How to introduce teen daughter to (fun) STEM careers?

[MerryMcQ]

I'm looking for advice from those in STEM fields on my 14 year old daughter (entering 9th grade next fall). She's wanted to be a fashion designer since she was little. However, her strongest subjects in school, by far, are math & science. If asked, her favorite subject is Geometry. When we take walks, she talks about all the things she's learning in science (geology this year). She plays Minecraft all the time and enjoys computer art programs (like photoshop). I'm all for encouraging her passion, but when I look at her strengths, they are very much in the STEM and less in the arts. But she loves clothes and shopping.

There are a lot of summer programs in our area (Seattle/Tacoma) designed to introduce young women to STEM fields, like week-long camps at Microsoft and various University of Washington programs. When I've mentioned these activities (very, very casually), she's always shrugged them off saying she doesn't want to do computer programming. I'd like to gently expose her to other options in the STEM field--which isn't just computer programming!--without any pressure, but I'm not sure how to do that. At 14, she is pretty stubborn and just enrolling her in a summer program would really backfire, unless she buys into the idea beforehand. Any suggestions???

I have a degree in creative writing, her father has a history degree, and her brother is extremely gifted in languages & reading. Somehow we spawned this gifted mathematician...

[AZDude]

Good luck. Children that age are even more stubborn than their parents!

Software development was not my first choice, or even second when I was that age. I cycled through prospective professions like author, architect, English teacher, and various other stuff. It was not until I was forced to pick an alternate elective to the one I choose(which had been cancelled), and computer programming happened to be available, that I gave it any thought. Once I was in the class, I excelled and the rest is history.

I imagine Fashion Designer is something that sounds better to 14 year olds than 30 year olds simply because a 14 year old does not think about unemployment rates, student loans, and the crappiness of working two jobs to pay the bills.

Encourage her to explore multiple potential career paths, and hope that something viable catches her interest.

[goatmom]

She has wanted to be a fashion designer since she was little?  Maybe she will be the next Ralph Lauren.  My MIL would not let my dh major in his area of interest and he still holds a grudge as he nears 50.  As she takes more advanced math and science at school, hopefully her teachers will encourage her.

[Dee18]

I thought the same of my daughter when she was 14.  I found a weekend computing for girls program (free, sponsored by Nissan and Microsoft)  three hours away for her to attend. Even though she won the drawing for a laptop there, she still did not want to think about a career with computers, although she did consider math teacher.  This fall she started college and I told her the only course I required her to take was computer science her first semester. I told her everyone her age needs to be comfortable with the basic concepts.   The rest of college she could take what she wanted.  She took CS and is intrigued by it.  Now in second semester CS she is thinking of majoring in it.  She still loves fashion, but is thinking about an online clothing business or an import business, if she doesn't end up in CS.

[lsl129]

I would encourage you to look into the stem programs/camps you mentioned. Many of those designed for girls start with things they are interested in and add stem topics. I am involved with one where the week is focused on a shopping mall layout, and they design the architecture, security system, make lip gloss, make ice cream, etc. They are staffed by female engineers with fun jobs, to show that its not a boring profession. Engineers can work for athletic shoe/clothing companies, cosmetic companies, etc. The main thing is to challenge girls' preconceptions about what an engineer is, and these programs do a great job.

[Jacana]

What about introducing her to something like CAD in the summer? The fashion industry uses CAD to design clothes and develop cutting patterns.  They seem to be using those types of design software in moreand more industries, and it would at least give her some practical skills no matter what industry she gravitates toward.

[MerryMcQ]

She has wanted to be a fashion designer since she was little?  Maybe she will be the next Ralph Lauren.  My MIL would not let my dh major in his area of interest and he still holds a grudge as he nears 50. 

Both my DH and I majored in subjects our parents didn't agree with, and we turned out fine. :) We've always told the kids to pursue things they love, not just high-paying jobs. We've taught her to sew, bought her a plethora of sketch books, fabric samples, and design books, and spent hours with her reading about college programs in fashion design/textile design. When she decided to study French so she could spend time in Paris studying fashion, we worked with the school to get her into the high school French program when she was in 7th grade. We've really, really supported this passion of hers...

I just want to expose her to other (fun) options in education/workplace, especially ones where she has a lot of natural skill (math/physical sciences).  I think she believes all STEM careers are for fashion-challenged guys staring at computer screens for 10 hours a day.

I am involved with one where the week is focused on a shopping mall layout, and they design the architecture, security system, make lip gloss, make ice cream, etc.

