I am incredibly thankful for the guidance I have gotten from one particularly important professor that I had, and so when I had the opportunity to work beside her as a mentor for middle school and high school girls, getting them interested in and showing them that science and engineering are not just meant for boys, I jumped on the opportunity.
Before my university experience started no one ever demonstrated to me the amazing things being done by women in the engineering and science fields, and I didn't even know that chemical engineering existed. Having the opportunity to show girls coming from situations much like mine had been and allowing them to see early on what amazing things they have the ability of getting involved in was a great treat to me, because knowing that the girls I spent the day with were less ignorant than I was at their age gave me the feeling that I was involved in something necessary and long overdue.
I can't take credit for much more than sharing my experiences and letting girls know that what they wish to do they can succeed at. It was surprising to me that even at the middle school level some of the girls were already concerned that they wouldn't be able to pay for college. It felt important letting them know that working hard in school now, as they all had time to make sure they were plenty qualified, could potentially grant them scholarships equal to working 40 hours a week while in school.
My professor and her colleges, an amazing group of women who lead the discussion panel and answered all questions the girls had concerning just about anything, were the ones that made the day for the girls there. I was quite surprised when one of the professional women at the panel table would direct one of the girls' questions at me, but I would answer with my own experiences. I was told later on that the panelists were proud that I could handle the questions passed to me, as I was the one that was closer to the girls' age and proof that the goals the girls were setting for themselves could be achieved.
I am beyond thankful for the experience of working as a guide and mentor to all the girls involved in the conference, as it has showed me that even though the work I am doing now seems hard and difficult and never ending, the work I had to do to make it to the point I am at now felt the same, and I have made it this far. The guidance of amazing women that went through the same ordeals before me allows me to know that I can make it through, and much of my success wouldn't be without their wisdom. I only hope that through my hard work, someone else can see that they too can make it through.

. . .




