Growing up, I remember being asked to smile more, and I remember that question always throwing me for a loop. Why do I need to pretend to be enthusiastic all the time? The older I got, the more it became clear to me that as a more introspective personality, I did not fit the picture of how girls were allegedly supposed to behave. In order to empower women, society needs to let go of these stereotypes of what it means to be feminine and womanly. But more importantly, we need to build the infrastructure to allow women to make their way effectively in society. This means treating women as equals in the workplace, encouraging girls to be involved in STEM fields from a young age, and changing the narrative of sexual accountability. Barring the undeniable issue of pay gaps between men and women in the workplace, one important issue that needs to be addressed is child care. The unspoken agreement is that direct family care is simply a woman's job. This is, of course, unequivocally not the case. Hence, one way workplaces could empower women is by supplementing maternity leave with paternal leave, allowing both men and women to equally share in taking care of children in their first months of life. This would alleviate the problem of women losing their positions or being undermined when they go on leave as it becomes normative for families to take leave together or separately when help is needed. Another way society can effectively empower women is by getting them engaged in STEM fields at an early age, as STEM is often stereotyped as manly. STEM programs should encourage women from a young age to be excited and interested in STEM topics. This could be done by reaching out early on to middle and elementary school girls to involve them in STEM camps funded by tech corporations, universities, or research centers. This would be an invaluable way to empower young women so that they realize that they can pursue these subjects too--they are not just reserved to boys or somehow make them unfeminine. Finally, society needs to stop treating allegations of rape and abuse presented by women against men as their fault. Instead of blaming women for dressing wrong and inviting rape, the rhetoric should be that those who perpetuate the offense change their behavior. Women should not have to take responsibility for the actions of selfish men by carrying self-defense weapons, dressing "modestly", and avoiding going out at night, although that is the unfortunate reality. Society should focus on teaching young men how to treat people with respect, so that young women are not required to be taught how to survive and avoid unwanted attention. It is never the fault of "how someone is dressed" or looks and that rhetoric needs to stop.

2020 made me realize the reality of mass hysteria and how easy it is to divide countries and citizens. It struck me with the reality of addiction, as many people turned to alcohol to cope with being stuck inside. And it made me realize the need for self-efficacy as so many people became lost and depressed without the structure outside pressures put on them. It made me realize how important it is to keep yourself and your goals internally clear and constant instead of being open to the vagaries of the environment. But 2020 also showed the good side of humanity. Half the world was panicking, the other half were trying their best to fight back and find solutions. There was a record voter turnout, showing that people took the state of the country seriously and were willing to consider others even when their own lives were upset. Scientists persisted in creating vaccines at top speed to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of healthcare workers and public figures disseminated information so that no one was left in the dark. Some were price-gouging and hoarding materials, but others donated and raised money for equipment to support the sick. Teachers and schools switched to Zoom so that education could continue to be pursued. Nothing about 2020 was ideal or perfect, and no new solution was proposed without multiple hiccoughs, but it clarified my political views and made me confident in sticking to my own opinions. It made me realize how many things I take for granted and how connected we are to other people across the globe. None of us are isolated systems; our actions affect others in ways we might not predict. I take into 2021 the understanding that I am an actor in the world and that we all need to collaborate and communicate to ensure a better future.

March 12th 2020 I was excited to finish my senior year in California. March 14th I was on a plane to the East Coast. I remember the fear and unrealness as I rushed through security in a disposable mask, uncertain when I would ever see my friends again. I had two choices: let depression and anxiety control me or fight it. I had to complete classes in my moldy basement with spotty rural internet, but I finished them and defended my undergrad thesis. I worked through the summer remotely to save money. When that job ended, I bought my first car and used it to drive to job interviews. During my first semester of grad school, I found a part-time job. I worked every day I did not have class, but the joy I got out of these classes made the work worth it, and I realized how much I loved pursuing science. The pandemic gave me confidence in my ability to overcome and respond to hardships and my future path as a research scientist. The whole world was falling apart and I can look back over the last year knowing that I achieved what I wanted.