Meet Keira
Keira just turned 13 and is in seventh grade in California. She enjoys creating things, building and drawing. Most recently she is learning how to solve a Rubik's Cube and finds it very exciting. Keira tells us more about how she started building.
“I like to build little toys. My dad would always build things in the garage, and I would always be there to help them (dad and brother) because my brother was too slow. I got to help out with all the little projects.”
In addition to her time at home building with her dad and brother, Keira was also able to explore her love of building and creating through a local summer camp.
“There's this summer camp called the Youth Science Center in my area - we would do things like 3D printing or we would learn about the rainforest or geology, or we would program a robot. It was really interesting because we got to do so many things.”
Keira gives adults some ideas to get other young women excited about STEM.
“I'd say get the things that they could use and allow them to have it within reach, like books about science and mathematics and other things. Then if they want to build things and create things, they can try and do it. Just let them try. Don't tell them that they can't. And show them how, if they need help.”
Soon Keira started an afterschool math club for the elementary school, after hearing the girls in middle school share over and over that they ‘don’t like math and aren’t good at math.’
“I heard a kid in class say that they don't want to do something because they know they're going to lose. I don't like that mindset because even if we're going to lose, we're going to try our best. So we know how we can improve for the future. Each failure is just another step towards success. I want everyone to work their hardest and try their best.”
