Operation Minerva empowers girls and gender-diverse youth to explore potential pathways in STEAM by connecting them with mentors through networking and story sharing.
I loved sharing my “non-linear” journey into software development, why I made the choices I did, and what I’ve learned along the way. I tried to distill my experiences into a few pieces of guiding mentorship wisdom for each group I spoke with:
1. Know yourself.
Take time to notice the ideas and activities that spark joy and curiosity. Embrace what makes you unique (your interests are clues).
2. Learn what the day-to-day actually looks like.
A subject might fascinate you, but the job itself may involve 40 hours a week of tasks you don’t enjoy. Get curious: volunteer, do practicums or internships, talk to people in the field, ask questions, and seek out job-shadowing opportunities.
3. Consider your whole life, not just your career.
Work doesn’t have to be your single defining priority. As a famous male model once said, “maybe there’s more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking - I mean, just work.”
The students asked thoughtful questions like:
“What if I don’t want to do one thing all the time?”
“How do I find someone to job shadow?”
These questions speak to the anxieties many young people face when trying to “find their path,” and programs like Operation Minerva help connect them with answers and support.
Some of the core messages I shared:
- It’s okay to change your mind, explore many paths, or choose careers that offer variety.
- There are people in nearly any business who would be happy to share what they do. Sometimes it’s as simple as Googling a company you’re curious about and reaching out to introduce yourself.
Ultimately, most of my advice circles back to the first point: you get to choose your journey, and your journey is for you.
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