SHE SHINES MAGAZINE
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 02
BACKGROUND
03
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
04
SOCIAL MEDIA
05
MEET THE TEAM
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 1: STEAM 06
INTERVIEW WITH IZZY LAPIDUS
36 EMPOWERMENT PLAYLIST
10
INTERVIEW WITH AUDREY PE
37 WORD FROM THE TEAM
14
STEAM SUPERHEROES: A BLAST FROM THE PAST
40 END PAGE
16
BLACK WOMEN IN STEAM
18
ALL ABOUT THERMODYNAMICS
CHAPTER 2: STEREOTYPES 20
DEBUNKING PERFECTIONISM
22
IMPERFECTIONS
24
TOXIC REPRESENTATION
26
FAIRY TALES
28
FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
31
BUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE
34
SOME GIRLS
@sheshinesmag
background Background She Shines Magazine strives to discuss topics that aren’t talked about enough. Stereotypes, gender equality, and mental health are topics we want to make normal in our current society. We want to inspire young girls all over the world to take a step forward and realize their dreams. This is a platform that shares stories of the women behind the scenes in STEAM, history, and the modern day. Women whose achievements have changed the world but whose names remain unknown. Through this magazine, we aim to support girls who dream big and give them opportunities to help change the world. We believe in empowering women and improving the statistics of only 28% women in STEAM.
ART BY SOUMYA RANA
About Founder aboutthe the founder Akshaya is a 14 year old girl with a passion for STEAM. She is a young member of the New York Academy of Sciences and the founder of the Girl Up Club (@girlupjanaki) in her school. She is a mental health activist who advocates body positivity, female empowerment, and gender equality. She loves meeting people from all over the world and believes that diversity is an important factor of society. When Akshaya was 13, she realised that she could not name more than 3 women in STEAM and knew no female founders. So she started a platform where she could share the stories of Female Superheroes in STEAM. At a young age, she learned about many stereotypes both, from around her and from books and movies. Akshaya wanted to share her views and inspire the new generation to speak out for those who cannot, which is why she started She Shines Magazine.
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Directors
Akshaya Pai Susan Zhang Vijayalakshmi Ganesh Claire Hsu Melissa Soto Soumya Rana
Writers Althea Ocomen Lahen Shaikh Shagun Khare Priyanka Srinivasan Sophie Sun
Artists Alena Stewart Anna Liu Riley Turner Arkaja Shahi Lotte Josephine
Chapter 1: STEAM
ART BY ANNA LIU
izzy izzy lapidus lapidus THE
CO-FOUNDER
FIRST BETA
EMPOWER,
A
COMPANY
DEDICATED
TO
EMPOWERING YOUNG STEAM THE
WOMEN ALL
WORLD
IN
OVER
OF
Izzy Lapidus
izzy lapidus
What is your background in science? At what age did you realise you wanted to pursue it? I spent my entire childhood dreaming of becoming an astrophysicist when I grew up. As a curious 8 year old, I became mesmerized by the projected cosmos in the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History (the museum from the Night At The Museum movies), and the same museum I was so lucky to conduct research at as in intern in the Astrophysics Department 9 years later.
You recently started First Empower. What is it about? What do you aim to achieve through this social enterprise? First Empower is a beta company I co-founded this May along with three of my friends dedicated to empowering young girls through STEAM. At First Empower, we believe that empowering young girls through an innovative STEAM education will enable them to change the world. Our team is led by empowered young women, which means we know first-hand how to connect with young girls. By teaching STEAM topics in a creative and visually appealing manner, we show girls that STEAM is accessible, fun, and exciting. We want girls to take that same power they feel when they break down a complex science topic and use it to pursue any field they want. We want to show every little girl that STEAM is her superpower—and that she’s already got it.
Can you tell us a few quotes you live by? Here's two: "Create the things you wish existed." - Elizabeth Gilbert "The way you do anything is the way you do everything." - Suzanne Evans
The first quote acts as my overall life mantra, and the second quote informs the way I go about everyday tasks and assignments that make up my life.
