Ad of the Day: Verizon Reminds Parents That Girls Aren't Just Pretty but 'Pretty Brilliant'

That's why campaigns like "Inspire Her Mind," from Verizon, in partnership with Makers, are so important.

The initial spot, which had me tearing up more than the supposed cry-fest The Fault in Our Stars, features a young girl in various situations and the subtle cues that push her away from pursuits believed to be for boys. The campaign was born out of research that shows there's a significant drop-off in women interested in these fields between childhood and adulthood.

The campaign, by AKQA, is in line with the technology company's work to encourage children to become interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the Verizon Foundation.