Girls Are Same As Boys, Just Need Motivation: GenNext Achievers At SheShakti 2024 Conclave

GenNext achievers shared their unique experiences as they attended the CNN-News18 SheShakti 2024 on Monday.

The audiences were enthralled as the young geniuses Geet, 16, aspiring astrophysicist and young innovator; Namya Joshi, 17, Minecraft student ambassador by Microsoft; and Atiqa Mir, 9, GoKarting prodigy, recalled their experiences.

NASA SPACE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE: GEET

What sparked her interest in space exploration, Geet said, “My father got me an encyclopedia at a fair at five, which sparked my interest to become an astronaut.”

On her experience at the NASA space camp, “It was nothing short of life-changing. It was a childhood dream. At 16, I got to experience what it meant to be an astronaut. I got to meet different people from different countries with the same passion.”

“The most memorable was the multi-axis training chair, which is used to train for pre-entry into the atmosphere. It gives you a shake. It wasn’t scary, but I had butterflies in my stomach because the chair was spinning 360 degrees.”

Between SpaceX and Boeing, Geet picked SpaceX to go into the space.

On the challenges, Geet said, “It was my first time travelling home. I was homesick. At the camp, I did not feel homesick, all of them made me feel safe. I returned stronger.”

GIRL CODERS ARE MORE CREATIVE: NAMYA JOSHI

On using Minecraft as learning tool, Namya said, “I used to play Minecraft for fun. I realised students in my class were not happy with the way we were learning. It started with Egyptian history, in Class 6. My teacher agreed to the approach and it worked. The positive outcome gave me the inspiration to start training teachers. I have trained more than 15,000+ now.”

“Girl coders are more creative, but they lack the motivation. I have my teachers, parents, principal, grandparents to support me…Many girls have the skills, but one push is what they need.”

Asked about the responsibilities as a Minecraft ambassador, she said, “To inspire more people about the opportunities to use it as a teaching tool. To encourage them to speak up.”

About her own club, ‘Girls in STEM’, she said, “It was just two girls. Our motto of ‘each one, teach 10’ brought in changemakers. It is a platform for exchange of skills.”

On a game she would create, Namya said, “I would create a game where people crossed the hurdles to get information, so they learned.”

BULLYING MAKES NO DIFFERENCE: ATIQA MIR

When asked how it feels to be an achiever at nine, Atiqa said, “I feel proud about winning the circuit. I feel proud for our country, I appreciate my team and mechanics for all the support.”

When asked how it feels while entering the car before a race, she said, “I am very very nervous. I am asking, “Are we going to crash? Is something going to happen?” Once I start driving, it goes away, but there are butterflies in the stomach before that…I calm down by breathing and tell myself what I am going to do and how I won the previous good races. I remember what I did to win…I have a diary, which helps me remember stuff, because I forget easily.”

About the challenges of being the first female race driver to win Le Mans Kart International circuit in France, she said, “It doesn’t cross my mind. Girls are the same as boys, just that they have hair which distracts them while driving…Whenever I get bullied, I use it to go to the next level. It doesn’t really matter.”

Choosing a challenger for a race, she said, “Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton if they were in the same category and level…Would take the track I know because they are very experienced and have experienced all tracks.”