Pioneering the World of STEM

Chatter and loud noises will fill the tense air in a stuffy high school gymnasium, young adults will be
rushing around, with power tools and clipboards in hand. Students of up to 18 different Michigan schools
will be seen huddling around large 120-pound robots, repairing their robots, and preparing for the next
match. In just a few short weeks, Jaylei Kramer will be one of these students.

Kramer has been involved in various activities throughout her 16 years of life that she says have taught
her many skills. From dance and girl scouts which taught her teamwork, to band and drama which taught
her about collaboration. Then finally to robotics, where her mentors say she shines exceptionally bright.

Kramer is an incredibly influential member of First Robotics Competition (FRC) team Red Thunder
Robotics. Red Thunder Robotics describes itself as “The closest thing to real life, while in high school,”.
Teams like Red Thunder Robotics construct robotics that sit just below 120 pounds, designed to complete
complex tasks whilst competing on a team against other robotics teams. They have the chance to compete
against and with teams all over the world and supply their students with the development of a unique skill
set that cannot be acquired anywhere else in high school. “I get the chance to experience things and learn
skills I wouldn’t normally.” Kramer said “For example, when in my life would I have ever had to solder
something?”

But learning to solder was not Kramer’s first interaction with STEM, nor would it be her last.

“In fifth grade, I discovered this website that has drag and drop coding blocks, meant to get kids
interested in coding,” she said. “I loved making and playing games on this website. I think it was the most
involved I’ve ever gotten in an online community.”

Kramer had described herself as curious, imaginative, and talkative. Her exploration into the world of
STEM and her specialty on her team shows just that.

Kramer further pioneered her love for STEM in her early years, and found herself at home among
electrical aspects “I loved playing with snap-circuits boards growing up, so I thought I might enjoy actual
electrical work.” she said. Kramer now takes the lead as Red Thunder Robotics electrical team head.
Kramer takes on all sorts of projects as the electrical head for her team. Working to design and execute an
intricate electrical setup to supply all parts of the team's robot with adequate power. Paving the way in her
team's history as the first young woman to do so.

“I don’t think the men on the team treat me any differently because of my gender,” she said. “Sometimes,
I see photos of other teams and think “why are there no girls in this photo?”. It seems weird for a team to
not at least have one girl.”

A study done in 2017 by First Women reports that only around 30% of students involved in FRC are
women. Making the representation that Jaylei provides to young girls vital to diversifying the program.
“She has shown that women are more than capable of working in fields that are dominated by men.” Red
Thunder Robotics mentor Paul Garrett said.

While the odds may be stacked against her, Kramer takes an encouraging stance against these statistics.
“While there has been a push for more women in STEM in recent years, many of this deep-seated sexism
still exists,” Kramer said. “I try to change it all I can by encouraging my female friends to pursue their
more technical passions.”

Kramer is one of multiple young women on her team who can be found embracing this unpaved path for
women in STEM, her team has been actively connected with their local girl scouts group to introduce
them to STEM. “I think seeing women in STEM makes girls think “Hey, I could do that too,” said
Kramer. “The only women I knew of before robotics were Rosie the Riveter and my science teachers.”

While Kramer continues to pioneer her way through the world of STEM, her mentors eagerly await to see
what else she will accomplish. “Jaylei has proven time and time again that she is not only capable of
creating work beyond her years, but is able to work outside of her comfort zone to produce a respectable
product,” Garrett said.