I can’t believe my time at Ecovative has come to an end!! It seemed like just yesterday since I first stepped foot and met my mentor. Through this STEM program, I have learned soooo very much both junior year and senior year about the science field and as I go into college, I feel much more prepared and ready to tackle my science labs than ever. This experience that I have received has helped me grow mentally and physically as an aspiring science major. There were times where I did not understand a single thing my mentor would tell me to do and I felt embarrassed and incompetent, but through all this, I was able to escape my fear of asking what I consider "stupid" (but not in reality) clarifying questions to my mentor, professor, teacher, etc. Both Courtney Hart and Christina were the best mentors I could have ever asked for as they have showed me my hidden capabilities in science! As I go to college, I hope that I will be able to find as great of internships as I was fortunate to have been offered this year and the last year at Emma. In addition, I am also grateful for the experience of being able to talk and share my work with my teachers (at the faculty meeting and at the end-of-the-year presentation). It was a more nerve-wrecking experience than presenting in front of my peers/under-classmates, but again, through it all, I have conquered one more fear and I actually found that I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others.
All in all, I am extremely grateful for having been given the opportunity to explore my passion in the science field and helping me figure out what I want to do with my life after Emma academically! But most of all, I am very grateful for the STEM internship program as it has given me the confidence to pursue the science field despite the difficulties I have had throughout my high=school life academically with my science classes!
