"Wonder Years" Star Introduces Girls To Wonders Of Mathematics
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Familiar television actress Danica McKellar truly loves her second career as a bestselling author of math books for female middle school and high school students. NY1's Shazia Khan filed the following report as part of the Connect A Million Minds series, which was designed by NY1 and its parent company Time Warner Cable to motivate students to become more involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).With all the numbers, letters and strange symbols, mathematics might look for some like ancient hieroglyphics. Still, math has its fans, including one unlikely cheerleader -- Danica McKellar, best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the coming of age TV series "The Wonder Years."
"I love that feeling of when you can't do a math problem and then suddenly the light flashes and it's like 'That's it! This is how you do it, eureka!' It's just a great feeling," says McKellar.
Once "The Wonder Years" wrapped, McKellar pursed a mathematics degree at the University of California in Los Angeles and went on to write three best-selling math books geared towards middle school and high school female students -- "Math Doesn't Suck," "Kiss My Math" and her latest, "Hot X: Algebra Exposed."
An active math education advocate for girls, McKellar recently appeared at a "HerWorld" event sponsored by DeVry University, which was designed to encourage young female students to explore careers in math, science, technology and engineering.
McKellar's message to the girls was easy as 1, 2, 3.
"There are a lot of stereotypes out there that tell girls that math is only for guys, math is only for nerds, you have to be antisocial to be good at math or science and that's just not true," says McKellar. "Start now thinking of yourself as good at math. You belong here, math is for you. You're not just an afterthought."
It is a message that hit home with many in the audience.
"I was terrified of math because I felt that it was something I wasn't able to achieve," says student Lauren Antole. "Danica McKellar said that you're not born smart, you have to work hard for, it so after that it shows me that I want to work hard at math."
"I don't take math right now because I took all my math courses, but now that I think about it, I could have done a lot better if I actually believed I can do it," says actor Nicole Sandoval.
Those who already love and excel in math have advice of their own.
"I want to become a doctor myself, so I think they shouldn't stop, regardless if the obstacle is math or science. They should continue on to their career," says student Evelyn Quizhpi.
McKellar adds that math is essential in nearly every career, such as her own case as an author and actor.
"As an actress, you don't want to get ripped off in your contracts. It's all about percents and reading the fine print, and I do all of that and trust me, it helps," she says.
For more information on other programs designed to inspire children through science, technology, engineering and math, visit ConnectAMillionMinds.com.