Perfect! She would probably really, really love that. ;) I will do some more research and see if I can find something similar in the Seattle area...

[Ynari]

My experience seems fairly different from yours, but I'll share anyway. :)

My youngest sister (14) is interested in running her own art business/being an art teacher/something along those veins. The point I've always tried to make with her is that STEM and art are NOT mutually exclusive, and having varied skills can really make her business/career/whatever stand out among the rest. My family also does their part to encourage her - making it relatively easy for her to experiment with selling artwork or starting a hobby-sized business. She gets to experiment with her own ideas and make her own observations about the ever-changing world around us.

But for a practical example: My mom found a local "Women in STEM & The Arts" conference held at a local high school. It's not a huge thing - a Saturday morning/afternoon event with speakers and seminars. At first, sister didn't want to go. (Hey, I don't think I'd want to go to a strange mysterious conference by myself, either.)  What helped bring her around was: my offer to tag along, the offer to have her invite friend(s), and free snacks. Yep, it's the snacks that'll do it.

All kids are different. I would have really balked at my parent's finding anything for me to do, but for different reasons than my sister. I was the one who found summer camps and applied for them (sometimes with the help or advice of a teacher). My parents had little if anything to do with the programs I attended, because I was the instigator. It's different for a kid that would go in the right circumstances, but doesn't otherwise know what they want to do or what's available for them.

[MerryMcQ]

What about introducing her to something like CAD in the summer? The fashion industry uses CAD to design clothes and develop cutting patterns.  They seem to be using those types of design software in moreand more industries, and it would at least give her some practical skills no matter what industry she gravitates toward.

Her junior high offers a CAD/graphic design class as a 9th grade elective, which she said sounded really fun. But she turned in her schedule for next year and chose PE instead, so (as she told me), she has more class time in high school to take AP science classes as electives.

Perhaps if I could find a CAD class over the summer, I can suggest it since she knows a lot of fashion work is done on the computer.

[tthree]

I don't think you can convince a 14 year old to do anything!  Especially if the oppositional walls are up.

This is pretty cool though:  https://www.ted.com/talks/neri_oxman_design_at_the_intersection_of_technology_and_biology A great example of the amazing collaborative projects possible between STEM and non-STEM fields.

[mamagoose]

At age 14 my mom could have sent me to any kind of summer camp under the sun, all she had to say was "overnight camp" and "boys". So maybe look for a camp that is co-ed to spark her interest?

[okits]

Does your daughter have the opportunity to get to know women in a variety of careers?  Hearing the good and the bad that they experience in their professions (and how those careers make their lives easier or harder) might help her consider a broader range of options.

If you're concerned about the practicality of the choices she might make, I'd be very clear that whatever she pursues needs to support her in adulthood (and the life she wants to have).  That living in the kind of place she wants, being able to buy the kind of clothes she wants to wear, going on the kinds of trips she'd like to take; all of that needs to be paid for out of what she can earn.  Help her get a realistic picture of what different jobs in fashion pay, so she knows how much/little she'll have to work with (or how much a second job will need to bring in.)

After that, well, you can lead a horse to water...  (And there is always the possibility that she'll be successful in fashion design.  Most people have under-explored aptitudes because there's only so many hours in the day; we've all got something that is "wasted", simply because not everything can be pursued.)

[tonysemail]

Do you have a friend or family member in a stem field?
Bring your kid to work day is a great way to see beyond the stereotype of what a stem career means.

Apart from that, maybe someone knows of a good book that could spark more curiosity in stem field?

[Jack]

What's with the parenthetical expression "(fun)" in the title? All STEM careers are fun, so there's no need to equivocate!

; )

Anyway... if she wants to do creative, artsy stuff, but you want her to do STEM, go for the areas where they intersect. In other words, point her towards something like architecture or video game design.

Also, this. (It's a commercial, but relevant.) And this.

[shelivesthedream]

+1 to the idea of finding something that is both STEM and creative. For example, how about 3D printing jewellery? Or the technical features of various textiles? Or even clothing manufacturing?

If she really digs her heels in, don't push it, though. You'll only regret it. And she's only 14! A lot can change in four years. As long as she gets a good education at school and in life skills generally, she'll be fine.

[marty998]

At age 14 my mom could have sent me to any kind of summer camp under the sun, all she had to say was "overnight camp" and "boys". So maybe look for a camp that is co-ed to spark her interest?

