Guest blog written by Caroline Galliez
There are some gender stereotypes that STEM subjects and sports are ‘not for girls’, that it's not where they belong. This is just not true! If someone told you that or made you feel that way, let me share an example to show you why YOU BELONG IN and you should BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
Growing up, I hated sports. Any excuse was good enough to miss physical education (PE) class. When I wasn’t excused, I remember hiding behind a wall next to the athletics track when we were asked to run sprints. I didn't see the point. I didn't like the feeling of being out of breath. I thought I was not sporty, or, that's what I was telling myself at the time. But why?
I don't know how much of this was true, and how much of this was caused by my fear of not being good enough. Before I attended my first PE class, I used to like sprinting with my friends, to see who would be the fastest. I used to love playing games that involved running - statues, capture the flag, etc. What changed? A boy told me that I wasn't good enough to play sports, that I didn't belong there, and ‘little Caroline’ believed him, rather than herself.
Because I spend most of my time sitting in front of a laptop for work, I knew I needed to stay healthy. I forced myself to spend time outside and started moving, so I decided I should try running again. At first, without surprise, I didn't like it much. After not doing any high intensity exercise for several years, it was really tough! I felt so weak and was easily winded. I knew I needed to push through and with slowly rebuilding my stamina, I realized I actually love running! Now, I am running, cycling, and/or lifting weights several times a week.
That was over 5 years ago now, and I haven't stopped exercising since! I ran my first half marathon and completed several fitness challenges. I cycled from London to Cambridge in 2021. I ran the Cambridge Half Marathon in 2022. I participated in two Hyrox competitions (a mix of running and functional fitness) in 2023. I thought I didn't belong in sports. Now I know I do, and that I am actually pretty good at them!
I love how exercise makes me feel - free, refreshed, strong, and proud of myself. Exercise has become my ‘happy place’ in the middle of a busy day; it is what helps keep me grounded. Exercise gives me so much more than physical benefits. I feel a lot more confident in myself and my abilities. I know I am able to face challenges when life gets tough. If I have a difficult day at work, exercise helps reduce my stress levels and refocus. Overall, I find I am in a better mood after exercising.
This experience is true about sports for me, but it could be true about anything! It could be about the subject you want to study, the career you want to have, or the activity you want to try. Don’t believe the stereotypes - girls CAN pursue computer science, robotics, math, rugby, fencing, weight lifting, firefighting, or anything they want to do.
During my engineering studies and my time working for Arm, women have been in the minority. You could think this would make me feel isolated, but I think it brings women closer together. I’ve connected with some incredible women who have become real cheerleaders and mentors, inspiring and encouraging me along the way. That’s not to say these situation are perfect…
At university, I occasionally heard remarks suggesting that I had an easier time with interviews because I am female. These comments were frustrating because I knew how hard I was working to prepare for those interviews, and these comments came from people who weren’t putting in the same level of effort. However, the positive experiences outweigh the negatives. At Arm, I feel supported by my male colleagues and am given the same opportunities regardless of my gender. I'm also fortunate to be able to share my experiences and serve as a role model, mentor, and ambassador through GLAM.
Don't let anybody tell you ‘that is not for you’ or that ‘you don’t belong’! Comments like that reflect a lot more about someone else’s insecurities and their negative self-talk. Believe in yourself and in your abilities! Keep pursuing your dreams and goals, no matter what anyone else thinks or tells you to do. GIRLS BELONG IN STEM. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND PURSUE YOUR GOALS!
Caroline Galliez is a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Arm and a valued GLAM Ambassador. With a degree in Computer Science and Microelectronics, Caroline uses this knowledge along with her expertise in data engineering and machine learning engineering to contribute to successful projects.
To learn more about our STEAM education and leadership development programs, explore more content throughout our website, follow @GLAMReadyToLead on socials, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and read more of our blogs and press releases.
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