What is one piece of advice you would give to young girls with a passion for science? Three words: You. Got. It. I believe wholeheartedly in the fact that passion is the most valuable tool a young girl can have, if she allows it to guide her. Discovering my passion for science as a little girl kept me grounded and motivated to continue to pursue STEAM, even when it felt like the whole world was telling me no. Your passion is so, so powerful, and is what sets you apart from everyone else. If you lean into that passion, there's truly nothing you are incapable of accomplishing. You already got it (your awesome science passion), now use it to change the world.
What are your opinions on the underrepresentation of women in STEAM and lack of adequate female role models in the stream?
The lack of female role models in STEAM teaches girls that these fields aren't meant for them, or made up of people that look like them, when neither of these narratives are true. It's up to our generation to build companies, products, and services that actively go out of their way to show young girls that the STEAM community both wants and needs them. Representation matters, and therefore a core element of every company, product, service, and so on must include current female STEM innovators and trailblazers. By exposing girls to these role models, we enable girls to dream big, re-envision what is possible, and ultimately change the world with their STEAM superpowers.
What struggles did you face as a woman in science and how did you overcome these? I've had boys tell me that they're smarter than me, I've had teachers invalidate my worth and intelligence by comparing me to other students, and I've had to get used to being the only person in the room with interests like my own. In order to keep showing up as a girl in STEAM, I've had to constantly remind myself of my "why," or in other words, my passion. Throughout my years in the STEAM community, my passion has always screamed louder than any opinion or arbitrary grade has. My passion has provided me with an unshakeable confidence and genuine belief that regardless of what the world is saying to me, my passion will always be there to cheer me on.
What are the ways, as a community, you believe we can bring more inclusiveness and representation in STEAM? As girls and young women in STEAM, we have to hype each other up. I strive to be a cheerleader and role model for all my girls in STEAM. I know what it feels like to grow up with infinite support, as I always had that from my mom, and now believe that it is part of my duty as a young woman in STEAM to be that support system for all other girls in STEAM, but especially those that maybe didn't grow up with a support system like I did. Inclusiveness and representation in STEAM isn't just about optics—we genuinely need an inclusive and representative STEAM community if we want to create companies, products, and services that benefit people of all races, abilities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, and all other demographics. By creating a more just STEAM community, we set the precedent of what true community looks like, and can build companies, products, and services that will truly change the world.
audrey audrey pe pe THE
FOUNDER
WITECH,
A
OF
NON
PROFIT
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED GENDER THE
TO
ACHIEVING
EQUALITY
TECH
IN
INDUSTRY
Audrey Pe
audrey pe
What sparked your interest in STEAM? What are the few things you love about it? I remember first being fascinated by technology in a middle school computer class. Under the Philippine curriculum, my computer class didn’t have programming. (it was usually on how to use Microsoft Office). But one day, my teacher mixed things up a bit by introducing the class to a game where we had to have a snake navigate a maze using blocks that represented lines of code. That was the first time I realized that the websites and apps I loved to use were made using lines of code. More than that, I learned in that moment that I wanted to better understand the technology that impacted my generation so deeply. Because I was most drawn to tech and its applications, I decided to pursue coding (as it wasn’t offered in my school) via online tutorials on Codecademy, Khan Academy, etc. When I entered high school and started to express my interest in pursuing a career in that field, I was met with a lot of mixed responses. While my parents supported me, they both had backgrounds in banking and didn’t know how to guide me. Many of my peers commented that tech wasn’t a common field for girls and a teacher even told me she ‘couldn’t imagine me in the tech industry’. Honestly, at that point in time (freshman year), I couldn’t really see myself in the industry either because I didn’t have any role models in the field. When I went online to read about startups or tech in general, I’d usually see headlines featuring white men like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Not only could I not identify with them because of their gender and ethnicity, but I also got incredibly intimidated when I read that they had been coding since early elementary school. They seemed to be a type of success that felt unattainable to me in the very male dominated industry of tech. So I decided to find my own role models. I looked up the #womenintech on Instagram and other social media sites. There, I found profiles of women in tech that I then emailed to ask if I could interview for what was then the WiTech blog.
