Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
By Jasmine Carey, NIU STEAM Educator
At a very young age I developed a passion for creating and building. My creations ranged from drawings to stories with illustrations and even practical things. For example, when I was younger, I used LEGOSs to build a video game case holder to store my video games because the one in the store was too expensive. As I got older, I knew that as an adult I would need to get a job someday. I also knew that I never wanted to be the adult that came home every day looking tired from their boring job. At that time, I did not know that I could use my creativity and passion for building to as a way to earn a living. Then one day, my high school architectural drafting teacher, Mr. Stapleton, taught me what I enjoyed had a name, engineering.
Mr. Stapleton challenged me beyond my limits at times and I am so thankful to have had a teacher like him. After high school I continued to pursue my interest in Computer Aided Design (CAD) which led me to NIU where I earned an undergraduate degree in Industrial Management and Technology. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked with NIU STEAM where I led STEAM Saturday classes for elementary school aged girls in a program called STEM Divas. I also instructed at STEAM summer camps ranging from grades 6-12. It was here at NIU STEAM where I got my first experience of what STEM education was. It was not 4-5 separate disciplines jammed into one activity, but it was a gateway into using real-world investigation to develop contributing members of society who are problem solvers and critical thinkers.
After completing my undergraduate studies, I returned to NIU to pursue my masters in Instructional Technology. That’s where I learned to implement technology in the classroom as a tool. While in graduate school, I continued to work with NIU STEAM where I gained the experience I needed to develop my skill and character as an educator. After graduating with my masters, I taught STEM at an elementary school in Rockford for 4 years. There I had an incredible leader who helped me integrate my informal style of teaching into a more traditional setting. I created a makerspace style enrichment class for students to enjoy every day. I was able to collaborate with teachers in my building, they would teach the foundations of their lesson and I would use my STEM class to help them understand on a deeper level through application of what they’d learned in their classroom. This set-up proved to be the most successful for students. In my class, students received hands-on learning and the freedom to be creative.
Now, 4 years later, I have returned to NIU STEAM where my love for STEAM originated. It is here at NIU STEAM where I found a passion for STEAM education through engineering. Today I am a STEAM instructor with the Barb City STEAM Team after school program. Here I get to utilize all the skills I developed along the way I teach courses involving 3D designing, laser cutting, 3D printing, robotics, coding, and much more. My love of engineering did not lead me to your typical engineering career, but it did lead me to a much more fitting career path for me. My path showed me mentorship, grace, encouragement, and support. My path taught me how to listen, how to adapt, and how to be the best version of myself. My path showed me how important it is to follow your passion and that it is possible to create your own path. My path made me an engineer but my love for engineering made me an educator.
