Sarah Hale, Grade 9, Gates County High School
Her Name: Sonya Kovalevsky
Her Occupation: Mathematician / Teacher
Employer or Department where she works: University of Stockholm
Why you want to be like her:
I want to be like Sonya because she was and is such a great inspiration. Even though she was a woman, it didn’t stop her! I love how she never gave up, even thought the odds were against her. I hope that one day I can be like Sonya. In the way that she never gave up and continued to go for her dreams, and eventually achieve them. Sonya is such an inspiration. Every girl should always do their best, and strive for success. Even if they don’t go on to be a math mathematician. Math is like a great puzzle, so full of interesting and amazing things, just like life. I hope that everyone can be a little more like Sonya Kovalevsky in the way that she looked at life like a great big puzzle. She took the world and solved it, and figured it out. She realized that there is always an answer to every problem. She refused to back down. So, yes, I want to be more like Sonya, she was strong and bold. She just kept trying. I’m not going to back down from life and say “no solution” or “empty set.” I will always strive to find an answer, just like Sonya K.

Kadijah Hunter, 7th grade, Weldon Middle School
Her Name: Ann Stanley
Her Occupation: Doctorate in applied Mathematics
Employer or Department where she works: Iowa State University
Why you want to be like her:
Ann Stanley is one of the many women that stand out to me the most. Stanley’s job seems so unique. I want to be like her because she is trying to reduce aids; she is trying to find a cure for the most serious health crisis that millions of people are infected with. My goal is to help reduce the many diseases that is killing and harming many people all over the world, not just in America but all over the world. Ann Stanley is doing something that is magnificent and I’m going to do the same.

Aminah Weeks, 8th Grade, River Road Middle School
Her Name: Aprille Ericsson-Jackson
Her Occupation: Astronaut
Employer or Department where she works: Howard University
Why you want to be like her:
I want to be like here because she is strong-willed and determined. She came up in the streets of Brooklyn and succeeded in graduating with high honors. She was athletic, smart, and plays in the band. Just like me! She had asthma and had to repair a knee, but that did not slow her down. That shows she is strong and will keep going. She has high spirits and a visionary. I like the fact that she takes time out to help people. Especially kids! That shows she is not selfish and would do anything to help our kids learn. That is the most important thing. As they say kids are the future.

Amanda Baxter, 8th Grade, Elizabeth City Middle School
Her Name: Julie Williams-Byrd
Her Occupation: Technology / Science
Employer or Department where she works: NASA Langley Research Center
Why you want to be like her:
I want to be like Julie Williams-Byrd because she has succeeded so much in life. She put effort, confidence, and power into everything that she does. Julie is my inspiration because I also want to be a computer technician when I grow up. So learning from someone else’s experience will give me the chance to think more about what I want to be when I grow up.

Julicia Maxwell, 8th Grade, River Road Middle School
Her Name: Peggy W. Harmon
Her Occupation: Supervisory electronics technology
Employer or Department where she works: Head of the Electronics Instrumentation Development Section
Why you want to be like her:
Because instead of doing nothing when she did not have enough money to go to college. The she decided to go with the military to help our country. After she could afford it she went for four year and completed it so she would have her college education. Peggy W. Harmon was a great person. She was told that girls were not good with math she decided to prove the person who told her she was wrong. Peggy W. Harmon did have success in life.