I will forever and a day think that microorganisms rule the world and I will forever admire and respect their world. My educational roots are in Microbiology and it is a big part of my views and opinions. I unknowingly began a journey in the science education of children through volunteering to be the person speaking and conducting activities on behalf of my research laboratories to the K-12 community.  While members saw this as just another "t" to cross or "i" to dot for the broader impacts section of our annual end of the year report to our grant, these outings began to mean more to me. Perhaps it was how the students mirrored the excitement and fascination that I genuinely presented to them. Their thirst for knowledge was vivacious and I began to also question how are they receiving science in their curriculum. I continued being the outreach person of my laboratory, and I began reading research articles related to education. I realized that I was missing something. I was not understanding some of the terminology and knew that I could not do more towards science education with this gap. I shared my concerns with the director of education at LSU and slightly dismissed his suggestion of enrolling in the PhD program for Science Education. I thought , no Sir, I only need to take one class. He suggested a class and from there I signed up for another and then another. 

When opportunity presented for me to take on a position as an Educational Outreach Coordinator, I stepped out on a limb. I turned my bunsen burner off and hung up my goggles and lab coat. I will not say that I wasn't sad, because I was, but I also knew there was a different science world of students and teachers waiting for me to impact. I applied to the Science Education doctoral program of  LSU and began filling the gap of what I did not know towards educational articles. My journey into science education was not the direct path and like the Robert Frost poem says, "I took the road less traveled." My road has been so sweet and bitter combined, but it has brought the most wonderful people into my life. A thousand times over, I would make the exact same decisions. 

Though my dissertation focused on the young Black girl, overall my focus is the science experience and exposure of the K-5 girl. Perhaps it is because I always see me in them. I am passionate regarding equity for women and girls in STEM and STEM careers. I can boldly make this claim because my journey introduced me to fascinating women in science and I was privileged to be alongside their trials and triumphs. I am currently an Assistant Professor in Science Education at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY.