“Don’t let their barriers bring you down” – Sofia Fairweather

Since I was four years old I’ve started four companies, I’m now nine.   Being a girl, people expect you to be into dance or art or something like that, but I  really like science and I don’t really care what other people think.  There are always more boys than girls in science and engineering and it can feel kind of alone as the only girl with so many boys, but when they’re the same kind of smart as you I can still work with them.  Boys have been pretty accepting of me being a girl. 

I’m a leader in S.T.E.M, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  What I do is make products based on S.T.E.M platforms. My products come from just looking around to find problems I can solve.  One of my products is the windshield band-aid, which patches to stone chips in windshields before they turn into major cracks. 

My advice to young girls interested in S.T.E.M is to not get discouraged by what people say and don’t let their barriers bring you down.  For parents with kids, especially girls, interested in the sciences and engineering, my tip is: Listen, Care, Do Something.  Listen and hear what your kids want, care and understand what to do, and then do it. 

ck

More sage advice from a nine year old #VBB 42