The Moment Everything Changed

I love science! But I’ve always been better at math. I honestly never thought I could have a career in engineering!

That moment happened during a Power Hour session, when I watched a 10th grade girl sit up a little straighter, her eyes widening as the team from Stryker walked our students through the possibilities. I saw myself in her.

Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies, visited our Power Hour to share the diverse career paths that drive their work, from engineering and biomechanics to accounting, design, and research. For this particular student, something just clicked. Until that day, she had never imagined how her passion for numbers could intersect with a company creating life-saving tools like prosthetics.

After everyone else left, she lingered to speak with one of the visiting mentors. By the end of their conversation, she had formed a new dream: to become an accountant at a company like Stryker, where science, purpose, and precision come together.

A few weeks later, she and her peers stepped through the doors of Stryker’s offices during a sponsored Power Hour field trip. They tested prototypes, explored biomechanics in action, and witnessed firsthand how every role, from design to data analysis, contributes to meaningful impact in people’s lives.

This is what Power Hour is truly about.

It’s not just about what these young women want to become. It’s about helping them envision where they belong.

And sometimes, all it takes is one conversation, one mentor, or one pivotal moment to change everything.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​