Throughout my scientific career (and throughout my life, in general), I have had the great fortune to have many amazing mentors. I have also had a wealth of opportunities to participate in programs that aim to improve inclusion of underrepresented minority students in the life sciences, including: The Undergraduate Science Institute, The Students as Leaders in Science Program, The Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities and The McNair Scholars Program. I strongly believe that the mentoring I received from these programs was key to helping me prepare for and succeed in a research career.
These mentors and programs also inspired me to make mentoring a central component of my career, regardless of what path that career might take. Luckily for me, I have landed on a path that allows me to be a mentor first. The opportunities I’ve had to teach and mentor students and researchers with diverse backgrounds, abilities and personalities has been the most rewarding aspect of my career so far. In return, my mentees have helped shape my research approaches and have facilitated successes in my science. I mentor because I enjoy it, because it’s important, and because it improves all aspects of my career.
These mentors and programs also inspired me to make mentoring a central component of my career, regardless of what path that career might take. Luckily for me, I have landed on a path that allows me to be a mentor first. The opportunities I’ve had to teach and mentor students and researchers with diverse backgrounds, abilities and personalities has been the most rewarding aspect of my career so far. In return, my mentees have helped shape my research approaches and have facilitated successes in my science. I mentor because I enjoy it, because it’s important, and because it improves all aspects of my career.