Women in STEM hosted University of Houston student and mechanical engineering major Stephanie Baquedano from the Society of Women Engineers in room 1601 on April 1. Around 15 attendees heard about Baquedano’s journey in STEM and asked for advice for their futures.

Junior and co-president Kashika Adhikari reached out to SWE and contacted Baquedano, the organization’s outreach chair.

“I think [SWE] has a really good mission of empowering women to take on STEM fields and to share their journeys of resisting the obstacles faced by being the only woman in a lot of male-dominated industries,” Adhikari said. “[SWE] just gives really good advice to young girls about just where to start with their STEM aspirations.”

Baquerdano’s presentation touched on the importance of networking in helping her find a path that aligned with her interests.

“I tried out a few [student organizations], but SWE stood out,” Baquedano said. “I felt the most comfortable there and ended up finding amazing mentors who helped me survive my freshman year. That sense of support and belonging kept me coming back.”

For junior and member Jordan Tidwell, Baquedano’s talk was a “valuable experience to hear from.” Baquedano’s accounts of being the only girl in the room stood out to Tidwell.

“I found it impactful when she said ‘you might be the only girl in a classroom,’ and you shouldn’t let that weigh you down,” Tidwell said. “You should embrace your differences and also understand that you are just as capable as any other man to work in a lab and make new discoveries.”

Women in STEM plan to schedule UH tours in coordination with SWE next semester. To stay up to date on the club’s future events, follow its Remind @bhswstem and Instagram @bhs.wstem.