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What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field

Yes, we do exist. No, we are not your stereotype.

Karina Krul

Nov 29, 2016

University of New Haven

What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field

Blogging4jobs

I am a woman in college, working towards a career in a STEM field.

I have worked hard to get where I am. I have nights where I think about giving up and giving into the stress of my course load. Yes, I do fail. But I get up again.

I do not stay in my dorm every weekend. Occasionally, I have been to parties, and I do have a social life. I date, I go out with my friends, I join clubs, and I maintain a life, all while being a female science major.

I am involved on campus because I don’t spend 20 hours a day studying. I go out on the weekends just because I can; sometimes I even go out on weeknights. I am proud of everything I accomplish without sacrificing my life to accomplish it.

My life in college does not fit your stereotype. I am more than my looks and I keep my grades up. I know what I’m doing and where I want to go in life, and I maintain my ability to be a real person. Amazing!

My life once I am out of college, unfortunately, may follow many of your stereotypes, but not on my end.

I will probably make less money than a man for the same job. I will probably face discrimination in the workroom. I have already faced some in college.

I am aware of the stereotypes surrounding myself and my friends, and I refuse to let them define me.

I am a STEM major and I am a woman. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. I do not need to be a ‘woman STEM major,’ I am just a STEM major. I define myself by the work I do and the things I love. I define myself by the lesson I’ve learned and the challenges I’ve overcome. I define myself proudly and without remorse. I am not sorry that I intimidate you and I am not sorry you feel the need to put me down because of it. I am sorry, however, that you do not have the self-worth or confidence to be secure without my insecurity because I refuse to give that to you.

I will keep working harder than you for the same standing in the world, and I will do it with my head held high. I will keep believing in myself in a world that rarely does, and when I find those who support me I will cherish them. I will never let anyone tell me I am incapable.

I am a STEM major, and this is what it is like to be a woman too.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

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What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field

​Yes, we do exist. No, we are not your stereotype.

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Actually, Kylie Jenner, 2018 is the year of realizing things.

Waking Up Early in College is So Much Harder

You Have to Get Used to Walking Everywhere

Fuzzy Socks are the Cure to All Problems

Take Every Opportunity to Get Free Food

It's Okay to Gain the "Freshman Fifteen"

Invest in Vitamins and Supplements

Making Time to Clean is Essential

Drinking Water is Actually Important

Cs get degrees!

1. Me after every class

2. If you really care about your grades

3. When you get a new homework assignment

4. When people ask what you're going to do after college

5. When you see people who don't study and get good grades

6. We're all broke here

7. FREE FOOD IS FREE FOOD!

8. When it seems like everyone in class is smart - EXCEPT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP PROJECT!!

Other than knowledge and all those important things

How to take stairs.

Caffeine is your friend.

How to study.

Finding free food.

How to take a nap anywhere.

How to appreciate sleep.

How to procrastinate productively.

Surprise: This is not on the syllabus

1. As a freshman, one does get to be called “freshman” by upperclassmen when they walk to parties in a mob of people.

2. Some of the best stories happen after 2 a.m.

3. Upperclassmen live for meal swipes from freshman because they are poor and need free food.

4. People are struggling just as much as you are so you're not alone.

5. You will never take privacy or personal space for granted ever again.

6. You are not the only one who has slept on the community bathroom floor after a night out.

7. Skipping class for Netflix is a valid excuse.

8. It’s totally acceptable to bring a pot of coffee, a sleeping bag and a pillow to the library.

9. Having class with a friend is the best because you can trade off days on who goes to class.

10. When you are a senior, you take the easiest classes to boost your GPA.

11. How to pull an all-nighter.

12. How to handle drunk people.

13. The drunk you does not look out for sober you about 90 percent of the time.

14. How to deal with a hangover.

15. How to interact with people very different from you.

16. The perfect amount to procrastinate on every assignment.

17. How to pass a class without paying for the textbook that was "required."

18. How to calculate your grades to see what you need on every test in order to maintain a passing grade.

19. How to hook-up with someone without getting emotions involved (but we all know that doesn’t happen).

20. How to handle your roommate when you want to strangle them.

21. That you miss your parent’s every day.

22. How to get into a bar when you aren’t 21.

23. How to BS on assignments, out loud and on your resume.

24. That theme parties are the greatest.

25. How to find free events that have free food.

26. That when there are puppies on campus it will be the greatest day of your life.

27. Alarms are necessary and you must set like seven of them in order to wake up in time for class.

28. Greek parties are exactly how they are in movies.

29. Care packages are treated like Christmas presents.

30. The friends you meet in college will become your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

31. That printers only break when you need them the most.

32. Cereal, ramen noodles, Easy Mac and microwavable pancakes can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

33. That classes before 8 a.m. should be illegal.

34. Changing your major is OK.

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

"You should know exactly what career is right for your future by the time you're 18."

"Save all your money."

"Get plenty of sleep and adjust to a regular sleep schedule."

"Make sure to eat healthy, balanced meals. Don't forget those fruits and vegetables."

"Surround yourself with good, moral people."

"Don't do anything stupid."

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