COLUMBIA — Erica Martin and Aireen Arellano decided to create a children’s book based on their personal experiences with identity and culture.

The book, titled “Pixelated Pearl,” follows a young Filipino girl struggling with the conflicting traits of being both “nerdy and girly.”

Both authors said they experienced discrimination growing up.

Martin said she was naturally drawn to science-based clubs such as website club and science club, which caused her to be singled out.

“When I became a preteen or teenager, people would call me a nerd or say things about being a nerd that just weren’t nice,” Martin said.

In December 2008, she graduated as one of four women in her college’s computer science program at the University of Missouri.

“I had a group of, I’ll say, friends essentially use s

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