Behind my grandmother’s house were some woods, and between the trees there was a winding path to a small clearing. My cousin would pretend there were fairies and elves hidden in the leaves, while I tried to scrape the bark off the trees and analyze their DNA. Science was my gateway to understanding the world. Each time I learned something, it solved another puzzle piece, revealing additional layers of unanswered questions. As each question was revealed, I grew even more curious to solve it. Unfortunately, I realized that the entire puzzle would never be finished, as each solution only surfaced more problems underneath. Hurt but not defeated, I found another way to satisfy my curiosity. I joined a volunteer organization called STEM Academy, where we taught elementary school-aged children science experiments to introduce them to principles in chemistry, biology, and physics. This enabled me to pass on my knowledge to other kids who were also curious about science. I fell in love with this volunteer program and looked forward to designing and showcasing different experiments. We made photosensitive paper art, built tinfoil boats, experimented with the browning process of apples, and so much more. This is where I discovered my true passion and path in science: education. I could help other kids who, like me, were trying to solve the puzzle. At least, that is what I had thought when I began this work. In fact, during my three years of volunteering, I have unlocked the greatest puzzle piece so far. There were secret hidden benefits to this work that extended far beyond STEM-happy kids like me. My career goal is to help teach science to kids, either in the classroom or through other educational opportunities. When I began volunteering, I saw science education as a method to train future scientists and give them the starting knowledge to further expand our understanding of the world. However, not every student will become a scientist, or even have the strong curiosity to learn more about the world. Many kids, like my cousin, had an interest in other topics. This stumped me, as I couldn’t understand why we were even teaching science to everyone if so few used it in their careers. However, I eventually discovered why science education is so important. Teaching science has benefits for all students, regardless of their eventual career. The curiosity that drove me and other students did not just explain science principles, but also taught us how to make hypotheses, test our guesses, and learn through discoveries. In those monthly STEM sessions, the students were asked to observe what they saw and make assumptions based on those observations. By routinely doing this, I saw students learning how to use this method to solve any, not just science-related, problem. This is when it clicked. Science is not the only field that is like a puzzle; virtually all jobs require some form of observation, hypothesizing, testing, and discovery. Therefore, every student was gaining skills useful for their future lives by simply learning science, regardless of whether they continued in the field or not. I eventually found that this is the impact I want to make in my career. I want to help the next generation not just explore their curiosities in STEM, but also learn the skills required to solve problems and gain knowledge from them. I plan to achieve this by teaching science education. This will enable all students to become more equipped to tackle life’s challenges, ultimately creating a better future for our world, where people are better equipped to face the problems ahead.