Today’s dreamer may be young, but she dreams big! Julia Kerpel spreads her love for sports and STEM to the children in her community. As one the youngest licensed Zumba instructors in the U.S, she encourages personal fitness and creativity to all. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win intern Dia Arora, she shares her mission to integrate her passion for STEM with her fitness practice, providing joint Zumba and STEM craft classes for kids. She exemplifies the ability to combine passions for the greater good and shares advice for others to do the same. As she says, “Anything is possible!” Enjoy her story! 

1. Since when have sports been an important part of your life? Do you think there is an age when it is best to start a fitness journey?

I have been active in sports my whole life! I started ballet when I was 2, karate when I was 5, and am still participating in both. When I was little, I went with my mom to watch her Zumba classes and could not wait to be a Zumba teacher myself! Any age is a great age to start a fitness journey! Try different things and see what YOU like to do! If you’re having fun, then it’s the right activity and you will stick with it.

2. Why do you think encouraging young girls to explore STEM is important? What activities can kids get involved in to help develop those interests?

Females are consistently underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) studies and careers. Reasons include peer pressure, lack of role models or support from parents or teachers, and general misperception of what STEM careers look like in the real world.

This is why my mission at Julia Zumba is to create a place for girls to take free Zumba Kids and STEM craft classes from me. They can see interviews with female role models who work in STEM field and experience how STEM and Sport can be combined in different ways By combining my passions for Zumba and STEM, I hope to show young women everywhere that there are many ways they can pursue STEM fields in fun, unexpected ways.

3. How do your interests in Zumba and STEM intersect? Are there parts of sports that help you with your STEM goals? Or things you learn in STEM that help you with sports? 

I love engineering, physics, and math along with Zumba, dance, and karate! By applying STEM principles to my sports participation, I am able to safely perform at my highest level and encourage others to do the same. For example by using principles of physics I am able to perfect dance moves like pirouettes.

I encourage using fitness to create a future of, by, and for strong women. As an ambassador at SheISsport, I know the future of sports lies in the hands of the STEM community.

4. Do you think your young age ever holds you back from pursuing other endeavors? What is your advice for other girls who feel they cannot accomplish things because of their young age?

Age is just a number! I am currently the Ambassador Coordinator at Greenlight for Girls where I manage projects worldwide to encourage girls in their communities to study STEM. I hope to encourage girls everywhere to keep their bodies and minds active, and to remember the Greenlight for Girls motto and my personal mantra: Anything is possible!

Thank you Julia for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!

WHO WE ARE

WOMEN WHO WIN IS THE GLOBAL ONLINE MEDIA PLATFORM AND NETWORKING GROUP FOR WOMEN, WHERE WE SHARE THE DREAMS OF DYNAMIC WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD, AND THE INSPIRATIONAL SECRETS BEHIND THEIR SUCCESS.

CO-FOUNDED BY DR. MANJU SHETH, DR. DEEPA JHAVERI, SHALEEN SHETH.

IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE, REACH OUT TO WOMENWHOWIN100@GMAIL.COM

WOMEN WHO WIN, ALONG WITH THE NAMES OF ALL 3 CO-FOUNDERS MUST BE CREDITED WHEREVER ARTICLE CONTENTS ARE SHARED. COPY-PASTING THE STORY WITHOUT THESE CREDITS IS PROHIBITED ALL VIEWS AND IDEAS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTOR. WOMEN WHO WIN BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY.