Do you ever feel like you know so little about computers that you don't know what you don't know? Or, that you don't even know where to begin? Well you are not alone. On Friday, November 2, at Paredes Middle School, a group of around fifty, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls gathered to talk about what they know, don't know, and don't know they don't know about technology, with a panel of eight Austin women who have succeeded in the high-tech industry. Each woman was asked to give some background information about herself, what motivated her to pursue a career in the high-tech world, and was then asked a specific question having to do with how she came to succeed on her own and how you can do it too.

Does it ever feel as if guys give you a hard time for being smart? Nearly all of the women said that when they were in school some boys were threatened by how smart they were and the girls in the audience could relate to that too. However, the panel also agreed that usually, "Smart guys hang around smart girls." If a guy cannot handle that you are good in math, or science, or any other subject, then they are not worth hanging around, because anyone that tries to hold you back does not have your best interest at heart. It may seem too that guys are better at math and science than girls, but this is not necessarily true. When asked if they liked math, the girls in the audience gave different responses. Many like it, many didn't and some said they just felt like they were not good at it and that guys were better. If ever someone makes you feel stupid or that you are not good enough, the best thing to do is to find somebody to help you get rid of that feeling and fast, whether it is about math, science or anything else.

So how did these women do it? Not easily and not without hard work and determination. They said the best way for girls to start reaching for a career in the high-tech industry is by taking as many math and science classes as possible. Any girl is just as capable of any boy in succeeding in math and science, and the high-tech industry, but the truth is that the girl may have to work harder at it. One woman on the panel said that in order for guys to think you are just as good as them you have to be better than them. As with anything you choose to do, you must have confidence in yourself and if you are going to do it, then do it well.

This site was last updated on 04/14/2004.

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