Every parent has their share of nightmares: stomach bugs, head lice, and that dreaded moment when your child yells, “I hate you!” But let me add another to the list: when your little one announces, “The science fair is coming up, and I have to participate.”
I had managed to dodge the science fair bullet until now, but my daughter is in fifth grade, and when she delivered the news a couple of months ago, I turned to my husband and said, “This is all on you.”
The mere thought of poster boards, messy experiments, and crafting a hypothesis made me cringe. I’m a creative soul who thrives on reading, writing, art, and music. Numbers and science? Not my thing at all. I felt like I was shutting down.
Back in high school, I barely scraped through chemistry. The periodic table looked more like a foreign language to me. I tried, oh boy did I try, but it just wouldn’t stick. I was relieved when I could declare, “never again,” to chemistry—thankfully, it wasn’t a requirement for my psychology degree.
Luckily, I married someone who enjoys abstract writing and crunching numbers. We’re polar opposites, which works perfectly during times like this when the science fair becomes a fifth-grade prerequisite.
Once I handed over the responsibility, I didn’t give it much thought until my husband sighed and mentioned our daughter had chosen a particularly complicated project. Of course she did! She’s passionate about math, science, and books. While she could read Harry Potter all day, her enthusiasm for science and math genuinely makes me proud, even if I was initially reluctant.
We ended up ordering $40 worth of supplies from Amazon, and I still had no clue what the project entailed. Turns out, her entire project revolved around “cooking for chemists.” Yes, my daughter—unlike me—actually loves chemistry. It fascinates her.
I stayed out of it, pondering the relevance of the science fair. After several nights of science discussions between my daughter and her dad, it came time for me to step in and help with the poster. Armed with my scrapbooking supplies, I helped her arrange everything on the board, feeling a sense of accomplishment that we had survived this ordeal.
Then she took second place at her school and was the only girl in the top three who advanced to the district level. She placed there too and is now on her way to the state finals! While I’m bursting with pride, I can’t help but think, oh no, it’s the science fair that keeps going!
But somewhere along the way, I realized that my bad attitude was just that—terrible. Here was my daughter thriving in something she loves, excelling in a STEM event, and making everyone proud. I had to confront the fact that the issue lay not with the science fair, but with me.
I always preach to my kids that they can achieve anything they desire, yet here I was not genuinely supporting that. I may not be able to assist with scientific terms, but I can certainly cheer her on as she pursues her interests. Raising a young girl who believes she can achieve anything is my top priority.
According to the Census Bureau’s 2009 American Community Survey, although women comprise nearly half of the workforce in the U.S., they hold less than 25% of STEM jobs. This trend has persisted for years, even as the number of college-educated women in the workforce has grown.
Just last year, my daughter expressed her dream of owning a bakery with a reading nook in the back, and I was totally on board because who doesn’t love baked goods and books! But now, I realize my enthusiasm must extend to areas I’m less passionate about, like science and math, to show her that anything is possible.
Research from a Microsoft survey shows that girls’ interest in STEM peaks around age 11, but by 15, many lose that interest. This pattern highlights the urgency for parents, educators, and communities to nurture girls’ passions in these fields before it’s too late.
Even if my daughter doesn’t pursue a career in STEM, fostering a love for it is essential. With growing awareness around the importance of girls in STEM, thanks to initiatives and films like Hidden Figures, I recognize that my attitude needs to shift too. While I might not solve fifth-grade math problems, I can absolutely show my support and excitement for her endeavors.
And for that, I have the science fair to thank.
Summary
In this article, I reflect on my initial reluctance about my daughter’s science fair project and how it led to a change in my attitude. Despite my fears and lack of interest in science, my daughter’s joy and success in STEM inspired me to support her passions fully. This experience has reminded me of the importance of encouraging young girls to embrace their interests, especially in fields where they are underrepresented.