STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Spring 2023

| Victoria Zamora

Speak a little louder. Stand tall.

These short phrases encapsulate the strength necessary to succeed in STEM as a woman. They linger in the back of my mind each time I address my team. Each time I answer a question. Each time that I give an opinion Being a woman requires extra strength, and it has been recently that I made this observation. When I talk, my voice lowers in pitch, yet raises its intensity. My muscles are tense. I command the attention of all who are in my vicinity. A stout young lady of 5 feet 2 inches has to have the boldness of a towering pillar to be seen. My opinions act similarly Earlier in my life, they crumbled at the appearance of opposing force, but now, it takes a few shoves. This strength doesn’t come easily, and it is nowhere near natural for me. Although, ambition, perseverance, and a dose of some selflove can take you relatively far.

Do you or one of your students have a story to tell about their journey in computer science? Email csforsc@ed.sc.gov