Successful Failures in STEM
By Astrid Cabrera
Making a podcast was never on my radar. Not because I felt incapable, but because it was an idea so far off from my college coursework. In fact, when this opportunity came about, I spent more time on contemplating whether I would give it a try than on actually researching and developing my podcast series. I believed it was a good thing to try and learn, and maybe I would surprise myself with my ability or willingness to pursue it. Eventually I decided to revolve my podcast episodes around failures in STEM and how they are the cornerstone of success. I love the idea of speaking about and normalizing failures because most people fear failure, but we must learn to take chances and learn from every experience. After deciding on my podcast theme, I learned how to use AnchorFM to create my podcast and then I wrote my first script. I was so excited to begin and even though it took a few tries to get the audio right and sound comfortable, I successfully completed my first Podcast! This will not only improve my tech skills but also my speaking skills. I am so excited to take on more technological learning opportunities.
After completing the last episode of the podcast series on an approaching deadline, I felt accomplished. I had no idea what I was doing at first, but I was able to find my bearings and make this project my own. I had no technology background, except for the one coding class that I had taken previously (which was not a fun experience). This project on the other hand gave me a lot of joy. Hearing myself and showing others my work made me feel proud. Nvolve has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and expanded my horizons in all aspects. All the support I had from my Nvolve cohort and Dr. Zouridis are the reason I felt confident enough to pursue this project even though I had a late start. I might consider pursuing this project beyond the deadline —just for me-- because I would like my listeners to appreciate and accept failure, so they feel inspired while learning about STEM.