| UNC-CH
Rida Bayraktar Computer Science B.S.
Tell us about Pink STREAM: Pink STREAM is an organization to educate and empower K-8 girls in STREAM fields (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Math). We are creating unique and high-quality STREAM curricula targeting girls since the majority of the market is not targeting this audience. As a collective impact organization, we deliver our curriculum as courses and workshops through our diverse collection of partners: non-profit organizations, community centers, libraries, companies, and more.
What inspired you to get involved in social entrepreneurship? In January 2018, I started mentoring two girls — one in second and one in third grade — about electronics. As we built circuits, I was surprised at how fast they learned and how well they understood the complicated concepts. Some topics that even confused my classmates in AP Physics, were understood by these young girls with some experiments. This inspired me to create curricula and educational material to teach girls STREAM and scale my teachings to larger audiences. Therefore, in February 2018, I founded Pink STREAM.
First step to put your idea into action: As an action oriented personality, I immediately start acting on an idea and project as soon as the spark comes. I think those moments full of inspiration and energy have been crucial in the development of Pink STREAM. For example, the day I have an idea to design a curriculum, I would sit down and write the first draft, teaching objectives, and “prototype” my idea. At those moments I think it is important not to think about how logical or possible the idea is, instead just to focus on the idea itself.
Another set of steps I took to put my idea into action was to reach out to people and speak about my idea and work with passion, confidence, and belief. Even though I did not have anything tangible at the time, I was able to gain a lot of interest because of the energy I radiated from my passion. It was the bravery and belief that allowed me to establish those first connections, gain those first mentors, and get the first financial and social support for my venture.
Valuable Courses: COMP 325: How to Build a Software Startup with Dr. Micheal Fern, PLCY 130: Getting It Done: Social Innovation with Ryan Nilsen, and APPL 110: Introduction to Design and Making with Dr. Glenn Walters
Mentors: So many to mention: first of all, my mom and dad who I call “my angel investors”; then my UNC family: Jaki Bonilla and Melissa Carrier from CUBE, Kimi Yingling from 1789, Velvet Nelson, Tim Flood, and Chi Nwogu from Launch Chapel Hill, Ryan Nilsen from Carolina Center for Public Service, Dr. Glenn Walters from APPL 110, Dr. Micheal Fern from COMP 325, Aspyn Fulcher from the Eship Center, Vahbiz Shroff through the Eship Center, Phaedra Boinodiris from UNC alumni, and many others.
I also want to acknowledge and thank my mentors who have guided me in early years of my entrepreneurial journey in high school: Hasan Kagit, Dr. Alper Bozkurt, and my teachers in Green Hope.
Advice: There is a quote by Rumi saying “Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction.” It is important to realize that here it doesn’t say to ‘go’ that direction but to ‘run’ that direction. I believe that is the key. Just follow your heart as you are ‘running’ in that direction, taking any and every opportunity for growth. You never know what is ahead in your path, and the only way to find out is to run for it. Don’t think at the moment how logical, possible, or promising your idea is, just keep running. The journey will bring many things that you cannot even imagine today, and the only way to uncover them is to seek them and run for them.