When you’re one of two girls in a STEM based classroom, you feel obscured by the boys that make up the majority. While those around you question what could a girl know about STEM, you are left to question, why does my gender define me? The longing to have a place where your mind could flourish without restriction based on gender. These are experiences that Maya Dudek has faced.
Dudek is the co-president of the Society of Women of Engineering club and with her help the club aims to surround members with a positive community that differs from an everyday STEM classroom. Leadership of this club, co-presidents Maya Dudek and Madigan Pound, along with vice president Brooke Schneider constantly strive to provide a safe space for girls to succeed in the engineering industry.
“A lot of women feel left out in their engineering or math class,” Dudek said. “So, joining the Society of Women’s Engineering club is a great step in getting out there and being who you want to be.”
Last year the club brought in guest speakers from students at Texas A&M and UT and they plan to continue that this year. They even got the opportunity to hear from a woman who works at NASA. This year the club is organizing field trips to the Samsung lab and the Texas A&M Society of Women Engineering high school conference in January where students will have the chance to put themselves into this industry.
“I originally joined this club because I thought it would be a great way to connect with other women engineering students, girls like me,” junior Kate Snyder said. “However I think it’s also a great opportunity to meet and get to know professionals in the industry.”
An every day club meeting is filled with mind-activating challenges to allow these girls full reign to use their mind. The girls in the club have the challenge of building the highest structure with only a few spaghetti noodles and marshmallows, with only 20 minutes to execute. Members put their minds together to construct and design their own spaghetti buildings, with the tallest one being three feet.
“I love seeing the younger girls, like the freshmen and sophomores, that want to go into engineering come into the club to find a community,” Dudek said. “Seeing their eyes light up being able to follow the engineering pathway like mine did, so it’s nice to be that role model for them.”
While utilizing their mind, leadership provides snacks and refreshments for members to eat. With the comfortable space created members aren’t afraid to speak their mind and push for their ideas to be applied. Walking into the room giggles can be heard as they work and applauding when another member succeeds at making what they imagined a reality.
“I joined because as a girl, I like to feel empowered among my own gender, it helps me push boundaries of men dominated fields,” senior Madison Coleman said. “It’s also a chance to make friends and interact with other people with similar career plans, and I really enjoy it so far.”
The Society of Women Engineering is a club that focuses on empowering girls in the engineering field. With the goal of being a safe space that is created for girls to push the limits of men dominated fields. Meeting every other Wednesday in room E127 girls a part of the club and girls wanting join, do projects and hear from guest speakers.
“It was helpful to hear from engineers near our own age,” senior Brooke Schneider said. “It was a great learning process of becoming an engineer especially being a woman.”