What is one piece of advice you would give to young girls with a passion for technology? Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong in STEAM. Find a community of like-minded people and look for ways to apply STEAM to a cause bigger than yourself. If you do that, you’ll be anchored to your purpose and have a ‘why’ that can motivate you to get through especially tough days.
What are your opinions on the underrepresentation of women in technology (especially filipino women) and lack of adequate female role models in the stream? To an extent, I do believe in the quote that “representation is reality”. Growing up, I had this perception that STEM was meant to be a boys’ field because most of the scientists we studied in class (from the Philippines and internationally) were men. When we present young girls with role models in STEM, we give them insights into what their futures could look like. This in turn can break the cyclical gender gap in tech. After all, it’s difficult to encourage young women to enter male-dominated fields like STEM when society pushes forth the message (via media and other forms of representation) that they don’t belong.
What struggles did you face as a woman in technology and how did you overcome these? Especially in the beginning of WiTech, at 15, I struggled to be taken seriously by those in the Philippine tech scene. Walking into tech conferences and networking events, I was many times ignored or condescended because I was a young Filipina in rooms with barely any women and definitely no other teenagers. Especially in the beginning of WiTech, at 15, I struggled to be taken seriously by those in the Philippine tech scene. Walking into tech conferences and networking events, I was many times ignored or condescended because I was a young Filipina in rooms with barely any women and definitely no other teenagers.
I remember attending a big tech conference back in 2017, where I was so intimidated by everything. As I stepped inside the conference hall, I saw no women and people my age. When I tried to talk to startups at booths, I wasn’t engaged with and found it difficult to carry conversations with people that looked at me like I was wasting their time. At some point, I watched a panel about the PH tech industry wherein only one panelist was a woman. Gender diversity was never discussed, so I asked during the Q&A if there were any initiatives being done to diversify the industry. I also plugged the WiTech blog and wanted to know what the future looked like for Filipinas like me. I received no clear response but was instead approached by a government representative after the panel. She wanted me to talk about WiTech at an ASEAN conference for young entrepreneurs. That was how I got my first speaking engagement to an audience of 4,000+ people from the region. The struggles of being underestimated and overlooked were challenges that I overcame by being persistent. I’d keep showing up to networking events, approaching people, asking questions during talks—anything to get my voice heard in a field that seemed like it wanted to shut young girls like me out.
What are the ways, as a community, you believe we can bring more inclusiveness and representation in STEAM? As a community, we can bring more inclusivity and representation in STEM by doing the following: celebrating the achievements of women in STEM Mentoring young girls in STEM Being aware of the stereotypes set forth by media Breaking the stereotypes by starting conversations about them Providing resources to communities with low-levels of tech access
What is one stereotype about women in STEAM that you are tired of hearing? There isn’t a specific stereotype that I am tired of hearing. Rather, I wish to see more people be more cognizant of the ways in which they view excellence in STEM—specifically in supporting teenagers of all genders in pursuing STEM projects. No matter what you look like or what background you come from, I hope you know that STEM is a field that anyone can use to make a difference in the world around us.
STEAM SUPERWOMEN: A Blast from the past BY ALTHEA OCOMEN
HYPATIA Hypatia lived in Alexandria, a province in Ancient Egypt at the time of the decline of the Roman Empire. She was a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer which was very challenging considering the chauvinistic society she lived in.
In fact, she was the first female mathematician whose life historians have recorded to be extremely exceptional. Hypatia taught philosophy and mathematics at the Neoplatonic School in Alexandria, and many greatly respected her for her work. Throughout her life, she edited and wrote commentary on multiple works in the fields of mathematics, geometry, and astronomy. Some of her edited works may have survived to this day. Hypatia also constructed hydrometers, tools for measuring the density of liquids, and astrolabes, instruments for identifying planets and stars which have greatly contributed to the innovations present today.
ROSALIND FRANKLIN While the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the structure of DNA was given to three male scientists, it wouldn’t have happened without the help of Rosalind Franklin, an English chemist. Rosalind had always dreamed of being a scientist, yet her father strongly discouraged her from doing so due to how hard it was to be a female scientist at the time. Rosalind pursued her dream regardless of the countless endeavors she faced. Throughout her work, she managed to get Photo 51, a high-resolution X-ray image of crystallized DNA fibers, which was hypothesized by others yet had no confirmation. Rosalind endured much gender harassment throughout her career and did not receive the appreciation that she deserved. She died at the age of 37, 4 years before the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the DNA structure was awarded. Despite her important contribution, she never received a prize because the Nobel committee does not award prizes after the deaths of the nominees.
