January is National Mentoring Month where we celebrate the importance and power of mentoring relationships. At Science Club for Girls, mentoring is at the very core of our mission as they give their time, share their passion for STEM, and ignite confidence in our girls and gender-expansive youth.

Meet Deena Saadi, a SCFG Mentor and Clinical Research Coordinator for the VanElzakker Lab, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. We recently asked her about her own STEM and mentoring journey, and she shared her story with us:
"When I was younger, I didn’t think STEM was for me. Throughout school, science felt like a chore—something I had to endure rather than enjoy. It wasn’t until college that I discovered how thrilling and creative STEM could be. I realize how much earlier that spark could have been ignited for me, and how much earlier it can be ignited for the next generation of girls and gender-expansive youth. That’s why I mentor with Science Club for Girls.

Each week, I work with kindergartners and first graders to spark curiosity and confidence in STEM. We conduct experiments, ask big questions, and laugh a lot along the way. It’s about showing them that science isn’t just for 'someone else'—it’s for them, too.
Research shows that kids start forming ideas about who belongs in STEM as early as elementary school. By the time they reach middle or high school, many have already decided it’s not for them. And for girls and gender-expansive youth, this decision is often shaped by systemic barriers and a lack of relatable role models.
That’s why it’s so important to make science fun, accessible, and empowering at a young age. When girls and gender-expansive youth are given opportunities to explore STEM in supportive environments, it doesn’t just change how they see science—it changes how they see themselves. They start to picture themselves as problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.
These early experiences matter. They’re the building blocks of a more diverse, innovative, and equitable future. When we invest in young scientists today, we’re shaping a world where everyone’s talents can thrive.”
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