The Science Olympiad team at Poudre High School is a microcosm of the larger world of STEM disciplines: it’s a group of hard-working, intensely curious, and scientifically-minded individuals that also happens to be mostly male. My involvement with Science Olympiad has shown me the value of being part of a community of dedicated, diverse, STEM-oriented women within a male-dominated group. The friendships I’ve forged with my fellow Science O women have been some of the most important of my high school career. There’s a certain magic to finding your people, a group that shares your values, aspirations, and interests, and I feel lucky to have found that in Science O. We come from widely varied cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, but