Black Women in STEAM
Women of color in STEM have overcome racial and gender biases throughout time to make a name for themselves and contribute to great causes, including many important African American women who strived to use their talents to help others. These women overcame both sexism and racism to hold important titles and positions, contribute to significant discoveries, and push the boundaries of who can be included in the history of STEM.
Katherine Johnson You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I'll do it backwards and tell you when to take off.
Katherine Johnson was one of the few African American women to work on the NASA space program where she faced discrimination due to her race and gender. However, she grew to be a mathematician whose calculations have been essential to US Space Exploration. She calculated launch windows, trajectories and emergency return paths for the first US Astronauts that entered space. She also charted the first moon landing and her work helped send astronauts to the moon and back.
ART BY ALENA STEWART
Gladys West When you're working every day, you're not thinking, 'What impact is this going to have on the world?' You're thinking, 'I've got to get this right' Dr. Gladys West was responsible for the mathematics that brought resulted in the invention of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Her important work at the U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory assisted in the outer space discoveries related to planets in the solar system. She also programmed the mathematics and calculations for the computer that eventually became known as a GPS. Her achievements have been an inspiration to many and have proved that women, despite their race or social status can become an exceptional figure in STEM.
ALL ABOUT THERMODYNAMICS BY LAHEN SHAIKH
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy. In fact, It played a big role at the beginning of our Universe. Here’s a fun fact: Originally, there were 3 laws of Thermodynamics, but later, Scientists realised that a fourth law should be added in order to understand the existing three laws better. But this fourth law was so important and fundamental, that they thought it should be the first law! Since this created confusion in the existing literature, a scientist named Ralph H. Fowler called it the zeroth law of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is really exciting and cool (literally, because it deals with the heat that excites molecules of your boiling soup, and the coolness of the ice you freeze). If the exchange of heat can excite molecules, then I strongly believe that it can excite the common masses, too! From the engine of your car to the cake you are baking in your oven, Thermodynamics tells you the answers to the Universe’s most intriguing questions. Let’s talk about the laws of Thermodynamics. The zeroth law says that if two systems are in equilibrium (have the same temperature), with a third system, then they are in equilibrium with each other. This law is really simple and isn’t just lots of words with many syllables put together. For example, you order three drinks, and the first and second are at the same temperature as the third one. Then the first and second must be at the same temperature as each other, too. The first law says that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. This is also called the law of conservation of energy. The second law states that heat gets attracted towards colder bodies. The third law says that If an object reaches Absolute Zero temperature (0 K = -273.15 C = −459.67 ° F), its atoms will stop moving.
One of the most interesting laws of Thermodynamics is Entropy. Entropy is a measure of how much the atoms in a substance are free to spread out, move around, and arrange themselves. It is defined as the measure of randomness and disorder in a system. The Entropy of a system is always increasing. We create entropy, as we do our daily activities; like turning on the air conditioner or the heater. I believe that Thermodynamics is not to be studied, but to be lived.
Chapter 2: Stereotypes
ART BY RILEY TURNER
DEBUNKING PERFECTIONISM BY ALTHEA OCOMEN
Perfectionism is frequently seen as a positive characteristic that increments your chances of victory, but it can lead to self-defeating contemplation or behaviors that make it harder to attain goals. It may too cause stress, uneasiness, misery, and other mental well being issues. Individuals who strive for flawlessness out of sentiments of insufficiency or disappointment may discover it accommodating to speak with an advisor; this may regularly help people oversee excessive self-criticism. Perfectionism is regularly characterized as the need to be perfect, but it is vital to accept that it’s not possible to attain such flawlessness. It is typically seen as a positive characteristic instead of an imperfection. Individuals may utilize the term “healthy perfectionism” to portray or legitimize perfectionist behavior. Perfectionism isn't the same thing as striving to be your best. Flawlessness is not about healthy accomplishment and development; it is an endless cycle of insecurities. Most individuals want to realize success, but working hard to reach your objectives does not continuously show perfectionist behavior. Individuals who are perfectionists regularly accept that nothing they do is worthwhile unless it is culminating. Rather than being glad of their progress, learning, or hard work, they might continually compare their work to the work of others or focus on accomplishing faultless output. Indeed, when individuals with perfectionist characteristics get their desired results, they may still be unsatisfied.
