Advocating for STEM Education: My Experience at SER National STEM Day

Why STEM Advocacy Matters

When I was invited to participate in SER National’s STEM Day, I jumped at the chance. SER National has been doing incredible work for decades, connecting Latino and underserved communities with employment and educational opportunities. Their STEM Day event was all about showing young people that careers in science, technology, engineering, and math aren’t just for “certain” people — they’re for anyone with curiosity and determination.

I had the opportunity to share my own journey from being a kid who loved taking apart electronics to becoming a tech professional, and eventually, an entrepreneur and speaker who advocates for more representation in STEM. The students I spoke with were sharp, curious, and full of potential. But many of them had never met a Latina in tech before. Let that sink in. In 2024, there are still young Latinas who have never seen someone who looks like them working in technology. That’s exactly why events like this are not optional — they’re essential.

Planting Seeds

Advocacy isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s about sitting down with a fifteen-year-old and helping them see that the skills they use to troubleshoot their family’s WiFi are the same skills that can lead to a career in cybersecurity. Sometimes it’s about telling a parent that their child’s love of video games could translate to a career in software engineering. These small moments of connection are seeds, and when you plant enough of them, you grow a forest of possibility. SER National gets that, and I’m honored to be part of the mission.