in their passions.

I am here to tell young girls who are considering STEM careers they are not alone. With any job or career path, it takes some time to learn the craft, communicate effectively with co-workers and find your groove.

It is still surreal to me that I have the opportunity to speak at the STEM Education + Workplace Partnerships – Governor’s 2019 Future Ready Iowa Summit in Des Moines on April 30. I’ll be in the company of incredible women like Pallavi Verma from Accenture and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and I am incredibly thankful to be included. This summit will emphasize the same education/workplace partnerships that helped propel me to where I am in my own STEM journey, and I’m so honored to share my journey with others.

Rebecca Cole recently graduated from West Delaware High School and will be attending Ferris State University in Michigan in the fall. At present time, she works at A-1 Storage as a welder. She can be contacted by email.