Shamima, 12th Grade

I’m Shamima, a Queens native and senior in high school. I’ve been in Girls Inc. of NYC since 9th grade. When my father passed away from COVID-19 and my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Girls Inc. became a second home to me. We went back to school in person my sophomore year, but I didn’t have time to grieve. I was expected to carry on at school as normal, but I was seeking someone to confide in. That person was Ms. Evelyn. Whenever I walked into class, she greeted me with this radiant smile, no matter what reaction I gave her. That made me feel so important and seen. Even if I had a bad day, she made it feel like the best day.

This year, my Girls Inc. classes include College Shower—which helps us with college readiness and college, financial aid and scholarship applications—and G3, data analytics. In G3, we’re learning about how we all use data in our everyday lives. One of our recent projects involved picking a career–I chose engineering– and researching the degrees you need, the salary, gender breakdown, and stereotypes associated with engineering. I’m eager to diversify my experiences, and I plan to study business and become an entrepreneur.

Girls Inc. of NYC has also encouraged me to pursue internships that will enhance my skill set and resume. I didn’t know what professional networking was until I went to Girls Inc.’s speed mentoring event and met several passionate women. A lot of fields are male dominated, so it’s easy to feel imposter syndrome. But Girls Inc. teaches you how to develop your personal brand and claim your space, so that no matter what room we step into, we will make a big difference.