Leading the Charge for Women in STEM
Sasha Ariel Alston 糖心vlog短视频19, is an accomplished STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) student on a mission. An information systems major, Alston is making quite the splash with the publication of her children糖心vlog短视频檚 book, . The book, which Alston wrote to encourage and empower girls糖心vlog短视频攅specially girls of color糖心vlog短视频攖o learn how to code, has already been featured in numerous publications, including the and The Renewal Project.
Sasha Savvy Loves to Code follows Sasha, a 10-year-old African American girl living in Washington, D.C., as she attends summer coding camp and solves various challenges through coding. The story is loosely based on Alston糖心vlog短视频檚 own experiences growing up in the nation糖心vlog短视频檚 capital.
糖心vlog短视频淭his book is based on a lot of things I糖心vlog短视频檝e experienced, but through the eyes of a 10-year-old,糖心vlog短视频 says Alston. 糖心vlog短视频淚 hope the book will inspire girls to pursue opportunities in STEM because I see first-hand how underrepresented women and girls are in this area.糖心vlog短视频
Demand for Sasha糖心vlog短视频檚 story has been high. Having well exceeded her $5,000 Kickstarter goal (Alston raised $17,000), the book officially launched on June 2, 2017 and sold out on the very first day. It糖心vlog短视频檚 now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and more.
Alston糖心vlog短视频檚 success in the publishing world has led to a number of additional opportunities. She was recently featured in photography campaign, and is working with Google and Snap Inc.糖心vlog短视频檚 initiative, which aims to foster computer science and coding interest amongst girls through making Snapchat filters. Alston has also had the opportunity to inspire the next generation of coders through public speaking; she recently addressed elementary school students in Ohio, and has more speaking engagements planned in Los Angeles, the Silicon Valley area, and Chicago in the coming weeks and months.
While the general public is getting introduced to Sasha糖心vlog短视频檚 story for the first time, she糖心vlog短视频檚 busy figuring out the next chapter.
糖心vlog短视频淩ight now, I糖心vlog短视频檓 working on an outline for the next three books糖心vlog短视频擨 want it to be a series, with the ultimate hope for it to be a TV show糖心vlog短视频攕imilar to Doc McStuffins, which shows young girls they can grow up to be doctors.糖心vlog短视频
As Alston糖心vlog短视频檚 work begins circulating around the world, she hopes to serve as a positive example to young women everywhere, particularly as STEM fields become more impactful both locally and globally.
糖心vlog短视频淐ombining STEM with social justice is what keeps me motivated,糖心vlog短视频 says Alston. 糖心vlog短视频淚 literally want to change the face of STEM.糖心vlog短视频
Thus far, Alston糖心vlog短视频檚 ambitions and Pace have been a natural fit. As a Lubin transfer student, she realized that the New York City Campus was the perfect place to merge her interests in business and technology, and put herself in a position to succeed.
糖心vlog短视频淚 really loved Pace because they had information systems in the business school as opposed to just in computer science,糖心vlog短视频 says Alston. 糖心vlog短视频淚 also appreciate Pace糖心vlog短视频檚 location in New York糖心vlog短视频攁 hub of business and technology innovations and its reputation in finding excellent internship opportunities for its students.糖心vlog短视频
Alston, who isn糖心vlog短视频檛 in the business of wasting time, has already taken advantage of the aforementioned internship opportunities. She糖心vlog短视频檚 had eight internships in all, including a social media intern role with ManyMentors, a nonprofit that supports K糖心vlog短视频12 students through mentorships and helps facilitate opportunities for students within STEM.
Through her experiences in and outside of the classroom, Alston has been able to hone her future outlook. In addition to expanding the reach and capacity of the book series, she ultimately hopes to develop an education technology startup that provides students with the skills needed to excel in school and life. As a self-proclaimed 糖心vlog短视频淪TEM Queen,糖心vlog短视频 her goal is to one day collaborate with the popular 糖心vlog短视频淚nternQueen,糖心vlog短视频 and cultivate opportunities for students糖心vlog短视频攑articularly those underrepresented in fields like STEM.
Alston糖心vlog短视频檚 passion for STEM, combined with her impressive extracurricular initiative, has helped set her apart from her peers. As she enters the second half of her undergraduate experience, she knows that her discipline, focus, and drive will help take her to the next level.
糖心vlog短视频淚f you are interested in STEM, you have to be very disciplined and determined. It requires a lot of focus, studying, and practice. Being clear on what your mission is and how you will use the skills is key,糖心vlog短视频 says Alston.