Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a scientist.
I was fascinated by the natural world which gave me the drive to
go out and discover. My interests have evolved and changed to
encompass all of biology, but it was not until high school that it
finally clicked for me. There I realized I could accomplish my
dream of becoming a scientist by being a professor. During high
school, I was deeply motivated by two teachers, Misty Black and
Tim Chambers. These were the first teachers I had that
demonstrated that a class is more than a teacher lecturing. They
kept the learning environment very dynamic and engaging by
incorporating multiple smaller class projects, this way their
students remain active and engaged with the class. I actively
include many of their teaching styles into my current Graduate
Teaching Assistantship. The bond I created with these educators
helped to solidify my ambitions to become a professor. I envision
myself inspiring future generations the way my teachers have
inspired me.