Finding My Place in Math: Flight Crew Member Hansa Shares Her STEM Story
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Written by guest contributor Hansa, 2025-2026 Flight Crew member from Arkansas
Being a STEM ambassador for youth has changed my perspective on math entirely. Rather than seeing it as just a subject, I see it as the foundation for change.
My STEM journey from childhood all the way up to now being a STEM Next Flight Crew member and a college freshman pursuing math and engineering, has been exciting and fulfilling. At a young age, I was exposed to many afterschool STEM programs focusing on math and science, and I would encourage youth and parents of youth to seek out those opportunities. I participated in competitive math challenges, science fairs, and did advanced coursework outside of school. These experiences allowed me to grow both my math skills and confidence in myself.
This past month, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Arkansas Math Discovery Day, an annual community event in partnership with the University of Arkansas to introduce children and teens to mathematical concepts. I got involved in this event as an active member of the chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) at my university, and I am also involved with other math-related student organizations.
The event was held at the public library and featured several booths displaying different concepts and topics in mathematics. The booth I helped manage honored the work of the famous female mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani. We used strings to model shapes created by the trajectory of a ball on a billiards table.
At the event, I had the opportunity to connect with other like-minded college students, forming meaningful connections through thoughtful and engaging conversations. As we shared our experiences and perspectives, many of our discussions naturally centered on the challenges we’ve each encountered along our journeys. What stood out most was how these moments reinforced the value of determination and resilience, reminding us that perseverance is often the key to overcoming obstacles and continuing to grow, both personally and academically.
For me, a big hurdle on my journey was separating my identity from my performance. Growing up, being told I was a “math person” and being praised for being smart, I began to struggle when I couldn’t grasp concepts as easily. I felt as if I had failed if I didn’t understand immediately. I eventually learned to not to rely so heavily on academic validation through finding self-worth in my identity as a woman in STEM. What you define yourself as is a very important aspect of success.
My advice to other young people trying to build math confidence would be to change how you approach learning, mistakes, and progress. Math confidence isn’t about suddenly “getting smarter,” it’s about learning how to learn in ways that work for you. Some ways to do this are analyzing mistakes, practicing more difficult concepts, using visual explanations, and tracking progress without comparing to others.
Experiences such as Math Discovery Day help build leadership and communication skills. It’s all about finding what you’re passionate about and advocating for it. Making math education accessible to all students is something afterschool programs help address, and is something I am passionate about. Building communities like the one I’ve found through the STEM Next Flight Crew and at the University of Arkansas can be one of the best ways to inspire young people to pursue math education, no matter their background.
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The post Finding My Place in Math: Flight Crew Member Hansa Shares Her STEM Story appeared first on STEM Next.
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