Preparing a talk for high school students on a career in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths or Medicine)- what do you wish you would have known at 16 about your career and life more broadly?
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Didn't want to be a doctor - and spend my career dealing with sick people, i.e. icky stuff - but hey, could have been helpful - or just gone on to do medical research ...
that exceptional scientists, e.g. Einstein etc, are not good role models because they are exceptional ... most discoveries and inventions are the result of teamwork.
The lone genius lore has derailed so many promising minds, when they could have helped their team achieve great things.
STEMM should be seen as something that can overlap with non-STEMM in your career. It is not a rigid boundary: you are not either 100% ‘a STEMM person’ or 100% ‘a non-STEMM person’. With STEMM you can do other things at the same time - be an educator, write a book… even be a fitness instructor 😉
That, in spite of considerable pressure from school and society, a career in the arts is also an equally valid option, if that's where your skills and interests lay.
Indeed! And there’s no reason why they can’t blend STEM to be STEAM or even STEAHM (H= Humanities). Scientists also need strong communication skills and a grounding in critical thinking, ethics/philosophy, and languages come in handy when working within those international teams.
You don’t have to have only one career in your life. Many of us don’t have a clear idea of what we’d like to do at 16 or 18. So keep your options open as far as you can. (Eg, get a degree but don’t feel you have to stick with that subject area all your life).
I was just about to say the same - do what you are fascinated by and can learn to be really competent in. Your passion will shine through and will take your career to exciting places.
Oh I went then it got suggested I "take a year out" 😂. Worked for 15 years then went back to Uni to study for new career, in the thing I should have been working in all along.
Phew; so glad you found your "home". So glad I ignored my school careers advice to " be a vicar's wife" ! Thought of it when running a developing community decision making workshop for newly appointed Libyan Mayors in Jordan - and chuckled!
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I should not have tried to Do it.
The lone genius lore has derailed so many promising minds, when they could have helped their team achieve great things.
So, gather info.