I would hazard a guess the sort of boys she's into are not the geeky STEM types. A surfing or football camp on the other hand...

[MerryMcQ]

At age 14 my mom could have sent me to any kind of summer camp under the sun, all she had to say was "overnight camp" and "boys". So maybe look for a camp that is co-ed to spark her interest?

I would hazard a guess the sort of boys she's into are not the geeky STEM types. A surfing or football camp on the other hand...

Well, she's not that into boys. Yet. She has an 11 year old brother and she has to tag along to boy scout events all the time. She is in a weekly DnD game with a bunch of 15/16 year old boys (scouting friends). I think she'd greatly prefer an all-girls camp, honestly. :)

[MerryMcQ]

+1 to the idea of finding something that is both STEM and creative. For example, how about 3D printing jewellery? Or the technical features of various textiles? Or even clothing manufacturing?

So far, all my online searches have turned up video game design camps as the "creative" STEM camps for girls only. Anyone in the Tacoma/Seattle/Portland area that knows of something more like the suggestions above (mall design, textile designs, 3D jewelry printing, Photoshop, etc)? STEAM (adding art into STEM).

[kenner]

You might look at the EYH conferences--they're single-day rather than over the summer so maybe not quite what you want, but 6th-8th grade girls get to pick three workshops to do over the course of the day run by people (they try and bring in professional women in our area, guessing it'll be the same for you) in different fields.  Specific workshop options depend on the conference itself, but I know the one I'm volunteering at will have programming as one of the workshop options but along with that there's a chemistry workshop (testing local water), architecture (design an apartment), jewelry (circuits-based), and about a dozen other options.  It looks like there are a number of EYH conference options in Washington, although I don't know there relative distance to your area.

http://www.eyhn.org/#!find-a-conference/cz0w

ETA: A quick look at one of the Washington workshops looks like there might be some open to more than just 6th-8th grade like ours is, so if you missed it this year it might still be worth remembering for the future.

[sheepstache]

Could you get her interested in turning her math skills towards finance? That might help her succeed enormously in fashion.

I could definitely see someone with decent math/science skills being a real superstar in fashion, a field where many people are actively afraid of numbers, vs. just being so-so in a STEM field.

[Felicity]

This blog seems appropriate: http://fashioningtech.com/

They have tons of linked tutorials and the like as well. :)

[gatortator]

Part I- Specific Engineering Field to Consider...

Check out this link.   http://www.mrs.org/science-as-art/

or this  http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/whatis.html

The field of materials science and engineering (the study of stuff) is often at the crossroads of art and science.  Some of the most successful in the field combine abilities in both:

EX 1-  artistic materials engineer combines their flair of pattern and color with technical expertise to create new product line of bathroom tile that look expensive but uses cost effective manufacturing techniques.

EX 2-  use materials knowledge to develop new state of the art bullet proof vests.

EX 3- fashion enthusiast develops new smart fabrics (with woven glass or metal or technical polymers) to create a new line of tech products.

UW in Seattle has a materials science and engineering department with a good reputation.  According to their website, they offer high school outreach programs

http://www.mse.washington.edu/community/materialscamp-hs

[MrsDinero]

Check out Girls Who Code:  www.girlswhocode.com

honestly the best way to encourage her is to help her develop her own interests and ideas.  Encourage her to be innovative in whatever way she chooses.  Don't belittle her interests, instead be interested in what she is interested in.

[TabbyCat]

I agree with introducing her to CAD to pursue her interest in fashion - she'd be building skills that could net her a great entry level engineering job in A&E and many other fields. I would also suggest classes /programs in VPython - its an easy beginner language and you can make moving visuals very quickly. I've never been interested in programing, but have done a bit of it while pursuing other things. She doesn't have to want that directly to get the benefit and skills, and then she has the foundation if she decides to pursue it directly later. But yes, there is only so much guidance you can provide. She'll fond her own path.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Get yourself into a social group where female nerds hang out.

Yes, you.

Then, persuade some of your nerdette friends to take an interest in your daughter and treat her to outings at various places that are of interest to nerds. This might be a museum, the zoo, Take Your Daughters To Work Day, or anything else. Then, have the sales pitch for the camp come from the friend of the family.

Attention from older, high-status members of the community is catnip to teens, especially if it involves being treated to a fun, novel experience.

