Virtual STEM Motivation!

What a pleasure it was to speak with the amazing students involved in the GOALS FOR GIRLS Internship-Mentorship program organized by the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum. I had the chance to talk with 15 of the GOALS interns and their mentors, and provide some insight on my career trajectory and what opportunities are available for them in STEM & beyond.

Seeing and hearing their dedication to this program was absolutely incredible. To have that level of concern for their own future careers and personal growth & development at the high school age is certainly impressive. Knowing how difficult that transition from high school to college can be, I wanted to give them tangible tips and advice they could use to not only excel, but also have the confidence to overcome challenges. Learning is a constant process, and it only gets deeper and more complex when you add in the burden of navigating a path towards a successful career. Success however is unique to each individual, and is never a linear path. My hope was that they could see my unorthodox journey, the things I did to stay motivated, and find relatable elements they could apply in their own development.

In the end, these students had just as much of an impact on me as my words had on them. I was so blown away by the range and depth of feedback I received.