MCWT Scholar Discovers Support Through Her Tech Journey

Chelsea Carter, 2014-2015 Friends of MCWT Scholarship recipient, described MCWT as an “organization that is willing to invest in any young girl or woman, even those who only have just an inch of interest in technology. After realizing that interest, the possibilities are endless!”

In the fourth grade, Carter sparked an interest in technology from a combination of pre-college programs, her mother’s support, and a passion for learning. She was motivated to pursue a career in STEM, specifically computer engineering technology. Weeks of waking up early on Saturday mornings to participate in tech programs at Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy and others led Carter to become more involved with computers and technology.

She fueled this initial interest through MCWT’s Website Design Competition, and although she did not place, she continued to persevere and build her skillset. As Carter grew older, her interests began to grow and she looked forward to working toward one of her goals that required funding.

“As a high school senior at the time, although going to college was one of my biggest goals, it was also one of my biggest fears due to stress that many associate with it,” she said. “MCWT’s support helped me stay focused on the learning opportunities instead of the financial struggles that most college students face.”

Through MCWT, she was able to focus on learning rather than the financial responsibility that comes with attending college. As a former MCWT Scholar, Carter is still connected to MCWT’s lifeline for support, whenever she needs it.

“MCWT has fueled my interest in technology by supporting one of my biggest accomplishments, being able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at Kettering University.”

Now, as an alumnus, Carter continues to support other young women interested in technology careers as an instructor and reviewer for the MCWT Website Design Competition and a facilitator for the Girls Rock IT events.

Her greatest piece of advice for other young girls and women:

“Starting is the only way you’ll get to the finish line. After starting, doubting can happen, but you have to realize that you may not know everything. The reality is, no one does and that’s okay! You have to be confident in what you do and do not know so that you can grow.”

“There are so many chances to thrive in the technology sector, and the earlier you start, the more opportunities you have for failure. Malcolm Forbes said it best, ‘Failure is success if we learn from it.’ If I had let my failures halt my progress, I would not be able to talk about the impact that MCWT has had on my career.”