They feel that in case they truly were flawless, they would not have had to work so hard to attain their goals. Numerous components can contribute to whether perfectionism develops. A few include frequent fear of disapproval from others or sentiments of uncertainty and insufficiency, mental well being issues like uneasiness, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and an insecure early attachment. Individuals who had a vexed connection with parents when they were young may encounter difficulty self-soothing as grown-ups. They may have trouble tolerating a great result as good in the event that it does not culminate. Individuals with a history of tall accomplishment in some cases feel the overpowering weight to live up to their past accomplishments. This frequently leads them to engage in perfectionist behavior. Children who are habitually praised for their achievements may feel the weight to keep accomplishing as they age, which can too cause perfectionist tendencies. In case you are feeling that you may have characteristics of perfectionism that cause you daily distress, know that perfectionist behavior and habits can be changed. It is possible to memorize healthier attitudes about your goals and benchmarks with the assistance of a trusted, compassionate therapist.
IMPERFECTIONS by akshaya pai
When I look into the mirror, I want to see someone a little slimmer. People might wish to see someone like me. We all wish for something or the other. We all see imperfections, Whether in the upper, lower, or mid-section. It has become like a virus, Or perhaps an infection. When I look into the mirror, I see that my hair does not shimmer. The advertisements have lied to me. My hope becomes dimmer. The first thing I always see Is what looks ugly on me, And I never do register that Perfection is actually a fantasy. The bodies of women in a magazine Are often edited to make them look supreme. And when they aren’t, there's always surgery No method to look pretty would be extreme.
We are judged for everything we wear and do, Do you really believe life is fair and true? If so, then tell me why the length of our skirt apparently matters more than our IQ. We are taught that freedom is for all beings, And yet, men get away with all their ‘sightseeing’ The court asks us ‘well, what were you wearing?’ Not at all concerned about our well-being. We are often chosen because of our looks Yes, looking ‘hot’ lets us off the hook, But this is not about female privilege, survival of the prettiest is the rule in the book. We compete for everything and bring each other down And all society does is smile not frown But it’s time we stop staying silent And put on our crowns. After all, we have so much to change and so much to give, If only we stop fighting and let each other live, By supporting each other and creating a bond, Let us empower each other and evolve.
ART BY ALENA STEWART
TOXIC REPRESENTATION BY SOPHIE SUN
In the modern day, the fastest way to spread information is through media. We constantly see popular influencers and celebrities sharing their opinions on different things. These influencers deeply influence their followers’ opinions, often young, impressionable youth. A common problem seen today is influencers wrongly stating opinion as fact and their followers regarding these opinions as the truth. As a result, many young people are misinformed and are form ideas based on these opinions. Take, for example, the LGBTQ+ community. Often times in movies they are portrayed as sassy gays who only exist for a punchline. In a study by GLAAD, an organization that ‘rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance’, in 2018, 20 out of the 110 films analyzed contained LGBTQ characters. Comedy and drama genres each had seven inclusive films, genre films with six, and no family or documentary films including the LGBTQ community. Only three films included bisexual+ characters, bi+ making up most of the LGBTQ community, and GLAAD didn’t count a single transgender character. Of the 45 LGBTQ characters in these films, half of them had under three minutes of screen time, 16 of those coming in at under a minute. Out of all 18 films that fell under the animated and family films section, none included LGBTQ+ characters. In 2018, although there were more films starring female protagonists, studies show that their representation got worse. According to the Center
for the Study of Women in Television and Film, in 2019 more male characters were portrayed as having a job and were more likely to be seen working in their workplace. Behind the scenes, 20% of the top 100 grossing film directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers were female. Only 1% of films employed 10 or more females in the surveyed roles. In modern society, movies often misrepresent people, influencing the youth to believe that people are something they’re not. Many young children have a twisted ideal of beauty due to the heavy Photoshop and editing done on magazine covers. They believe that their waist should be tiny, their skin flawless, their hair silky, when in reality, nobody is perfect. We should instead teach people to see beauty in everything and embrace their flaws.
