Dallas SWE joined the Girls in STEM Expo panel this fall to have an honest conversation with high school girls about what it really takes to find, and stay on, the STEM path.
The conversation went beyond choosing a major. The students heard how a curiosity can grow into a career that feels like play, how to navigate college and major decisions, and how to keep moving forward when self-doubt makes you question whether you belong.
On the panel was our Outreach VP, Adeola Adediran, and she shared practical strategies for handling failure, owning mistakes, asking questions, earning trust, and building both technical and professional skills. The girls were encouraged to use internships, clubs, and other opportunities not only to gain experience, but to practice the skills they will need as they go up the STEM ladder. They were also encouraged to pursue opportunities unapologetically and make changes because their interests evolve, not because they feel they need to make themselves fit in.
What resonated most with the students was hearing stories that felt familiar. Experiences like being the only girl in a class, wondering “Do I really belong here?”, or questioning whether to change paths because STEM feels difficult helped them see that these feelings are not theirs alone. The conversation offered them the reassurance that they are seen, and that being the only girl in the room does not mean you don’t belong there.
Our Dallas SWE speaker also shared how her own “SWEsters” (SWE sisters and mentors) have provided encouragement, perspective, and a community to lean on throughout her career. That sense of community is at the heart of what Dallas SWE offers. Through SWENext, Design Your World, scholarships, mentorship, and connections with women in engineering, Dallas SWE is helping emerging engineers find that community earlier, build confidence, and discover that they don’t have to figure it all out alone.