[therethere]

I'm a female in STEM and am looking forward to the day I can escape (once I pay off my education!) Why are you trying to push her into this? I went into it just because I had good scores in math and science no other reason. I had no idea what engineering was until a few years into college. Just because you are good at something does not mean you will enjoy it. I would argue that a drive for something is far more important in being successful than just inherently being good at it. Maybe I'm just too cynical, but being stuck in a job track where you aren't that invested in it is quite tortuous.

[MerryMcQ]

Why are you trying to push her into this? I went into it just because I had good scores in math and science no other reason. I had no idea what engineering was until a few years into college. Just because you are good at something does not mean you will enjoy it. I would argue that a drive for something is far more important in being successful than just inherently being good at it.

Honestly, I don't care what career she ends up in as long as she finds it fulfilling and it provides a basic income so she doesn't have to live with us as an adult. :)

That said, as a parent watching her grow, she has a lot of talent in science and math. She has had a dream for years if being a fashion designer, and hasn't considered any other career fields. I just want to introduce her to other options, in a fun way... Not to force her into a specific field. Like getting a picky eater to try new foods. Maybe she will like something new, maybe she won't, but at least she'll see other things she can do with her natural talents.

I think the suggestions of attending some one-day seminars (EYH) is perfect. There are several near us in the next few months. With snacks. :) I'm going to discuss them with her this weekend...

[Slow&Steady]

What about the how and why of fashion? 

Why does fabric A shrink and fabric B not shrink?  Why does fabric A absorb water/color dye and fabric b repeals it?  How do they make fabric for shirts that don't have a side seam (or socks)?  Why does a designer choose fabric A over fabric B (the math/science of how it will hang on a person)? Why does a woven fabric create a strong fabric? How does a different type of shoe sole (thick sole vs sock like shoes) effect how a person walks?  Why does the waist of my blue jeans shrink (or not stretch) differently then the rest of my pants (hint: has to do with the direction the fabric was cut, see below)?

Teach her how to start sewing her own designs (maybe a design she used CAD to create, per previous post).  Buy her a USED/NOT PERFECT condition sewing machine and when it breaks ask her to take it apart and try to fix it herself.  Have her sew the same thing twice but cutting the fabric in a different direction.  After they have been washed a couple time have her compare them.

[Lizzy B.]

Part I- Specific Engineering Field to Consider...

Check out this link.   http://www.mrs.org/science-as-art/

or this  http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/whatis.html

The field of materials science and engineering (the study of stuff) is often at the crossroads of art and science.  Some of the most successful in the field combine abilities in both:

EX 1-  artistic materials engineer combines their flair of pattern and color with technical expertise to create new product line of bathroom tile that look expensive but uses cost effective manufacturing techniques.

EX 2-  use materials knowledge to develop new state of the art bullet proof vests.

EX 3- fashion enthusiast develops new smart fabrics (with woven glass or metal or technical polymers) to create a new line of tech products.

UW in Seattle has a materials science and engineering department with a good reputation.  According to their website, they offer high school outreach programs

http://www.mse.washington.edu/community/materialscamp-hs

Female Materials Scientist here, was really excited to post about Materials Camp and materials in general, but I see Gatortator has beaten me to the punch. Seriously, though, Materials Camp is pretty cool. I did it my  9th or 10th grade year, and it was really a lot of fun (and co-Ed).  Google ASM Materials Camp for info. There are camps all over the country. If any teachers are reading this, there are also teacher camps all around the country where you come to our labs and we show you what we do, what equipment we use, and some labs/demos you can use in your own classrooms.

You'd mentioned that computer programming wasn't her thing, and I was and am the same. This camp was super hands-on, and we got to complete lots of mini-projects under the tutelage of professors. The instructors do a good job of talking about all kinds of materials for all kinds of applications, which is just fun. Your daughter sounds like she's curious about the world around her: I was the same way and learning about the materials our world is made of was and is super exciting to me.

Ps, I love your attitude of "whatever my daughter does is great, I just see that she's good at-and enjoys-science, so i want to encourage her." 

[MerryMcQ]

Since my daughter totally shot down the local EYH one-day seminars ("I already know what I want to do, I don't need to spend a day learning about any of those things"), I think Materials Science may be a better way to go... Especially since the college program she is interested in right now ( Washington State's textiles degree) has some materials science elements. Since she's read all the class descriptions for the degree program, she's suddenly more interested in the agricultural science and "cool" developments in new materials (something about cotton grown in sheets in a lab, not on plants...?).

We also had a fun discussion on the people who design all the clothes in the SIMS game and a few apps she likes, whether they have a fashion background or a programming background, or both. That got her thinking a bit more outside the box.

