- Mouse Student, Baccalaureate School of Global Education (BSGE)
- Mouse Digital Portfolio: RemoteVac, Shoe-levator, 1derphone
- Apprenticeships: Storefront Science, EDC
Why did you decide to become a member of Mouse?
As a middle school student at BSGE, Sarah decided to get involved in extracurricular activities to expand her learning. “Mouse was a way for me to learn about technology and to become involved in other things outside the classroom that are really interesting.” Sarah was also inspired by her brother and fellow Mouse alum Omar to participate in Mouse and become a member of Design League.
What have been some of the highlights of being involved in Design League?
Reflecting on her first experiences at Design League, Sarah notes “ It was something I’ve never seen before. I knew that Mouse was a safe space where everyone could be themselves. That’s very unique to Mouse.” After three years in Design League, Sarah’s says that some of her favorite moments were “getting a project to work, just one light to blink and the whole group gets so excited.”
She also shares how it feels when presenting the final projects to those they designed them for. “When Vernita tried on “Shoe-levator,” it was really rewarding because she had the biggest smile of her face. Seeing that she was happy made us feel really happy.” Sarah is also thankful for relationships she developed and the friends who she has met through Mouse.
Why do you feel women should play a larger role in technology?
Throughout her years in Design League, Sarah was thrilled to see more girls join each year. “Young women have great ideas, but they don’t always find programs like these.” She was excited to work with more girls and wishes more young women would become inspired to pursue technology fields. “It is unfortunate that there are not a lot of women in tech and STEM. If there were more women in technology, it would bring technology in another direction, one that is more focused on technology with purpose.”
What skills do you feel you have developed through Mouse?
Sarah credits Mouse with helping her to develop not only technology, but also important life skills. “In other technology programs, you may become tech savvy, but in Mouse, you learn teamwork and mentorship skills, things I wouldn’t have learned on my own. I’m more confident and have become a better presenter and interviewer. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person through Mouse.”
How has your involvement in Mouse shaped your plans for the future?
“Being involved in Mouse has definitely impacted what I want to major in in college. Currently, I am thinking about majoring in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering.” She is especially interested in these areas because of how she can design technologies to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
“Mouse gives us the opportunity to help people who need it. There will always be technology, like iPhones and computers. But for those who are disabled or disadvantaged, technology is not advancing as quickly. In the future, I want to continue this work to help people who are disadvantaged.”
