The air buzzed with anticipation, a blend of excitement and anxiety, as ideas crackled like static electricity. Bright fluorescent lights lit the room filled with the scent of fresh coffee. I was in a Mandela Washington meeting, in which each group had to present an idea. A girl in my group told me “Let the man present, otherwise no one will listen”. I was floored. My heart pounded, the walls seemed to close in, and rage flooded my senses. A woman in STEM was telling me to let my idea be presented by a man because she believed no one would listen to a woman. The room turned red thinking about how women were often treated in this manner due to the male majority in STEM. From the very first day, the atmosphere stirred with excitement. What I gained from the Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology extended far beyond the confines of research and lectures. As the weeks unfolded, we dove into subjects and our project, the CAD Design and Development of a Lunar Work Station with NASA HUNCH. Research had always been exhilarating for me, all the knowledge swirling around the room being put in place like pieces of a puzzle, eager to find more pieces and what they revealed. However, the team had hit a major roadblock: the simulation system was unable to import the files we needed to test. I could see the weight of despair displayed on my peers' faces. At that moment, I took a deep breath and reassured my group that we could overcome this setback together. Organizing our plans and assigning tasks, I turned our collective uncertainty into a renewed sense of purpose. I became a source of support, guiding my teammates through confusion and inspiring them to push forward. Often when they were lost about how we should alter our design and build process to meet the timeframe requirements, or unsure how to run simulations and calculations for our model, I would be the person they asked for support. Witnessing their transformation from doubt to determination was incredibly rewarding. There were moments of doubt and overwhelming stress, but the support from the bond our team shared helped me persevere. In times of discouragement, we lifted each other up, navigating the pressures and unexpectedness together. This bond not only deepened our friendship but also fostered resilience within all of us, reminding us that we were able to rely on and gain encouragement from others as well. Now at the meeting, I gathered my confidence to stand up for equality and equal opportunities for women and stood up and explained my proposal. To the room, I explained that I wanted to implement plexiglass and a flood system to protect buildings against natural disasters, confidently and well-spoken, so everyone in the room could listen and understand my idea. I had everyone's eyes on me as I spoke, which made me proud to be a woman and be heard. In turn, I watched as other women got the courage to stand up and also speak about their ideas, which I was later told was due to my courage, and it made me proud knowing I was able to have this effect on those around me. Empowering, inspiring, and advocating for women in STEM is something that I’ve always done, whether that be through GirlsCodingwithGirls, a program at my high school, or other programs. I will eternally be the advocate for promoting this idea, inspiring women to express their voices in STEM, no matter how intimidating the environment.