ANGLEC’S WOMEN IN STEM – 2019 WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION

This year ANGLEC will be joining in the celebration of International Women’s Day/Month for the first time by featuring the stories of women in STEM  (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) related posts/functions at ANGLEC and promoting the official IWD theme for 2019 #BalanceForBetter.

GETTING TO KNOW HER

Mariscia Roach-Grant,

I am Mariscia Roach-Grant. I was born in Anguilla to Ava and Arthur Roach on the 8^th February 1986. I am presently the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Manager, before that I was the Electrical Engineer, Projects Engineer and Consumer Services Engineer. The T&D Manager is responsible for the Network Infrastructure i.e. everything on the system after the power plant up to the point of supply for customers (13.8 kV and 34.5 kV System etc.). Ensuring that the activities such as: Consumer Services, Lines Construction, and Estimates, basically everything that goes on from the time the customers make their applications, their connections and the quality maintenance of their power supply, is efficiently and economically carried out. I am also responsible for the expansion and the reliability of the Network Infrastructure.

I started working at ANGLEC in 2009 as the Consumer Service Engineer after I had obtained my Bachelors in Engineering (BEng), took a one year study leave from 2013 to 2014 to pursue my Masters-in-Science (MSc). Upon my return in 2014 I worked briefly as the Projects Engineer, and in 2015 I worked as the Electrical Engineer, during which I worked on the Renewable Energy Initiative, Protection Coordination for the grid and the Underground Projects. Overall I have been with ANGLEC for over 9 years.

I was born in Anguilla but my formative years were in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. I grew up with my Grandmother, Ella Roache, and my extended family on the tiny Grenadine Isle of Mayreau, where I attended the Mayreau Government School from ages 5 to 11. From age 11 I went to the main land Saint Vincent to pursue my Secondary Education (1997-2002). I attended the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia, however, this school was never my choice school. Growing up as a Catholic in the Grenadines almost every girl’s aspiration was to attend the Saint Joseph Convent Kingstown or the Girls’ High School, which were the most senior, prestigious schools on the mainland. At the time, in order to transition from primary school to secondary school you had to write the Common Entrance Exam. I placed 159 for girls and 259 overall, hence, I missed the Girls’ High School position which was the first 100, but qualified for Saint Joseph Convent (100-200). My paper work was not processed and when my grandmother tried to get me into Convent Kingstown they had no space. The next best option would have been Convent Marriaqua, however, we knew the Principal of Emmanuel personally, since the Eustace Family owned Mayreau, my grandmother spoke with her and I was admitted to Emmanuel and promised a scholarship based on my Form One first test performance. Now Emmanuel was a Comprehensive School but it was mostly a place for second chance student, i.e. it was private and set its own admission exams, so mostly kids who didn’t pass the Common Entrance Exam went there. I however, saw this as God’s intervention for me to be drawn closer to him and to know him personally as my Father. He made a way that I ended up living with the Principal of the school. Even though I didn’t go to the prestigious schools, my education was not compromised because I obtained 12 subjects, 2 GCSE’s in form 4 and 10 CXCs’ in form 5.

From 2002 to 2004 I attended the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) and was one of the Island Scholars with a 3 years scholarship. I have always had scholarships to pursue my studies except for my Masters. I taught Mathematics and Physics at my Alma Mater from 2004-2005, and I then proceeded to the Aston University in Birmingham UK, where I obtained my BEng (Hons) in Electro-Mechanical Engineering with 1 year Professional placement (2005-2009). I later obtained my MSc in Electrical Power System’s Engineering at the University of Manchester (2013-2014).

I am a born again believer and I have lived on Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”, so regardless of the challenges I have encountered as a child and adult, I know that I am a “Child of Destiny”.

1. What is your favourite song?

Lol, this changes depending on the season of my life but to name a few:

Mis-Education of Lauryn Hill Album;

Cross Roads and Don’t Sell Your Soul by Tracy Chapman;

My Body by Trini-tee 5:7;

Mlondolozi and Mvini by We Will Worship Movement

Intentional by Travis Greene.

2. What is your favourite hobby?

I loved running, dancing, but it is now watching a nice movie.

 3. Who was your role model growing up and why?t is your favorite hobby?

I knew I wanted to be as competent as my Father was at Engineering. In university I always told myself if he can do it then I can too. My Grandmother Ella Roache who exhibited so much strength and taught me that every man on earth deserves respect from the Vagrants, to Ministers of Government. She associated with everyone, fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. In fact she was regarded as the unofficial governor on Mayreau because she broke the slavery mentally rule where the slave descendants were not allow to build concrete houses on the land. She was the first to build and won her case.

4. What was your favourite subject in school?

Mathematics

5. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Lol that is hard, a lovely Lasagna

6. What is your favourite part about your job?

Overcoming challenges and finding solutions

7.What would you say is the hardest part of your job?

A guy once told me during my professional placement year, “you have three things against you: you are black, you are a female and you are young”.

BALANCE FOR BETTER WITH Mariscia

The official theme for International Women’s Day 2019 is “Balance for Better”. Balance for better means fighting for more gender-balance in the world.

1. Why do you think gender-balance is important?
   It throws out the stereotype of gender bias professions

2. In your opinion, how could men and women work together to create a more gender balanced world?
   
   Just respect each other as human beings.
   

3. How do you find ways to thrive in a male dominated field?

   I never really noticed that I was. lol. On a serious note, I don’t pay attention to those boundaries imposed on me by someone saying this is a male job, if you do you will always be offended. I didn’t study medicine because I didn’t like to see blood, so engineering was my best fit because I was good at Maths, problem solving skills etc. My former College principal said “Don’t just study Maths but applied mathematics” Engineering is applied mathematics there are formulas that guide you, rules of nature to follow, once you obey those you must find a solution or a way to mitigate a problem. I focus on problem solving and not people.

4. How do you achieve work/life balance as a working woman?
   
   Do what you need to do when you need to do it, that is, you plan your work and you plan your life. It is imperative that you get some “me time” after all on the seventh Day God rested.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

1. Would you encourage other women and girls in Anguilla to pursue STEM related jobs, if so why?

   Yes I will. Because when God created you he made you unique and placed desires and gifts in you to be what he wanted you to be. He didn’t limit you so don’t limit yourself.

2. What would you say to young women who may be interested in the STEM fields?
   
   Go after your heart desire. When everything else fail or you are faced with challenges, you will always revert to your passion because it is what drives you.

3. What would have encouraged you along your journey as a young woman interested in STEM?
   Knowing that my earthy father did it and his DNA is in me I can do it too and secondly Jeremiah 29:11 God got me.
   

4. What would you encourage, educators, parents and guardians to do to ensure the advancement of young women in STEM related studies?Find out the God given giftings/ability of the child, don’t try and push them into something you want or discourage them from something because of your fears. A lot of people have a real phobia for Mathematics and they project it unto their children, before the child can even see an equation he/she is already afraid hence the subject can’t go into his/her head. The Backbone of stem is independent problem solving skills, mainly achieve via mathematics, let your child play and discover solutions on their own under your watchful eyes. Make learning fun try different methods. I remember as a Mathematics teacher you would have tried others methods when one failed because at the end of the day, yes we are trying to complete a syllabus but every child must learn to solve basic problems on their own. This also transcends into their personal life.

Stay tuned for more features and for more information on IWD click here. Want information and ideas about supporting young ladies interested in Engineering? Visit https://bit.ly/2exSdKd