Why I Pursue STEM and Hope to Make a Difference as a Woman By Samantha Hand Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a natural curiosity about the world around me. I would run outside to explore and make new discoveries, constantly asking questions like what, when, where, and how things worked. My parents couldn’t always answer them, and neither could my teachers—so I turned to books. I read non-fiction books, especially about science and technology, always wanting to know more. Learning quickly became an addiction, especially when it came to understanding the world I live in. As I grew older, I found it difficult to stick to just one subject. I wanted to learn everything—biology, physics, math, animals, machines, AI, and more. I might not be an expert in any one area yet, but my passion for learning has never faded. In my senior year of high school, I realized how deeply curious I was about technology and its power to improve lives. Innovations like AI, VR/AR, and biotechnology are changing the world—helping people walk again, connect across distances, and experience life in new ways. What excites me most is that technology isn’t just science—it’s art, too. Film and video games, for example, use storytelling and design to connect people emotionally. Technology makes that magic happens; it turns dreams into reality. I’ve come to understand that I want to be part of that. I want to create technology that makes a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why I’m majoring in Imaging Science at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) which includes art, science, math, and technology. It is one of a kind and RIT is the only college that offers Imaging Science as a major. I can choose to work with life changing technology and experts such as VR/AR researchers, computer vision scientists, satellite imaging experts, and drone and camera hardware engineers. As I began to focus on this path, I also noticed something that inspired me even more: there weren’t many women in the spaces I was entering. In my high school computer science class, there was only one other girl. That moment opened my eyes. If I pursue and earn a STEM degree, I can be part of changing that. As a deaf woman, I can inspire young girls to chase their dreams in science and technology—to believe they belong in those fields just as much as anyone else.