Stem Careers

I’m creating this ETP to address a problem that I’ve observed at Richmond High School: a sizeable amount of students don’t know about STEM careers beside the nebulous “doctor,” “nurse,” and “engineer.” With new, diverse, and specialized STEM careers growing and expanding rapidly, especially here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’m aiming to have this ETP equip my chemistry students with knowledge and socio-emotional skills to step into/navigate/succeed in the constantly evolving 21st century STEM space. In designing this ETP, I’m leveraging my experience meeting and working closely with diverse regulatory scientists at Genentech who’ve all arrived at their work in biotechnology through unique pathways.

Ultimately, I hope that through growing their awareness of STEM careers, students also grow in their awareness of self (who they are, who they want to be in the world, their advantages and disadvantages); in their understanding of how their self-awareness and beliefs are influenced by conditions in broader society (i.e. women, people of color, low-income, and LGBTQ underrepresentation in STEM); and actively developing the grit, resilience, and resourcefulness to successfully navigate their future whether or not it’ll be in STEM.