Latinas in STEM
  • About Us
  • Resources
    • Parent Resources
    • Teacher Resources
    • Professional Resources
  • STEM Journeys
  • HOW TO HELP
  • NEW! Merch Store
  • Membership
  • MEMBERS ONLY
    • Events
    • NEW! FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Latinas Esquina
  • Contact

Struggles of a Latina in STEM

9/15/2018

7 Comments

 

Diana Albarrán Chicas

PicturePhoto by Amanda Demme via Vanity Fair.
At different stages in my career I have thought about sharing what I have learned as a Latina throughout my academic and professional STEM journey. I’ve thought about sharing the good, the bad, the ugly, and the wish it never happened. Not because my story is special or unique, but rather because I find some of the commonly shared narratives incomplete. 

As an immigrant who was the first to graduate from high school, I often read about hard working parents that do their best to support their families. But, I don’t often read about how difficult it can be for those families to acclimate into the American culture. How taxing it can be for both the parents and children to be part of a culture that makes it very difficult for them to engage, whether it be due to language or class barriers.

I don’t often read about how once in college despite our parents best intentions to help us and support us, they unfortunately cannot provide us with tactical guidance with our majors or give us advice to help us land coveted internships. Nor can they help us navigate the complexity of corporate world politics. We must figure all of this out on our own while simultaneously continuing to support our parents and extended families.

Don’t get me wrong; my parents to this day are my inspiration and the source of my strength. They keep me grounded, help me keep things in perspective, and are constant reminders of my values. But, when I show up to work it is not just me showing up, it is me and all the cultural nuances that make me a proud daughter of hard working immigrants. My Latinidad is embedded in me; it evolves with me with every new experience, and is the driving force behind my success.

My intention with this blog going forward is to be honest about the difficulties and struggles I, and many like me, face daily as we strive for success in our academic and professional careers. Not for sympathy, but rather to help share a different perspective and hopefully to help bridge cultural differences.

7 Comments
Yoliem
9/15/2018 02:59:00 pm

I’m very much interested about your point of view!

Reply
Laura
9/15/2018 05:00:54 pm

I love this! You are an inspiration to me and many others! Thank you!!

Reply
Kendra link
9/15/2018 10:46:38 pm

Hola!! I read your story!! And I think more people can listen to it!!!! Would you like to be interviewed in a radio show?? If you are interested the show is every Thursday from 3-4pm listen to it this next Thursday and see if you might like an interview!! My name is Kendra Lozano and I am a student at Lipscomb University

Reply
Diana
10/6/2018 01:14:12 pm

Hi Kendra! I would love to be interviewed on your radio show. Please feel free to reach me at [email protected] to discuss the details.

Reply
Ana Uribe Ruiz
9/17/2018 09:03:26 am

Great story ! In my case was not really because my parents or the language but the profession itself. In my later years I became a pilot and the gap in the industry is huge (only 7% of all pilots are women) so my inspiration for STEM is to open the doors to a new generation of women pilots out there !

Reply
Eoghan McHugh link
11/14/2018 11:28:24 am

A very honest, direct account. Sharing this will be identifiable for many others who are first generation to a country, to higher education and to professions. You not receiving direction from your parents are providing direction to the many other similar to you.

Reply
Sains Data link
4/25/2025 09:18:10 pm

How does the author feel about the commonly shared narratives in STEM and immigration stories?

Regard <a href="https://dte.telkomuniversity.ac.id">Teknologi Telekomunikasi</a>

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    STEM JOURNEYS

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    Careers
    Consejos
    Education
    Engineering
    Events
    Mathematics
    Media Coverage
    Medicine
    My STEM Journey
    Resources
    Science
    STEM
    STEM 101
    Technology

    RSS Feed