Hello Swarm Single Moms
Today the topic is education.
I'd like to take you down a road that leads to a better quality of life for your daughter, or perhaps...you!
The magic word is STEM. STEM an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. What does this mean to you and how can it possibly be related to a better quality of life?
I have a child who is enrolled in a high school International Baccalaureate program (IB). The IB program is an intense, four year program that challenges the kids who want to learn, and provides a high school degree that goes above the general high school diploma and the college prep and even the advanced/honors diploma. In essence, it has more pizazz than just a high school diploma. In order to get into the program you must apply during eighth grade after having taken and earned high marks in advanced Math, History, and English classes.
One of the benefits of this type of program is that where ever you go in the world, the children are learning the same thing at the same time. This program works well for executives that may be transferred out of the country for a year or two and their children can maintain a good balance in their education, hardly skipping a beat, in the transfer. But that is only one of the benefits. The other benefit is that both boys and girls are encouraged to succeed in STEM classes. No gender bias! At least that is the hope. This really has more to do with the teachers teaching and their own personal biases than the program, but because there are so many foreign children in the program, who have parents that believe in an equal education, it naturally follows that gender bias is not tolerated.
So what I want to share with you is my belief that STEM classes will provide a great foundation for all children, but more so for girls. When girls are successful in STEM classes, they are able to rise above the cliche careers that pay minimally (because they are traditionally female careers), like teaching, retail, Administrative Assistants, etc. Please do not be offended if you are a teacher, sales person, or secretary, all I am saying is that if you can do more, be more, or if you want more, then you deserve to have the opportunity. Plus, girls who are successful in STEM classes have more opportunities and it is these opportunities that will provide a more secure future for them and their families and who doesn't want their daughter to have many, many opportunities?
Girls with STEM successes enter into fields such as medicine, engineering, and computer science. These are money making careers, but they are also careers that provide much satisfaction.
STEM is not for everyone. Some children won't want to pursue these types of careers, but for the ones who do, offering this type of program will be helpful.
I would also like to mention how certain information is presented can sometimes make a difference in a child's education. For instance, I remember when my child was young and asking an adult a question about math, the adult told her that she hated math and always thought it was so hard. My daughter, who looked up to the adult, took these words to heart and it took a while to get her to understand that even though some people have trouble with math, the majority of people who try to learn math do exceptionally well. I also tried to get her to understand that sometimes people give up too soon when challenged with new and sometimes hard work. But that can be a plus, because if people give up when they are challenged then that leaves all the really good stuff to the people who stick it out and stick with it.
So Swarm Single Moms, when I say girls benefit from STEM I really mean females. I want to encourage you, as well, to consider going to school to get degrees in the STEM fields. It is not too late!!! In fact, if you consider the fact that you will live many years beyond the retirement age of 65 you should take this information as a heads up to begin now to figure out what you can do to ensure that you have a financial future that will allow YOU to live a better life as your children grow up and grow out of your home.
One of the benefits of this type of program is that where ever you go in the world, the children are learning the same thing at the same time. This program works well for executives that may be transferred out of the country for a year or two and their children can maintain a good balance in their education, hardly skipping a beat, in the transfer. But that is only one of the benefits. The other benefit is that both boys and girls are encouraged to succeed in STEM classes. No gender bias! At least that is the hope. This really has more to do with the teachers teaching and their own personal biases than the program, but because there are so many foreign children in the program, who have parents that believe in an equal education, it naturally follows that gender bias is not tolerated.
So what I want to share with you is my belief that STEM classes will provide a great foundation for all children, but more so for girls. When girls are successful in STEM classes, they are able to rise above the cliche careers that pay minimally (because they are traditionally female careers), like teaching, retail, Administrative Assistants, etc. Please do not be offended if you are a teacher, sales person, or secretary, all I am saying is that if you can do more, be more, or if you want more, then you deserve to have the opportunity. Plus, girls who are successful in STEM classes have more opportunities and it is these opportunities that will provide a more secure future for them and their families and who doesn't want their daughter to have many, many opportunities?
Girls with STEM successes enter into fields such as medicine, engineering, and computer science. These are money making careers, but they are also careers that provide much satisfaction.
STEM is not for everyone. Some children won't want to pursue these types of careers, but for the ones who do, offering this type of program will be helpful.
I would also like to mention how certain information is presented can sometimes make a difference in a child's education. For instance, I remember when my child was young and asking an adult a question about math, the adult told her that she hated math and always thought it was so hard. My daughter, who looked up to the adult, took these words to heart and it took a while to get her to understand that even though some people have trouble with math, the majority of people who try to learn math do exceptionally well. I also tried to get her to understand that sometimes people give up too soon when challenged with new and sometimes hard work. But that can be a plus, because if people give up when they are challenged then that leaves all the really good stuff to the people who stick it out and stick with it.
So Swarm Single Moms, when I say girls benefit from STEM I really mean females. I want to encourage you, as well, to consider going to school to get degrees in the STEM fields. It is not too late!!! In fact, if you consider the fact that you will live many years beyond the retirement age of 65 you should take this information as a heads up to begin now to figure out what you can do to ensure that you have a financial future that will allow YOU to live a better life as your children grow up and grow out of your home.
Also, as an aside, please note: There are so many scholarships available for girls and women who wish to pursue STEM related careers...and even more so if your child is a minority. Get cracking the code to a better future for your girls and for yourself. It will be worth it.
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