Growing up, I was obsessed with space. I would spend my summers in the city library reading books about planets and neutron stars, learning about things called quarks and hadrons while trying to wrap my mind around the enormity of the universe. I have always been a curious person, often driving my parents to the brink of insanity with my constant questions. And it was this curiosity that prompted my parents to sign me up for my first robotics class in elementary school. Lego robots powered by servo motors are not considered the epitome of advanced machinery, but they were to me at the time. In middle school, I joined my school’s robotics team, competing at robotics competitions at UC Davis and meeting professors from Stanford University. Tinkering with Arduinos and Raspberry Pis, I navigated the world of circuitry and learned the language of C++. My childhood interest in outer space coupled with these experiences sparked my curiosity in space exploration, computer science, and engineering, inspiring my pursuit of a career in aerospace engineering.
It is because of this that I have heavily involved myself with advocacy for STEM education and opportunities in my community. Women are a minority in STEM careers, especially engineering, and I use my position as Vice President of Women in STEM—a club that educates women at my high school about careers in STEM—to advocate for female interest in engineering. Additionally, my work for my school district’s Strategic Visioning Guiding Coalition is centered around adapting education to incorporate STEM classes and extracurriculars into schools across the county.
In the fall, I will begin my time as an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley as an aerospace engineering major, with the intention of going to graduate school to earn either a master’s degree or a Ph.D in aerospace engineering. I plan to use my curiosity and drive to explore the many aerospace opportunities the Bay Area provides, allowing me to immerse myself in space exploration and enterprise. In this, I plan to participate in research and become an aerospace engineer with NASA, working on developing materials and machinery that would help facilitate humanity’s drive for answers, helping to explore the many mysteries of the universe. I am particularly interested in the presence of life outside of Earth and want to use my knowledge to contribute to the development of observational spacecraft to search for signs of organic material in space.
I believe that my experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field will bring new perspectives to projects, potentially leading to innovative solutions to challenges that will arise. Additionally, I want to inspire other women to pursue a career they may find daunting. I want to continue what I started in high school during my time at UC Berkeley and beyond, allowing for more female representation in STEM fields.
William Briggs’ work in the aeronautical engineering field alone is commendable, but his support of the female pursuit of the same field is something I look up to. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to represent William Briggs’ efforts in advocating for women in STEM while also being able to achieve my own dreams of exploring space and all it has to offer.
I am a lifelong puzzle fanatic. Growing up, I was captivated by jigsaw puzzles and brain teasers, but it wasn't until I took my first chemistry class in high school that I realized my love for puzzles could translate to a career in science. From balancing chemical equations to unraveling the mysteries of molecular structures, I found that chemistry brought a level of complexity and excitement to my life that I had never experienced before. I was hooked. The challenge of piecing together seemingly disparate components to create something entirely new was what truly drew me to the field of chemistry. The world of molecules and their interactions fascinates me, as does the potential that advancements in chemistry hold for human health and the environment.
As a minority woman pursuing a STEM degree, I am acutely aware of the gender and racial disparity, pay gap, and bias in the field. Refusing to let these obstacles hinder my passion and ambition, I am actively working to increase female representation in STEM and advocate for underrepresented groups. I founded a Girls in STEM club to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM, and I created a Science Review club at my university to make science more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
I believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial for scientific progress and innovation, and I am committed to applying my skills and knowledge to better society. As a future organic chemist, my goal is to develop novel synthetic strategies for obtaining natural product compounds that can be used as drugs or drug leads. Natural products have been a valuable source of inspiration for medicinal chemists, but their isolation and extraction from natural sources can be time-consuming, expensive, and environmentally harmful. I am excited about the potential of organic synthesis to create complex natural product scaffolds more efficiently and sustainably, using renewable starting materials and greener reaction conditions. I am drawn to green chemistry and its potential to create more sustainable solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, especially in light of the climate crisis.
During my undergraduate studies, I have had the privilege of immersing myself in various research projects focused on organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Working alongside my professors and peers, I was inspired by their unwavering passion for scientific inquiry and their relentless pursuit of discovery. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to pursuing a Ph.D. and becoming a chemistry professor at a research university, where I can impart my knowledge and experience to future generations of scientists, igniting their curiosity and equipping them with the skills needed to contribute to the field.
I am inspired by William Griggs and his commitment to promoting education and research in science and math, as well as his dedication to advancing knowledge and promoting diversity and inclusivity in STEM. Receiving the William Griggs Memorial Scholarship for Science and Math would not only be a great honor and recognition of my academic achievements but also a reminder of the importance of using my skills and knowledge to better society, just as William Griggs did during his lifetime. The scholarship would provide me with the financial support necessary to continue my education and research in organic chemistry while also allowing me to expand my outreach efforts and inspire more young girls and underrepresented groups to pursue their dreams in STEM.
