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If you grow up rarely seeing people who look like you in a particular industry, it quietly shapes what you believe is possible.

I didn’t grow up surrounded by women in STEM. I certainly didn’t grow up hearing many conversations about apprenticeships as a respected route into professional careers. In my community, academic success was the gold standard. University was the expectation. Apprenticeships were often misunderstood or seen as a second choice.

But I knew early on that I wanted my learning to have purpose.

At school, I performed well academically. I achieved good grades and did what was expected. Yet something was missing. I could pass exams, but I did not always feel connected to what I was learning. I wanted knowledge that lived beyond a textbook. I wanted responsibility. I wanted to make a difference in real time.

That desire led me to complete work experience at the Specsavers Dudley branch. That experience changed everything.

For the first time, I saw STEM in action in a way that felt human. Optics is deeply technical. It requires precision, understanding of lenses, clinical awareness and scientific knowledge. But it is also about people. It is about trust. It is about helping someone see clearly, sometimes for the first time in years.

I remember watching a patient’s reaction when they put on the correct prescription and their face softened with relief. That moment made me realise that STEM is not just equations and laboratories. It is impact.

Choosing to pursue an apprenticeship in optics was both exciting and challenging.

As a woman from an underrepresented background entering a STEM field, I was aware that I might not always see myself reflected in leadership or clinical spaces. Representation matters more than people realise. When you do not see people like you in certain roles, it can create quiet doubt. Am I meant to be here? Do I belong?

On top of that, I had to challenge perceptions at home. In my culture, education is highly valued, but traditionally through academic routes. Apprenticeships were not widely understood. There were concerns about stability, progression and long term prospects.

I could have chosen the easier route and followed expectations. Instead, I chose to educate myself and others.

I researched training providers, spoke to current apprentices, engaged with networks and gathered evidence. I wanted to have informed, respectful conversations with my family. It was not about rebelling. It was about explaining that apprenticeships today are structured, accredited and lead to meaningful careers.

Those conversations required resilience. There were moments of doubt and difficult discussions. But slowly, understanding grew. Today, not only does my family support apprenticeships, they actively champion them and have integrated apprentices into their own business. Breaking that barrier at home was one of the first obstacles I overcame.

Starting my apprenticeship transformed how I viewed myself.

In the beginning, I was nervous. I questioned whether I was capable enough, experienced enough, confident enough. Imposter syndrome is something many women in STEM quietly experience. When you are stepping into a space where you are underrepresented, it can feel like you have to prove yourself twice over.

But competence builds confidence.

Every time I learned something new and applied it successfully, that doubt reduced. When I supported a patient struggling with varifocal lenses and identified that the issue was how they were positioning their head and the fit of the frame, I was not just assisting. I was solving a problem using technical knowledge and communication skills. When the patient left reassured and confident, I realised I was not “trying to belong”. I did belong.

There have been challenging moments too.

During severe snowy weather, when staffing levels were significantly reduced, I stepped into multiple responsibilities to keep the store operating for our community. It would have been easy to stay within my comfort zone. Instead, I supported reception, pre screening, dispensing and patient coordination. Remaining calm under pressure and ensuring patients continued to receive care showed me how much I had grown.

Barriers do not always look dramatic. Sometimes they are internal. Sometimes they are subtle expectations. Sometimes they are the absence of representation.

One of the most powerful parts of my journey has been recognising that my presence itself matters.

As a woman in STEM from an underrepresented background, I have taken part in apprenticeship awareness campaigns and professional photoshoots. I share my story openly because I want young people who look like me to see possibility. Through ambassador activity, I have supported efforts that have increased apprenticeship numbers and improved diversity representation within our organisation.

When young people tell me they did not realise someone like them could enter optics through an apprenticeship, it reminds me why visibility is important. You cannot aspire to what you cannot see.

If you are reading this and you have not yet secured your first job or apprenticeship, here is what I want you to know.

You may face barriers. They might be cultural expectations, financial pressures, lack of representation or self-doubt. None of those mean you are incapable.

Research thoroughly. Speak to people already in the industry. Seek mentors. Do not allow myths or outdated perceptions to define your future.

When you step into your first role, remember that growth takes time. Ask questions. Be curious. Accept feedback without taking it personally. Build trust by being reliable. Confidence does not appear overnight. It develops through small, consistent actions.

Most importantly, do not shrink yourself to fit into spaces where you feel different. Your perspective, your background and your lived experience are strengths. STEM needs diverse voices. It needs different ways of thinking. It needs representation.

My aspiration now is to continue progressing within the optical profession, deepen my clinical expertise and eventually lead and mentor others. I want to help create environments where the next generation of apprentices feel supported from day one, not uncertain about whether they belong.

Breaking into STEM as a woman from an underrepresented background has required resilience. But it has also given me clarity.

Barriers can be real. So is your potential.

And sometimes, choosing the path that challenges expectations is exactly the path that changes them.

Mandeep Dosanjh

Optical Assistant Apprentice at Specsavers

You can find out more and connect with Mandeep on LinkedIn.