When did your love of STEM begin?

During my final year of high school, I embarked on my first research placement at Toronto’s primary institution for inner-city health, where I interacted with some of the city's most vulnerable populations and witnessed how disease presents differently based on demographics. I saw medicine not only as the forefront of treating patients, but as a way to be an advocate for these patients by addressing healthcare inequalities to enhance the delivery of care.
My mother has, and will always be, my role model growing up. She has the most tenacious and resilient character and is a natural born leader. While she did not specifically push me in the direction of a STEM career, she has given me the skills to navigate through this field while overcoming the inherent challenges that come with it. Professionally, my mentors were critical in ensuring my success in STEM subjects and helping to reaffirm a career in medicine. I have personally witnessed the power of mentorship and the effect encouragement, guidance, and support from one individual can have on altering your own self-belief and motivation.

What did you love most about study in your field of STEM?

I love STEM because it is specialized, yet also all-encompassing in that there are so many intersections and overlaps with Liberal Arts and Business. STEM subjects share so many aspects with literature and business management, while providing the skills and experience necessary to succeed in an ever-changing tech-driven and increasingly knowledge-intensive workforce. I also love the flexibility that STEM has provided in terms of pursuing my passions that once seemed so disconnected from each other. I have always been interested in entrepreneurship and advocacy, both which I have discovered through studying science.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in STEM?

My message is to stay true to yourself and not to let anyone tell you that you are not capable of achieving your dreams - no matter how farfetched or unrealistic they may seem. Get involved early, try as many new things as you can, ask tons of questions, and find friends and mentors who will uplift and motivate you. STEM can be overwhelming and discouraging, and oftentimes it is easy to feel lost or scared of the unknown. Understand that rejection is NOT a reflection of your capabilities or self-worth, it only serves as motivation to prove to everyone that you can. The one quote I constantly remind myself of is: “It’s not how many times you get rejected or you fall down or you’re beaten up. It’s about how many times you stand up and are brave and keep on going.”