Reading Mark Zuckerberg's recent advice to encourage girls to *be* the nerd in their school, I smiled and fondly remembered the name given to my friends and I in high school...The Nerd Herd. "The Nerd Herd" consisted of my six closest girlfriends. We met in the 8th grade on the Algebra school bus.
Every morning before the first bell would ring calling Middle School classes in session we had already attended our first class of the day...Algebra at the local High School. As you can probably guess we got the name because we traveled as a group from advanced class to advanced class. We made it through High School together, took the toughest classes, four of us pursued STEM programs in college, received STEM degrees in the areas of Engineering, Computer Science and Medicine, and represent the small percentage of females in STEM careers. Statistics show that we beat the odds. While in early education there may be a similar rate of boys and girls in higher level math and science classes, the gap begins and widens in higher education and in the workforce, especially for minority women.
I firmly believe being part of a "Nerd Herd" in every phase of my education and career has contributed to my success. At Boston University, the small group of us in the Biomedical Engineering program were called the "Biomed Girls" or the "Engineering Floor Girls" (because we picked to live on the designated College of Engineering co-ed floor in the then Shelton Hall). The same sisterhood that got me through Advanced Placement Calculus in High School also worked for surviving Thermodynamics in College.
We weren't math geniuses or science masterminds. We didn't consider ourselves inherently STEM gifted. What we did do is stick together, not necessarily on purpose at first but more because we were in all the same classes and were the few in an auditorium filled with men. We were competitive, not only with the men but within ourselves. We were competitive, but we were supportive... we shared our test grades and were elated when we had the highest of the group, but made sure to comfort, reassure, and help if one of us did poorly. We became excellent at dividing and conquering. Whether it was sharing class notes, splitting up homework assignments, or taking turns leading study sessions or writing the study guide. We also looked out for one another, did activities together, and shared interests that had nothing to do with school. Most importantly we had group momentum and I felt that purpose and driving force up until the day I received my Engineering degree.
It was definitely more challenging to find STEM sisters in my graduate studies and in the workforce simply due to the sheer shortage of us. What I have had are excellent female mentors and engineer role models that encouraged and shaped my career. If it wasn't for them, choosing to work for family-friendly organizations, and the support of family I would not have stayed in the STEM workforce beyond early career and family responsibilities.
Now as a woman with a 15 year career in STEM and a daughter headed towards Middle School, I encourage her and her Nerd Herd at STEM meetings and competitions. We celebrate and promote STEM through our schools, community, and the Orlando Science Center. I emphasize at every opportunity that learning can be hard work but to stay curious about technical subjects and technology. It won't always come easy but to help and support each other. Let's teach and support this positive "herd behavior" early so they will have female peers when they enter the STEM workforce.