Math and science are the fields of knowledge that most females are most likely to turn their backs to, but Skyline College has been hosting life-changing conferences that strengthen girls’ beliefs about their abilities.
With successful years of enhancing and inspiring young girls behind them, Skyline has once again welcomed Expanding Your Horizons, a math and science conference for girls that was held March 19.
A lot of people ask, “Why the gender?” Girls are not likely to take math and science classes in college, and girls have fewer role models in math and science, so Skyline has been giving them people to look up to.
EYH is a nationwide and worldwide movement that expands young women’s (6th–12th grade) options to widen their perspective and awareness of math and science, which prepares them for college. Skyline was one of the first institutions to host the event, and it has done so for the past 31 years.
To make the conference possible, volunteers took weeks to prepare for the event with the help of the Genentech Foundation.
Before the girls set off to the workshops prepared for them, President Regina Stanback Stroud of Skyline College introduced Caille Millner, author of “The Golden Road” and member of the San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board in the general assembly to share her experience.
“I didn’t think it would have much use in my life,” Millner said, “but then at a certain point, I realized the problem wasn’t math or science. The problem was that I had made myself believe that I wasn’t good at them.”
A full day was planned, involving registration, hands-on workshops, a special group activity and a career fair and science exposition. The conference also provided young girls with the opportunity to interact with positive role models who are active in math- and science-related careers.
For parents, the conference offered a two-and-a-half-hour workshop on college planning, academic requirements and financial aid.
“The girls are fortunate enough. We never had something like this when we were younger,” said Christine Case, a member of the planning committee.
Throughout the day, volunteers and instructors guided students within the campus.
“Every year, it’s fun and very rewarding,” said Vanson Nguyen, a member of the planning committee. “I get to help a thousand kids! Every go’fer (volunteer) plays a big role in helping each of the girls, and I am part of that effort.”
A loose network of people at Skyline talked and coordinated with each other; they worked to organize the event.
“We had different sections of working around the campus, which made my group sociable around the campus with parents and their children,” said Ruce Head, a student volunteer. “The event was a blast!”
In this world, gender is never a condition of what people are capable of, especially in math and science.
“We have 31 years of quotations where a little girl would say, ‘Now I can do anything;’ that’s pretty powerful,” Case said. “Something like, ‘Now I know someone cares about me.’ It’s extremely powerful; it simply tells us they are in great need for this.”
