AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JANUARY'S MENTEE OF THE MONTH: XINYI LOOI!
1.What are your passions in STEM and what motivates you to pursue them? Do you have any passions outside of STEM and how did they develop?
My passion in STEM is anything that allows me to create and help others around the world! I'd say my current passion is anything engineering. It's so incredible to me how we humans can CREATE things out of our own two hands and the Earth's existing materials. When I was a young girl, before I ever knew about the word "engineering", my dream was to be an inventor. It's been a decade or so, and I'm proud to say my dream has not changed. :)
Yes!! I do have passions outside of STEM. I honestly love writing. A good article or prompt can inspire so many ideas in me. Whenever I sit down to write, I feel fulfilled beyond words (ha, that might have been a pun lol!). I wish I could do it more, but commitments get in the way these days, unfortunately.
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2.How has your experience in the 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures program been so far and what has been your favourite experience?
My experience in the 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures program so far has been absolutely life-changing. I really mean it when I say that I've grown more during this program, both personally and professionally, then any other program (or even year) in my life. I've met the most amazing people and been introduced to so many new opportunities in the 1000GF program. I really liked STEM when I joined the program, but I now ADORE it. I really don't think I could have had a better formative experience in my teenage years. I'm truly so lucky and fortunate to have come across the program and been accepted!
3. What do you think helped you become mentee of the month? Do you think something particular—such as passion projects or initiatives—made you stand out from the rest of the students in the program?
Becoming mentee of the month was a matter of staying engaged with the platform as much as possible for me. I replied to as many posts, AMAs, and discussions as possible, out of pure heart! I believe everyone deserves support, and I aim to continue staying active on the platform. I did not particularly reach out to any mentors other than my pod mentors, Technovation mentors, research project advisors, and the mentors that I had specific inquiries for. On the other hand, I talk to my fellow mentees daily! Not a day goes by where I do not have a conversation with a brilliant 1000GF girl that brightens up my day :)
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4.How are you keeping a balance between your schoolwork, family and friends, responsibilities, and passion project(s)?
I'm not going to lie. Keeping a good balance between school, social, and personal life is hard. That being said, it's something that is absolutely crucial to perform well in all three environments. Social life is often important for mental health, especially if your friends are your support system! Make sure you choose your friends wisely and only surround yourself with people that help you become a better person :) That being said, too much social life will also become a distraction for school, which is undeniably important during this phase in our life. Finally, if you don't take good care of your health, like sleeping and eating well, your academic performance will struggle as well. The most important thing is understanding that it's all a cycle, and you have to work on all three areas to create a healthy balance! In general, health, both physical and mental, comes first. And as an extra... my favorite tool for organizing my life is an agenda!
5.What would you say to girls who are inspired to pursue a STEM career?
To the girls who are inspired to pursue a STEM career, I say please go for it!!! Don't let what others say hold you back. Your heart knows deep down what it yearns to do and I promise that following it will make you happiest. If it turns out it's not STEM, that is okay as well! Please don't be scared of the glass ceiling. Us girls in STEM are all here for you and we will push through the barrier alongside you. It's up to us to make it an easier process for the next generation of girls in STEM. We got this :))