Seyma Kilic is going places. And not just figuratively. She recently had three big opportunities that all stemmed from her hunger for learning and trying new things.
She’s just a junior at Roosevelt High School, but she’s already racked up thousands of dollars in scholarships, earned multiple awards and accolades and traveled around the nation representing North East ISD.
“Women representation, encouragement and empowerment in STEM is absolutely important to me.”
Seyma grew up in Turkey and spent two years living in Greece before moving to San Antonio. She discovered she loved all things coding, cybersecurity and science, technology, engineering and mathematics her freshman year at Roosevelt. She enrolled in our Engineering & Technologies Academy (ETA) and has since joined our Design and Technology Academy (DATA).
“When I moved to the U.S., I just had this undying hunger for learning,” said Seyma. “When school started in ninth grade, I promised myself that I was going to be involved in anything that interested me. So, I joined all of these clubs – rocketry, art, robotics, JROTC, CyberPatriot – and gradually, as I’ve discovered what I like the most, I diverted my focus to what I loved the most.”
What she loves most has turned into a bright future full of opportunities for Seyma.
Her first stop over spring break was North Carolina, where she enjoyed an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of Bank of America as one of 40 young women in the country selected to attend the National Center for Women in Technology conference. This imitative recognizes girls who have made an impact competing in STEM.
Next, she traveled to New York, where she presented at the United Nations’ 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She was even offered an internship by a U.N. representative.
Her third incredible opportunity in a whirlwind week culminated with a 3rd place overall finish at the CyberPatriot National Finals in Bethesda, Maryland. Roosevelt also won the All-Service Cisco NETACAD Challenge, a tough competition of designing, hardening and defending a network. She also picked up another $2,000 scholarship.
“I’m really glad for the opportunity to do the things that I want to do. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to go to school, take the classes I want to take and join the clubs I want to join. I have this freedom of being able to express myself and my passions, so I am trying my best to take advantage of that.”
Seyma credits her incredible teachers with helping shape her path and opening doors leading to new opportunities.
“Teachers are such an important factor in determining a student’s future and their passions. That’s why I’ve taken this path. My teachers have guided me so well and have made me feel accepted.”