[Trudie]

Architecture is another fascinating field, and one that is trying to attract women.

Do you live near a state land-grant university?  Usually these tend to be tops in the STEM fields.  I live in Iowa and Iowa State is ours.  Their design (including fashion), architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and science programs are top notch... some of the best in the country.  They typically have speakers and events to show case student projects and potential career fields.

Perhaps through such connections she could even find some other people who've pursued those career fields and talk with them.  She will either figure out a way to make it in the one she desires, or find an intriguing new path.

[mskyle]

Another place to look at would be local makerspaces - I'm sure the Seattle/Tacoma area has some great ones! The ones in my area have some classes that are appropriate for kids/teens, in stuff like 3D printing, design/fabrication, laser cutting, etc.

[Goldielocks]

I have a 16 year old daughter that wants to be an Artist.  Dad is a programmer / technologist for robotics and I am an engineer.

There really is no way to "hard convince" a 14 year old to do something she does not want to do, but the good news is that over the next few years her mind will start to expand on initial concepts / ideas.   I say work with that.  (While requiring basic "essential" courses for post secondary, like Physics 11 and Math 12)

I would look into getting a Columbia, REI, Sierra Trader or Nike office tour arranged, as you are in PNW.  Try to talk to people that work in on line sales, marketing, purchasing, and general business. Even just a general walk through the office space is helpful.  Call the HR department. 

Talk to her about how a large fashion house needs many types of professions to be successful (including database / sales systems programmers, industrial engineers, MBAs accountants, materials specialists), and that they all need to know and breathe the fashion industry to be successful.


I took my daughter on a tour of our engineering design office, and she came away with a wonder at the wall of architectural interior finish samples, and the marketing team we had ...   now she is looking at other fields than pure "artist"... including technical TV commercial production.. it's a start.   

[CatamaranSailor]

See if your daughter's high school has a First Robotics team. It's an amazing program for kids and it encourages so much more than just STEM careers (although hey, they do build robots so there is definitive lots of engineering). The program was started by Dean Kamen specifically to encourage kids to get interested in science and technology. The competitions are fantastic and the girls on my son's team are some of the brightest, smartest, most well rounded girls you'd ever hope to meet. These are girls who are headed for any place the want to go, whether it's NASA or art school.

http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcS7M4sY0fQ

[warmastoast]

my daughter loved math and science too, and art and architecture...

I just let her do what she wanted to do and told her that I don't care so long as she's happy.   She started learning to code on her own (code academy) and saw how it would work with her maths.

She's now a joint honors student on one of the best math/comp sci programs in the country and almost top of her year.  She works incredibly hard and loves it.

Kids will find their own way. Your job is put opportunities their way, not tell them how to live their lives.

[Frugster]

I went to MIT and a lot of my classmates actually ended up working in fashion (go figure). It's actually a growing field with a lot of great job opportunities. And you're right that technical skills are often what gets you in the door in what is a competitive field. So, if she's interested in fashion and good at math, I would say, great! She's on the right track.

A mechanical engineering degree is a great way to get into the production side of fashion. My roommate's first job title out of college was actually "Beauty Engineer". She designed packaging, delivery systems, and production lines to produce make up for a major cosmetics company. Now she does operations and design for a global brand.

A business or economics degree is a great way to get into the retail side. Saks Fifth Ave hires people with quantitative skills to pick out what to buy. A lot of designers start out as buyers for department stores.

Having a math or even physics degree can also get you a job doing operations for major retailers. (How does Zara know how many pink halter tops to buy next week? It's actually a lot of hard math.)

So, I say, it's not STEM *or* fashion. Math (or econ, or aero/asto, or engineering, or really anything that just sounds hard to potential employers) is actually a really great way to get a real job *in* fashion.

[warmastoast]

I went to MIT and a lot of my classmates actually ended up working in fashion (go figure). It's actually a growing field with a lot of great job opportunities. And you're right that technical skills are often what gets you in the door in what is a competitive field. So, if she's interested in fashion and good at math, I would say, great! She's on the right track.

A mechanical engineering degree is a great way to get into the production side of fashion. My roommate's first job title out of college was actually "Beauty Engineer". She designed packaging, delivery systems, and production lines to produce make up for a major cosmetics company. Now she does operations and design for a global brand.

A business or economics degree is a great way to get into the retail side. Saks Fifth Ave hires people with quantitative skills to pick out what to buy. A lot of designers start out as buyers for department stores.

