The realm of parenthood often brings unexpected challenges, including stomach bugs, lice outbreaks, and the heart-wrenching moment your child expresses disdain with a simple “I hate you.” However, I would like to propose an additional contender for this list: the dreaded announcement that “The science fair is coming up, and it’s mandatory.”
Until this point, I had successfully evaded the science fair as a requirement. But now, my daughter is in fifth grade, and when she delivered the news a couple of months back, I turned to my partner and proclaimed, “You’re handling this one.”
Just imagining the chaos of poster boards, messy experiments, and formulating a hypothesis made me anxious. I consider myself a creative person; I thrive on writing, reading, and the arts. Science and math are foreign territories for me, and I often feel overwhelmed by them.
In high school, I barely scraped through chemistry. The periodic table was as incomprehensible to me as ancient scripts. I genuinely tried to grasp the concepts, but nothing resonated. I managed to get through, vowing never to face chemistry again. Thankfully, it wasn’t a requirement for my psychology degree.
I am fortunate to be married to someone who enjoys writing abstracts and crunching numbers. Our contrasting strengths worked out perfectly for those challenging moments, such as when a science fair loomed over us.
After I relinquished control, I didn’t give it much thought until my partner mentioned that our daughter had chosen a particularly intricate project. Of course she did. My daughter has always been passionate about math and science, and while she could read Harry Potter endlessly, her genuine enthusiasm for these subjects thrilled me. She was eager to participate, even as I felt overwhelmed.
We ordered $40 worth of supplies online, and I was still in the dark about her project. It turned out her entire presentation revolved around “Cooking for Chemists,” an endeavor reflecting her enthusiasm for chemistry — a stark contrast to my own experiences. It fascinated her.
I stayed hands-off, questioning the continued relevance of the science fair. After several evenings filled with scientific discussions between my daughter and her father, the moment arrived when I could contribute: the poster. Armed with my scrapbooking materials, I helped her assemble the display, and I felt a sense of accomplishment once we completed it.
Then came the surprising news: she secured second place at her school and was the only girl among the top three students advancing to the district level. To my astonishment, she won there as well, propelling her to the state competition. While I felt immense pride, I couldn’t help but think, “Here we go again with this never-ending science fair!”
Through this journey, I recognized that my negative attitude was the real issue. My daughter was engaging in something she loved, excelling in a STEM event, and making strides — as the sole girl representing her school, no less. Everyone was celebrating her achievements.
It dawned on me that the problem lay not with the science fair but with my own perspective.
I often encourage my children to pursue their dreams, yet here I was, failing to support her in this endeavor. While I may not grasp the intricacies of scientific terminology, I can certainly offer encouragement when she expresses interest in such activities. My goal is to raise a daughter who believes she can achieve anything, and that requires my active support.
According to the Census Bureau’s 2009 American Community Survey, while women occupy nearly half of all jobs in the U.S. workforce, they hold less than 25% of roles in STEM fields. This disparity has persisted despite an increase in college-educated women in the overall job market.
A year ago, my daughter shared her dream of owning a bakery with a reading nook, and I readily embraced that aspiration because it aligned with my interests. However, my mindset has shifted. I now realize my enthusiasm must extend to subjects I initially overlooked, like science and math, to ensure she feels empowered to pursue her dreams.
Research shows that girls’ interest in STEM peaks around age 11, but by age 15, it tends to wane. This information emphasizes the importance of nurturing their passion during these formative years. I understand that even if my daughter doesn’t pursue a STEM career, fostering her interest in these fields could open remarkable opportunities.
With increased awareness surrounding girls’ engagement in STEM, fueled by initiatives and films like Hidden Figures, we’re making headway. Nonetheless, I recognize that my attitude must evolve as well. Even if I can’t assist with fifth-grade math, I can still demonstrate excitement and support, reinforcing that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.
In conclusion, I owe my newfound perspective to the science fair experience.
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Keyphrase: My Perspective on My Daughter’s Science Fair
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