Shine Bright in Computer Science and Engineering

Despite being in a time when there are countless brilliant women contributing to science and technology, the world still struggles with adequate female representation in engineering and computer science. From internship programs to company boardrooms, women are often a minority in places where their voices should resonate equally loud, and their visibility and brilliance should shine bright like a diamond. One fundamental problem isn’t a lack of brilliant women, it’s a lack of a strong support system that allows women to uplift one another, so all can shine and be visible. 

At Dana Hall, you are never too young to shine and be visible. As the head of the Engineering and Computer Science Department, I love supporting students like L. Zhao ’26, who uses her voice at our all-school meetings, encouraging students to join the CyberDragons, which is a computer science and engineering club that allows students to learn how to design and program robots, write code, and build 3D print models. In September, Zhao participated in the 2024 Cambridge Science Fair. There she enjoyed being a role model for the young girls who stopped by the booth to play with the robot that she co-designed with classmate, A. Xia ’26. After seeing her passion for inspiring others and hearing all of the wonderful things that she wants to accomplish, I asked her to share them with you. Here’s Zhao's vision, in her words:

In a book I read in Dr. Keely's class, Big Friendship, I chanced upon the term "Shine Theory." According to the words of Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman (who coined the term), shine theory, in its essence, is “I don’t shine if you don’t shine.” By uplifting one another, we all rise a little higher ourselves. So how is this relevant to increasing visibility for women in computer science and engineering? In male-dominated fields (STEM, for example, but not exclusive!), women can feel pressured to prove they belong – at least, this is very true for me. Unfortunately, this pressure sometimes leads to unhealthy competition with other women: If it feels like there’s only room for one or two of us at the table, the instinct is to fight for those spots. I’ve felt this firsthand. In one of the summer programs I went to, I was one of 7 girls in a room with 32 students. Though I clicked with the other girls immediately, when the aspect of individual competition was brought up, I found myself trying to outshine them, thinking that was the only way to earn respect. It wasn’t until I was put on a team with another girl, that I realized how much fun and learning could happen when we were together, supporting each other. 

Stories like that show the potential of what can happen when women in STEM choose collaboration over competition. If more schools, internship programs, and companies form mentor programs to encourage women to use their voice and be more visible in the spaces that they occupy, then we can create a culture where every success is a shared victory.

So, how do we stop competing and start collaborating? It begins with small, intentional actions.

• Celebrate each other’s wins: Whether it’s acing a test, presenting a cool project, or landing an internship, take the time to acknowledge each other’s achievements. Create a “win board” in your classroom or club where everyone can share their successes.
• Share resources and opportunities: Instead of hoarding tips for scholarships, internships, or coding resources, share them with your peers.
• Build genuine connections: Often, jealousy stems from admiration. Take the time to compliment someone’s work or skills—it might just spark a friendship.

Creating a culture of collaboration starts with intentional efforts in our communities and schools.

• Mentorship programs: Pair older students with younger ones interested in engineering or computer science to foster guidance and encouragement.
• Workshops and panels: Host events featuring women in engineering or computer science who can share their journeys and advice.
• Collaborative projects: Organize group challenges that encourage teamwork instead of individual competition.

The next time you find yourself competing with another girl, ask yourself: What if I helped her succeed? We all have the power to create a better future for women in computer science and engineering. It starts with small actions—celebrating wins, sharing resources, and building connections. Together, we can break the cycle of competition and create a culture where every girl feels empowered to excel.

If women uplift one another, all of our voices can be heard, and our brilliance can shine!