About Me:
What is the most a 17-year-old can do? Let me tell you.
I just turned 17 this year and I’m a passionate teenage girl, who is determined to explore my thriving data industry. I want to be the voice that inspires and motivates more girls to take Stem careers further. I also want to make people realise how powerful girls can be in Stem careers and how we can do anything as long as we take risks. Hopefully, I can convey this journey through this blog series.
My Journey:
My journey started as a young teenage girl, aged 14, when I truly realised I had a passion for maths and chemistry. For me, my favourite part of chemistry was titrations and learning the theory behind these reactions. I was also enjoying solving more advanced maths problems in my class.
At that age, I realised that maths teaches you to be analytical, confident and creative which are key skills needed for everyday life. Of course, maths is not as easy as a piece of cake but rather something that requires effort and determination. That’s the beauty of mathematics!
After my GSCEs were cancelled in 2020, I discovered Girls in Data. This was the biggest turning point of my life. One of the most memorable experiences was definitely the ‘Experian Data Challenge’ where my research was published in the East Anglian Newspaper. In addition, I also received the opportunity to present my hard work to the Experian team at the age of 16. I have to admit though, it was quite nerve-wracking talking in front of so many people. I overcame this after my first verbal presentation online. I have learnt so many new skills from all the data challenges during summer lockdown, each challenge bringing its own unique flavour and enjoyment.
From the experiences I had with Girls in Data, I realised the importance of data and how much it is used in the real world. Following my passion for maths and inspiration from Girls in Data, I decided at that point I would like to continue advanced maths into A-level along with chemistry and biology.
Recently from Girls in Data, I have had the privilege of becoming an Ambassador to help drive the change for more girls to pursue Stem careers.
Future academic journey:
Going forward, I would like the opportunity to do some real work experience so I can understand the application of data in the current growing industry. It would also be beneficial to have the opportunity to learn from others and improve my practical skills such as learning how to use software, which is a useful tool for a career in data.
Future aspirations:
As I progress through my academic journey, I would love to pursue a career in combining biomedical sciences and data analysis. I would truly enjoy analysing data for projects, especially using advanced software such as Tableau along with the human biological aspect of biology. I hope to do this by studying a biomedical degree at university.
Thank you for reading this blog!
Bansari