My (long) journey to science
After receiving discouraging advice from my guidance counselor in high school, I decided not to pursue Entomology as an undergraduate degree. Looking back I can see that, although I did struggle with math and science there was no reason I couldn’t have caught up.
However, I decided to go to college for my other interests, creative writing and English Literature. While I immensely enjoy writing and reading to this day, I knew by the time I had graduated that entomology was never going to leave my mind. I spent the next seven years volunteering in collections, working for a wildlife non-profit, and taking any opportunity to gain skills in entomology and science, all while working full-time.
I am lucky that my hard work was seen by others who supported me along the way, but I also know how nerve-wracking and alienating it can feel to know you have not followed the ‘traditional’ path and worry that it means you aren’t as equipped as your peers.
Does this sound like you too?
I am very interested in creating a community of scientific researchers who came to science second to their initial pursuits, hence SecondSTEM! I am in the very beginning stages of figuring out what this would look like, whether it would be a purely social group and a place to lift each other up, or if elements of mentorship and outreach could be incorporated.