Building Belonging and Confidence: A Transformative Workshop at New Mexico Tech

Creating Safe Spaces in STEM

When I received the invitation to lead a workshop at New Mexico Tech, I knew this was going to be special. New Mexico Tech is a place where brilliant minds are solving some of the world’s toughest challenges, but like so many STEM institutions, it can feel isolating for students who come from underrepresented backgrounds. My goal was simple: create a space where students could exhale, be honest about their struggles, and walk away with practical tools for building confidence.

The workshop focused on two things that I believe are deeply interconnected — belonging and confidence. When you don’t feel like you belong somewhere, your confidence takes a hit. And when your confidence is low, it’s hard to feel like you belong. It’s a cycle that so many first-gen students know all too well. We did exercises around reframing imposter syndrome, identifying personal strengths, and building what I call a “belonging toolkit” — a set of affirmations, routines, and support systems that students can carry with them.

The Moment That Moved Me

The most powerful part of the workshop was when students started sharing their stories with each other. One student talked about being the only Latina in her engineering cohort and how she had been silently struggling for two years. Another shared how he almost dropped out because he didn’t think he was “smart enough.” These are the moments that remind me why this work matters. By the end, students were exchanging numbers, forming study groups, and making promises to check in on each other. That’s the real impact — not just a workshop, but a community.