Fairy Tales BY AKSHAYA PAI
Oh princess, Oh princess Your story was so wrongly told That made all little girls dream Of a happily ever after when they’re old. But to live in our world, You must be a fighter. You may be written by a man, But you can still burn brighter. I promise to tell The actual story Of how Beauty tamed the beast And of witch hunter Gretel’s glory, Of how Ariel chose self respect Before the attention of a man, And how the prince forgot what she looked like The night after Cinderella ran. Merida convinced everyone You don’t need a man to be a queen. To prove girls could bring victory, Mulan had to intervene.
To keep herself safe from men, Rapunzel chose the tallest tower, Snow White became a boss That made 7 dwarfs cower. Persephone stole a pomegranate From the God of the dead. A mad little girl killed the red queen Who’d say ‘Off with your head’! Wendy became an author And turned dream into truth. Aurora wished an unconsensual kiss Had never happened in her youth. you raise your daughters to be perfect princesses That wait to be rescued by a prince charming But forget that you’re actually teaching them That they mean nothing. Instead tell them they don’t have to like pink and play dress up, Tell them that it's okay to prefer a sword And sometimes mess up. While society did tell them That being a girl meant being weak, The truth is people were afraid That they were actually fierce and unique.
Fight Like A girl By shagun khare
What It Means To Be A Woman In STEAM Today, our world faces numerous challenges, from the instability of socioeconomic systems to cyber attacks and extremism. In order to develop innovative ideas for these problems, the only solution that catches our eyes is spearheaded towards four tracks: science, technology, engineering, and math. The underlying question here is : why women? Diversity in STEAM fosters passion, it allows us to create a sense of community to show where we belong in society. From countless experiences in everyday life to research experiences, studies show that a diverse group entails different voices, viewpoints, and expertise, bringing out about a more effective approach in problem-solving. It is to no surprise that women are greatly underrepresented throughout the STEAM workforce. According to UNESCO, 29 percent of people invested in science research and development are women, with 48 percent of them in Central Asia to as low as 19 percent residing in South and West Asia. Moreover, in the U.S, 80 percent of all STEAM jobs are geared towards computer science and engineering, but women only comprise 26 percent of the computing workforce and 12 percent of the engineering component.
Redefining The Stereotypes With technology becoming the forefront of the next generation, it is more than necessary to bridge the gender gap and understand the importance of steering women as decision-makers to ignite change. Currently, white men predominantly take over the fields of engineering and computer science, while young women, no matter how proficient they are in these skills, are pressured with the overbearing sense of under confidence. Often, women drop off at every stage throughout the STEAM journey, whether it be from the question of how their abilities are matched or the inability to bridge the under representation in the beginnings of their career. Carly Funk, the Director of Science and Society Research at Pew Research Center, claims, “Compared with those in non-STEAM jobs, women in STEAM are more likely to say they have experienced discrimination in the workforce (50% vs 41%).” Additionally, there lies a major lack of female role models that continue to drive women away from pursuing STEAM careers. As the media continues to fail covering these women, the highlights of a women’s trajectory in her career becomes less visible. Research from CW Jobs claims that when it comes to attracting female talent, having a role model is crucial. The findings suggest that “three-quarters of those without a role model haven’t yet decided upon a career direction compared to a quarter who have. Of those without a role model, four in five respondents think that having someone to loop up would be beneficial for their career.”
