Zainab’s Story
Hello! I’m Zainab, a 15 year old high school sophomore in Toronto, Canada. I’ve had the pleasure of serving as one of the Science Communication Editors at Youth STEM Matters for this past year.
Why did you decide to apply to get involved in Youth STEM Matters?
COVID-19 took a dramatic turn on everything. School was cancelled, and there were very few in person meetings or volunteer opportunities happening. At home, I became increasingly interested in STEM through my research about different STEM related concepts. I thought it would be great if I could also take up an online volunteering opportunity to help out my community during these unprecedented times. When I came across Youth STEM 2030 accepting applications, I was immediately interested. The role of Science Communication Editor especially stuck out to me, as it allows me not only to aid in publishing avid youth work but also learn new ideas.
“It has opened so many more opportunities for me, and I’ve made great friends and mentors through the team!”
Can you tell us a bit about what you do as a Science Communication Editor?
As Science Communication Editor, I go through different articles written by youth from around the world. Editing means that I fix grammatical or structural errors and also verify the sources of those articles. I also have the opportunity to write articles - for instance, I have written about Rosalind Franklin & Quantum Communication.
What has been your highlight so far?
This is a tough question as there are so many to choose from. If I had to, interviewing Professor Rana Dajani was an amazing opportunity as every part of it was a learning experience. Whether it’s working with the team to form interview questions or receiving insightful food for thought from Prof. Dajani.
This year, International Volunteer Day has the theme 'Together We Can'. In the context of Youth STEM Matters, what does this mean to you?
I absolutely love this theme, as I believe it outlines what teamwork truly means. Individually, we can do a lot, but together we can do so much more. At Youth STEM Matters, we work together to plan different events, and operations. We consult with one another when stuck and bond over different things. This bond, and togetherness is one of the key things that has allowed us to come so far. It taught us that no matter how far we live from each other, if we have same passion to bring positive change - we can do so by working together.
“No matter how far we live from each other, if we have same passion to bring positive change - we can do so by working together.”
How has being part of the Volunteer Team benefitted you?
Firstly, I have learned so much from reading articles written by youth from around the globe. These empowering youth often help spark a new interest for me, such as Quantum Communication and stem cells. It has opened so many more opportunities for me, and I’ve made great friends and mentors through the team!
What advice would you give to other young people who are thinking about applying to join?
Go for it! You have nothing to lose, but every good thing to gain! You’ll meet like minded empowering individuals, and joining the team will surely open up many doors of personal and professional growth and opportunities for you! While applying, be genuine with your answers. It’s also always good to be passionate about what you do, as that will not only benefit you in the long run but also keep you happy in what you do!