Q&A: Ximena Flandes
Ximena Flandes, biology major, is one of the women featured as part of The Signal’s special #HawkHerStory coverage, celebrating Women’s History Month. Flandes also serves both as a mentor in the Pathways to STEM program and as the vice president – committee coordinator of the Student Government Association executive council. This special coverage focuses on the stories and perspectives of the various women within the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) community.
Read The Signal’s Q&A with Flandes below and see the other Q&As conducted with students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni here.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, on both a personal and professional/educational level?
A: Hi, my name is Ximena Flandes, and I am close to graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Physiology. Although I spend quite a lot of time in my education, I also enjoy taking the time for myself, and I do this by doing things I love, like my job and student orgs! I work at Pathways to STEM Careers as a Biology Peer Mentor, creating a support system for Hispanic and low-income students going for a STEM Career, and I really enjoy it as my team and mentees are absolutely awesome! I am also part of student orgs like the Student Government Association, and I find great joy in getting to hear student concerns and being able to work with them and administration or staff (or both) to solve the issue.
Q: What are some activities you enjoy doing?
A: I love being with my dog, Pipe the Pug. I also enjoy reading content from internet writers and supporting their ideas. Finally, something I do always: spend time with my family and enjoy movie nights, every night. It is a great bonding experience and it is great fun.
Q: What are some problems you anticipate/have encountered as a woman in your field?
A: I have been extremely lucky to not have yet encountered problems in my field based on my gender, considering that STEM is often a more man-led field. This is changing though, with more women entering STEM and obtaining their degrees! I hope I never encounter any problems, but I think if I were to encounter something is if I were to decide to start a family at one point – policies in the United States regarding maternity leave are a very big discussion, and compared to other countries, the US does not allow for proper recovery of the mother nor proper development of the newborn. I do think this is a very big issue and I hope that as more women enter the work field, such as what we are seeing in STEM, policies also start to change as we see how the current maternity leave affects negatively women’s individuality and the modern family structure.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: ‘No matter how much do you prepare, you will never be 100% ready.’ I know this might sound weird, but it is totally true! I take it as a warning that we cannot stay stuck on the same thing just because we are not prepared enough for the next – we will never be, but what we will be is in the right mentality to continue through with life and keep moving forward. I think that if we have the resources, or the support, of just trust in ourselves to do what we want, we can do it – even if we are only 80% ready.
Q: Are there any female role models today that you wish you had growing up?
A: I don’t think so (yet). All of my female role models are people who I was exposed to, either through family, friendship, or movies, while I was growing up. They were people who shaped me and my beliefs, and showed me that if I wanted to know more, I had to learn and investigate and educate myself. There’s definitely current female role models which I think are amazing for the newer generations, but for me they don’t have the same impact the one’s I had growing up had. That doesn’t mean I won’t find another role model soon.
Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to know?
A: UHCL has so many resources for us. It can be student orgs, offices, departments, or more, but they are willing to listen to your story and help you through your current path. I think that if they look, they will find role models in this school.
