Meet Lily Copp

Lily Copp is currently working towards her Ontario Secondary School Diploma and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2021. Lily also works as a Horseback Riding Instructor, at Victoria Rode Horses. In her spare time, Lily likes to participate in competitive swimming, competition cheerleading, horseback riding, and co-host the "Under the Microscope" podcast.

When did your love of STEM begin?

Ever since I was a little girl, science and mathematics have always been my favourite subjects at school. My dad would always take me up to the shop for a new project like building a play house or building a generator. This led to me doing STEM camps at the University of Guelph when I was younger. Ever since then my love of STEM has continued, and I want to continue doing it for the rest of my life as a veterinarian.

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

You never stop learning, when working in STEM you never stop researching and investigating more. My dad is constantly teaching me new things about technology. Every day I go to the barn, I'm always leaning new things about animals. And in school, especially in my science courses, there's always something new to learn and investigate. The best part about working in STEM is that there's so much involved with it that no matter how far you're into your career, you never stop learning. And what you learn empowers you to help the world.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

Pursue it, no matter what. Find what interests you the most and work your absolute hardest to get there. Even if there are people telling you that you're not smart enough, or that's not what girls do, ignore them. If STEM is something you truly love and want to do for the rest of your life, then pursue it no matter what. The people who try to stop you from reaching your goals don't matter, push past them.