Why STEM??

It's always been a dream of mine to pursue a career in STEM. When I was little, my dad had a Biology textbook lying around the house. I remember picking it up and looking at all the images. At the time, I didn’t understand much of the terms, but I was intrigued by trying to pronounce and make meaning of what was there. I believe this was when I knew for certain that I wanted to be a scientist. Over time, I became interested in marine biology and ecosystems. It was difficult to fathom how vast everything is, how everything is interconnected and how much we have yet to understand. I think it was this curiosity that became the driving force that led me to pursue a career in STEM. Another component that led me to pursue STEM, was my need to do something about the issues in the world. I believe that we have the power to make positive change and we should use it. I chose STEM to be able to gain and obtain the knowledge to make positive changes.

I’m currently interning in Dr. Polidoro’s lab. We’re analyzing samples from the Philippines, for possible contaminants. And pretty soon we’ll be analyzing fish and clams for levels of toxicity. It’s pretty exciting stuff.. well, not so much for the fish and clams though. In the grand scheme of things, I know that the work I’m taking part in will help determine the quality and integrity of aquatic environments, that can be used to help these places if needed. This is the work I want to do. I want a future in which I can learn and help others, whether it’s an ecosystem, a community or a species.

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite quotes 😊