Structural engineer, film director, minister of education: girls around the world reveal their dream careers — Assembly

In Brazil, 15-year-old Ana Gabriely dreams of becoming an astronaut and increasing the number of women in space. Meshalini in Malaysia wants to become a film director to see more girls and women on the big screen. And Selamawit is studying to become an app developer so she can be a role model for other Ethiopian girls in tech.

Girls have great plans for themselves — and our world. For International Women’s Day, we decided to bring their ambitions to life.

With the help of illustrator Joelle Avelino, we imagined Assembly readers in their dream careers. From advocating for animal rights to building olive oil empires, this illustration series shows the amazing potential of girls when given the tools to learn and lead.

“My dream career is to be an animal care worker and an animal rights activist. I would also like to create a social enterprise related to animal welfare. I want to achieve all this because animals bring me so much happiness! And I hate how they're treated, especially in some cultures.”

— Muznah, 18, Pakistan

“Structural engineer because I want to rebuild my destroyed home country of Iraq. I want to help refugees like me and make sure that children don’t sleep in freezing weather anymore. I want to tell the world and all the refugees that we are stronger than war and all the horrible, inhumane things that happened to us.”

— Asifa, 19, Iraq

“My dream career is to be an astronaut because it is a place where men have more prominence. I want to give voice to women by saying that even the universe is not the limit.”

— Ana Gabriely, 15, Brazil

“I’m currently studying computer science. I want to be an app and web developer once I finish my degree and build technology that will be helpful to my country, like apps to support students’ studies in elementary school and high school. I also want to set an example to any woman out there who wants to be in tech. Growing up, I didn’t have role models and our dreams as children are shaped by what we read and see every day.”

— Selamawit, 20, Ethiopia

“I want to be a successful film director and the reason is simple: for women. I want to make films for girls and women, and make them the lead actors in my movies. Watching movies is my favorite hobby but realising that one day people will watch my movies is something that I can't explain through words.”

— Meshalini, 20, Malaysia

“I would like to be a minister of education. Many children in my country cannot go to school because of the devastating economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many schools have closed because they have no way to pay for it and schools ask parents to teach as many teachers have left. We children want an education just like everyone else. We want this to end so that we can build a better future now. I want to be a minister of education so that each child receives a good education and does not suffer like we suffer now.”

— Fabiana, 14, Venezuela

“My dream career is to start a company for our olive trees. When I was a little kid, my parents bought multiple fields to grow olive trees and now, one of my biggest goals is to take those fields, maybe buy some more and start a company. I would like to sell olives, olive oil and every other product that I can create using olives around the world! In order to make all of this financially possible, I will become a pharmacist. Even though I don’t yet know how to handle all of this, I’m sure I’ll learn at some point in my life. I really believe in myself!”

— Öykü, 17, Turkey

“I want to be a pediatric neurosurgeon because I want to be able to help save the lives of children because they are our future. I also want to show other people that it’s possible to be a black female doctor in neurology.”

— Jonté, 19, U.S.