Computer Science Inequality

When I walked into computer science class freshman year, I was slightly terrified. I had always been interested in comp sci, but had the perception that it was a male-dominated field. I was right. There were 3 girls in the class, including my teacher. I have to be honest, I was dejected. The lack of girls depleted my confidence to succeed in the class. But, as the semester wore on, I realized that the absence of other females to motivate me meant that I would have to be that girl; that motivator. I immersed myself in the class, and loved it so much that I took another class the next year. I am now on the executive board of our school computer science club (which is all female!) and a founder of a women in STEM club promoting girls just like me to pursue their passions, despite the gender disparities.