Meet Penelope Om:

How were you first introduced to STEM?

I was first introduced to STEM at my public middle school in Cresskill. I had to take a course that was literally called STEM, where we learned how to code and build things.

What are you passionate about? What role does STEM play in your future?

I’m pretty passionate about Computer Science and I definitely want to pursue a career in that field in the future.

Do you have a particular STEM project you are proud of?

For our sophomore mid-year project, my friends and I built and designed our own game using a platform called Java Greenfoot, and I’m really proud of the way it turned out.

Why do you feel it is important for girls to learn about STEM?

I think STEM is currently a male-dominated field and it is also becoming the career/field of the future. It’s important to have girls in STEM because STEM is our future, and I want girls to also be a part of that.

What advice do you have for girls interested in learning about STEM?

I would say that they should definitely try and get connected with a teacher at their school because I think it often turns out that there are a lot more opportunities for girls in STEM than you think there are.