From Creating a Paper Circuit in 5th Grade to Future Engineer
“The support, mentorship, and community within DIY Girls has empowered me to grow. Not only as a student but as a young woman in engineering. Programs like DIY Girls are so important, especially for students like me who come from low-income, first-generation backgrounds.”
— Beatriz R., Senior at San Fernando High School
Beatriz began her STEM journey in our 5th-grade program, learning how to turn on her first circuit using a simple paper-circuit kit. From there, she built her first motorized robot and LED creature. As she grew with us, so did her curiosity and her skills. She learned to tinker, 3D-print, and code with an Arduino, eventually building an Arduino-powered self-watering plant pot and even designing a digital safe with a fingerprint scanner and RFID tap-card locking system. Today, she stands on the edge of a bright future, preparing to pursue engineering in college.
“DIY Girls opened my mind to engineering… now I’m interested in majoring in mechanical or electrical engineering. They’ve also given me opportunities to join other programs to expand my knowledge.”
Why Your Support Matters
DIY Girls’ programs are completely free for students, for families, and for the schools we partner with. In a world where access to STEM education can be expensive or exclusive, we remain committed to ensuring that girls and gender-expansive youth like Beatriz have hands-on, meaningful opportunities that spark confidence, curiosity, and possibility. For many of our students, DIY Girls is the first time they’ve ever built something with their own hands, where a blinking LED or debugging a code becomes a turning point. Their eyes light up with the realization: “I made this.” And that moment can change the trajectory of their entire lives.
Right now, it begins in a classroom. In a few years, it will become a career they are passionate about, one that brings them joy, and one that diversifies and strengthens the STEM industries that shape our world. We need more young people from diverse backgrounds designing our apps, engineering our airplanes, and developing the technologies of tomorrow.
You Can Help Them Shine
Help us raise $35,000 to ensure more students like Beatriz have access to free, hands-on STEM programs. Your donation helps create pathways for girls and gender-expansive youth to explore engineering, find their confidence, and imagine futures they never knew were possible. Please consider supporting DIY Girls today so that all the little Beatrizes can shine brighter than Venus on a clear night.
