Math for girls =
POWER + OPPORTUNITIES!
he
sooner
girls
embrace mathematical
concepts the broader
their competitive edge in life
--academically, socially, and in
business.
T
Math exists in absolutely every
aspect of our existence. Our ability
to recognize math and apply it
appropriately will help to prove
true genius that exists in each
of us. Mathematics is reasoning,
impacts our personal and global
presence economically, and is a
gatekeeper in the world of work
and careers.
LaToniya A. Jones knows math!
Lives math! Loves math!
And she also knows what it
is like to have others doubt
her abilities. After pursuing an
education in pre-law, of which
LaToniya had no passion, she
decided to study secondary
mathematics.
But math is hard!
Right?
You have to be really smart to
be good in math.
Right?
LaToniya
WRONG!
You have to believe in yourself
– your God given talents and
abilities. You have to face
math – like any other situation,
hurdle or challenge. You have
to keep pushing forward even
if you get knocked down. Even
if others don’t believe you can
excel.
Math?
Yes Math!
4
AMAZING WOMEN SPEAK!
Going back to school, as many
women do after starting a
family, requires sacrifice and
hard choices, and it is a time
when you really need the
support from those around
you - especially from your
school advisor.
But that is not what LaToniya
received from hers. She was
told she didn’t have what it
took to succeed in secondary
www.amazingwomannetwork.com
education and her advisor
suggested that she pursue
primary education instead.
As I was persevering through
this period of “low expectations”
for my life by others, I remained
focused and decided to prove
my advisor wrong. This was
nothing new for me. I had
faced disbelief, stereotyping,
and low expectations before. I
just thought it would get better
at this stage in my life. It was
challenging to communicate
with him because I didn’t feel
as though he would give me
a fair assessment or the level
of support I deserved or had
earned.
Most people would have
accepted the advice of their
advisor, settled for less and
allowed someone’s opinion
shape their life. Instead
LaToniya stayed the course
found support from others,
took classes at additional
institutions and graduated
earlier than expected and was
able to celebrate her graduation
at a private ceremony, held by
the deans of the college (her
advisors colleagues), in her
honor and of course he too,
joined in the celebration.
That experience helped to
engrain in LaToniya the belief