I expected that if someone influenced my decision to pursue a technical field, it would be a teacher I had known for years or a mentor who had closely guided me. Instead, one of the most impactful people in my journey is someone I had never even met when she first said yes to me: Dr. Wu.
At the time, I had an idea but no experience. I had independently designed a research project. The purpose of the project was to determine whether euploid cell lines grow faster than trisomy 21 cell lines. However, I lacked access to a lab, training on equipment, and any real sense of how professional research actually worked. Reaching out to a cell biology expert felt like a long shot. I expected either no response or a polite rejection.
Instead, Dr. Wu agreed to meet with me. more than that, she offered to teach me how to use lab equipment and allowed me to conduct my project in her lab. What makes this especially unexpected is that she made this decision without knowing me personally or having any reason to invest her time in a beginner. Her willingness to take that chance transformed what had been a purely theoretical interest into something tangible.
One specific moment stands out. During our early conversations, I began explaining my project idea, expecting it to be dismissed as overly ambitious or unrealistic. Instead, she listened carefully and then started asking questions, not to challenge whether I was capable, but to help me refine my thinking. She pointed out variables I had not considered, such as how differences in cell line conditions could affect growth rates, and guided me towards thinking about controls and measurement methods. For the first time, I wasn't just someone interested in science; I was being treated like someone capable of doing it.
The interaction fundamentally changed how I saw myself. Before, STEM felt like something I admired from a distance. Afterward, it became something I could actively participate in. Dr. Wu didn't simply provide resources, she modeled what it means to approach problems with curiosity, rigor, and openness. She showed me that real science is not about having perfect ideas from the start, but about asking better questions and being willing to learn.
Her influence was unexpected not only because we had never met, but because it came at a moment when I was still unsure of my place in a technical field. By saying yes, she validated both my initiative and potential. That validation gave me the confidence to move forward, take risks, and pursue research more seriously.
Ultimately, Dr. Wu's impact goes beyond this single project. She has shown me the kind of scientist I aspire to become, someone who not only pursues knowledge, but also created opportunities for others to begin their own journeys. Her willingness to support a stranger with an idea has shaped my decision to pursue a technical field, and it continues to show how I think about mentorship, collaboration, and the purpose of science itself.