Vitals: I grew up in the South Bronx with my grandmother, mother and aunts. A house full of women meant constant support and love. My mother is Dominican and my faher is Ghanaian, and both cultures were embedded in me as I grew up. My parents always stressed education as something that really wasn't a choice; it was mandatory.
Biggest Influence: I was fortunate that The Young Women's Leadership School (TYWLS) of East Harlem's partnership with Step Up gave me, and other students, a chance at having mentors. It was amazing. Being in the program gave me an opportunity to meet women in different fields and paths. It brought me out of my shy shell and into a place where I could be confident and outspoken. TYWLS's partnership with Step Up helped shape my professional career in a way that has set me up for success for years to come. When it comes to my biggest influence, Step Up definitely exceeds all the expectations of what it means to uplift and motivate women of color.
Step Up definitely exceeds all the expectations of what it means to uplift and motivate women of color.
College Life: I graduated from TYWLS with honors and started my college career at CUNY City Tech where I majored in mechanical engineering technology for about 2 years. In the fall of 2014, I transferred to the City College where I will finish my degree in mechanical engineering in the spring of 2018.
City College is where you go when you want something out of the ordinary. This is an institution that not only cares about the education they offer, but also cares about developing people into leaders. And, there are so many opportunities to pursue. For instance, I am a founding charter member of the City College Section of the National Council of Negro Women, and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Black Student Union, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and I recently became a member of the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Some of the internships I've had include interning for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Success Academy Charter School, and conducting research for Iowa State University and UTC Aerospace System. This summer I'll intern for Nike as a design engineering intern.
Future: My goal is to reach the highest level of education I can possibly attain and I'm still debating if I want to get my masters or go straight into a doctorate program. While I am still trying to find a way to connect my love of art and my love of engineering, I am confident that my path in life will be one that will make me happy.
Inspire teens, like Mariama, to reach their full potential and donate to become a Step Up member or renew your membership. As a member you have the opportunity to mentor Step Up teens as often as you want and help our teens become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women!