Having a math or even physics degree can also get you a job doing operations for major retailers. (How does Zara know how many pink halter tops to buy next week? It's actually a lot of hard math.)

So, I say, it's not STEM *or* fashion. Math (or econ, or aero/asto, or engineering, or really anything that just sounds hard to potential employers) is actually a really great way to get a real job *in* fashion.

Excellent post.

[Eowyn_MI]

Why are you trying to push her into this? I went into it just because I had good scores in math and science no other reason. I had no idea what engineering was until a few years into college. Just because you are good at something does not mean you will enjoy it. I would argue that a drive for something is far more important in being successful than just inherently being good at it.

Honestly, I don't care what career she ends up in as long as she finds it fulfilling and it provides a basic income so she doesn't have to live with us as an adult. :)

That said, as a parent watching her grow, she has a lot of talent in science and math. She has had a dream for years if being a fashion designer, and hasn't considered any other career fields. I just want to introduce her to other options, in a fun way... Not to force her into a specific field. Like getting a picky eater to try new foods. Maybe she will like something new, maybe she won't, but at least she'll see other things she can do with her natural talents.

I think the suggestions of attending some one-day seminars (EYH) is perfect. There are several near us in the next few months. With snacks. :) I'm going to discuss them with her this weekend...

I'm another "reluctant" female engineer.  Left to my own inclinations, I was interested in becoming a chef or something along those lines.  However, my parents strongly suggested that I consider a career with a higher earning potential.  I eventually found an engineering job that is okay but I wouldn't call it fulfilling.  However, it does leave me with enough time (and money) to pursue my interest in cooking.  Maybe I would have liked being a chef; I don't know.  If I didn't like working as a chef, I would certainly have fewer options than I do now (i.e. FI/RE or even switching careers would be much less attainable).  Your daughter might be encouraged by the thought that she will not be "stuck" in a STEM field forever if she doesn't find a job that she likes.

Engineering classes were most interesting to me when I could use math to explain how something worked in the real world.  For example, in Heat Transfer class, we used equations to show how heat escaped from a house, how much was generated by people in a room, differences in the speed of transfer out of windows vs. walls, etc...  Perhaps you could create a project that would allow her to use math to explain how something works in fashion design (I would love to give an example but I don't know much about that field). 

[Cranberries]

All the responses I am seeing so far seem to be focused on computer science and engineering. Is she interested in the outdoors? If so, I would suggest you look into the YCC. They offer great summer jobs for teens doing trails and restoration in various national parks. Though the job itself is not STEM it builds nicely towards careers in natural resource management, biology, or environmental science.

https://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm

[MerryMcQ]

All the responses I am seeing so far seem to be focused on computer science and engineering. Is she interested in the outdoors?
https://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm

We camp a lot, but she isn't interested in outdoor things. I think she only enjoys camping and hiking because she enjoys spending time with us without pesky interruptions like phones or work.

[MerryMcQ]

I went to MIT and a lot of my classmates actually ended up working in fashion (go figure). It's actually a growing field with a lot of great job opportunities. And you're right that technical skills are often what gets you in the door in what is a competitive field. So, if she's interested in fashion and good at math, I would say, great! She's on the right track.

A mechanical engineering degree is a great way to get into the production side of fashion. My roommate's first job title out of college was actually "Beauty Engineer". She designed packaging, delivery systems, and production lines to produce make up for a major cosmetics company. Now she does operations and design for a global brand.

A business or economics degree is a great way to get into the retail side. Saks Fifth Ave hires people with quantitative skills to pick out what to buy. A lot of designers start out as buyers for department stores.

Having a math or even physics degree can also get you a job doing operations for major retailers. (How does Zara know how many pink halter tops to buy next week? It's actually a lot of hard math.)

So, I say, it's not STEM *or* fashion. Math (or econ, or aero/asto, or engineering, or really anything that just sounds hard to potential employers) is actually a really great way to get a real job *in* fashion.

That's awesome to hear. I will share this with her. She loves math more than any other subject. I think she'd be interested in finding out how math intersects with fashion careers. :)

At this point, she's shot down all the suggestions I've gathered on different summer activities or seminars. The only one she liked was the idea of meeting some materials engineers and clothing designers who worked for REI. REI, as far as she is concerned, is the ultimate in fashion.

So... I guess I will encourage her to call REI's human resources dept and see if she can do a walk-through of their design department. Anyone have any ideas or contacts at REI that might be willing to help a 14 year old who wants to meet some materials engineers and clothing/shoe designers?