Fight For Where You Belong Laura Segal, senior vice president, communications and external affairs for the American Association of University Women, argues, “Teachers and parents provide explicit and implicit messages starting in early childhood that boys and men are ‘better’ at math, and the gaps in the progressions reinforce the opportunities, culture and lack of role models that perpetuate male dominance.” A large sum of encouraging more girls in STEAM is designated to teachers motivating them in the early stages of their schooling careers. Teachers need to shed light on successful female pioneers in STEAM, enforce participation to generate an inclusive atmosphere, and challenge these girls to allow them to see the possibilities of STEAM careers. Without set guidance and constant motivation, we are harming the minds of the leaders of our next generation. As for all the girls out there, keep your chin up, head high, and know that you are the ultimate boss of your career. Losing hope during a Calculus problem or stepping down from a leadership position only will only prove their point further. Reach out to your colleagues, advocate for more presentations, connect with those who believe in you. Even a small gesture of calling out to your mentor to help remind you of how far you have accomplished in your career can bridge that gap. And remember, stay authentic to yourself - being who you are is key.
BUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE BY ALTHEA OCOMEN
Self-confidence is understanding that you trust and value your own judgment and the abilities that you are innately born with. Once you have developed it, you feel worthy, regardless of your imperfections and your mistakes. Becoming confident means doing what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it. You are willing to take risks and to go the extra mile to achieve better outputs for yourself. You are also willing to admit your mistakes and learn from them to become a better person. Lastly, you accept compliments graciously, saying phrases such as "Thanks, I really worked hard on that prospectus. I'm pleased you recognize my efforts." Individuals tend to admire a self-confident person. Self-confident people seem at ease with themselves and their work or careers. They invite trust and inspire confidence in others to become a better person. These are attractive characteristics. That greatly benefit self- confident people in their work, and their relationships. Although there are numerous benefits in developing high self- worth, it's not always easy to be confident in yourself, particularly if you're naturally self-critical, or if other people constantly put you down. But there are steps that you can take to increase and maintain your self-confidence. Self-confidence is crucial in nearly every aspect of our lives, however numerous individuals battle to discover it.
Sadly, this may be a horrendous cycle: individuals who lack selfconfidence are less likely to achieve the victory that could give them more confidence. For example, you might not want to back a project that's pitched by somebody who's visibly nervous, fumbling, or always apologizing. On the other hand, you can be convinced by somebody who talks clearly, who holds their head high, answers questions with assurance, and promptly admits when they do not know something. Certain individuals inspire confidence in others: their audience, their co-workers, their bosses, their customers, and their companions. And gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways to succeed. In the following areas, we'll see how you'll be able to do this. You'll be able to appear self-confident in numerous ways: in your behavior, your body language, and in what you say and how you say it. Projecting a positive picture to others can assist you to make strides towards your selfconfidence. It's not simply a matter of "faking it." If you project with confidence, others are more likely to respond well, and this positive feedback will assist you to believe in yourself. Embrace an open posture. Sit or stand upright and put your hands by your sides. Avoid standing with your hands on your hips, as this will communicate a crave to dominate. And be sure not to slouch! Keep your head upright and level. Do not lean too far forward or backward, as this could make you look forceful. And if you're presenting, utilize open hand signals. Spread your hands apart, with your palms facing somewhat toward your audience. This shows a readiness to communicate and to share thoughts. Keep your upper arms near to your body. Engaging with individuals is critical, so maintain eye contact while you talk. This shows that you're fascinated by what they're saying and that you're taking an active portion within the discussion.
But bear in mind any social considerations when it comes to body language and communication. Do not fidget or look absent while the discussion continues, as this will make you appear distracted or anxious. If shaking hands is the regular greeting in your working environment, be firm. Not too firm, though, and avoid being too upfront. Reaching for the other person's wrist or shoulder with your free hand is regularly seen as a way of building up dominance, and it's not recommended for a first meeting. Avoid making the experience awkward – or, worse, difficult! The short-term activity can fix immediate or intense issues with your selfconfidence, but longer-term confidence-building needs more fundamental activity. This may include presenting changes to your way of life and making strong plans for the future. To construct a solid sense of selfesteem, and the confidence that develops from it, aim to create good habits (and to break terrible ones !). Look after your physical and mental wellbeing: regular work out can improve both. Make sure that you're getting sufficient rest and eating properly. Not doing so can lead to feeling bad in yourself, and likely about yourself. Working on your individual branding can also have a positive impact on your self-confidence. In the event that you'll project a positive picture of your authentic self, you'll likely begin to receive the positive feedback that's so imperative to your self-confidence. Developing self- confidence is not an easy task. It requires dedication, and commitment. The effort is vital in creating crucial changes in your mindset and daily activities. In order to gain confidence in your actions and words, the change should start with you.
SOME GIRLS By akshAya pai
Some girls want to be leaders And have control over their lives. They believe in having their names known Not by being other people’s wives. Some girls want to be influencers And show the difference between wrong and right. They want their voices heard And won’t back down without a fight. Some girls believe that knowledge Can help the world advance. To them ‘smart is cool’ And there’s no such thing as ‘chance’. Some girls like shiny dresses And makeup with bright shades, The media makes them look weak And they hate how they’re displayed. Some girls love books, And fandoms and stories. They want to be fighters And heroes worth the glory.
Some girls love running, And playing with a ball. They believe that sports Is more than worth it all! Some girls are unsure of what in life they wish to do. But each and everyone of them knows, That to themselves they must stay true. Each and every girl is diverse And there’s none that are the same. So let’s start taking them seriously, And not treating them like a game.
Empowerment empowerment Playlist playlist Most Girls - Hailee Steinfield Stronger - Kelly Clarkson Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys Ain't Your Mama - Jenifer Lopez Fight Song - Rachel Platten Confident - Demi Lovato God is a Woman - Ariana Grande Scars to Your Beautiful - Alessia Cara Survivor- Destiny's Child
a aword team wordfrom from the the team "She Shines Magazine has given me the amazing opportunity to connect with so many inspiring and empowering girls! I'm so grateful to be part of team which strives for leadership and empowering the next generation of change-makers!" - Shagun Khare, Writer
"Working with She Shines Magazine is a great opportunity to develop skills in teamwork, independent work, communication, and responsibility. I highly recommend for all to apply and grow their skills at She Shines Magazine" - Claire Hsu, Partnerships Director
"Even though I was a member of the She Shines team for a very limited time, I feel grateful to have been a part of it. The vision of the magazine is what pulled me towards it, and I hope that that vision and the magazine reaches as many people as possible. I wish the team the best for the future!" - Priyanka Srinivasan, Writer
"The experience with She Shines has been great! I've made new friends and gotten to know some more things about female empowerment, a topic I didn't really know about before joining the magazine. I've also learnt how to work with people and coordinate meetings despite different time zones and schedules. I look forward to working with She Shines Magazine!" - Sophie Sun, Writer
"She Shines Magazine is a great platform to empower and motivate girls whether it is about their body image or their profession. Having an interest in subjects like Physics and Math as well as technical domains like Design & Technology, I've always felt that more girls need to be motivated into these subject areas. Hence, this was an idea that I resonated with. Furthermore, signing up as a Newsletter Manager wherein I had no prior experience of, it has been a great journey with the members of the team who have been supporting and teaching me the nuances of newsletters. I deeply feel motivated and happy in the SSM team." - Soumya Rana, Newsletters Manager
"I have a vision of empowering women to do great things. To turn this vision into action, I joined She shines magazine. It’s been an amazing journey working with such strong and amazing women!" - Lahen Shaikh, writer
"She Shines Magazine has been an eye-opening experience for me since it allowed me to test my capabilities and to overcome my limits in writing. I have never been more proud of being a part of this huge family as it helped me in my personal development and in educating my fellow generation on a variety of topics." - Althea Ocomen, Writer
"I was very intrigued by this organization because i was never surrounded by people who encouraged women to join stem. I was interested in using my art for a good cause! It made me feel like I was able to create positive change while doing what I love, which is my main goal in life. I have learned that there are many other girls out there like me, who have felt the same feeling of being trapped in this societal expectation of solely being used in the kitchen. It is refreshing to see us making a stand against societal rules!" - Anna Liu, Artist
"At SSM, I've not just met a group of young and extremely talented women but I've also learnt a lot from them, including how to put my knowledge about social media into practical use to help an organization do incredible work. I initially joined because the message that SSM was trying to send was incredible and as someone who resonated with the message, I really wanted to help." - Vijayalakshmi Ganesh, Press Director
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