The odds are stacked against you when you grow up in a community where less than 25% of residents graduate with a college degree ... Good thing I was an optimist and passionate about science!

As a young Hispanic girl in El Monte, California, I had few women scientists to look up to.  My community was predominantly Hispanic and less than 25% of residents had a college degree.  Luckily, I had parents that encouraged me to explore science because of my very inquisitive interest in earthquakes.  My grandfather had been a laborer on several dams in the southwest so he shared with me what he had learned about soil and rocks. 

When I realized there was an opportunity to study geology as a career, I was hooked!  I attended conferences at Cal Tech by the age of 13 and met the handful of female geologists that were on the news after each earthquake.  They showed me it was possible to be a scientist and a woman.  I remember seeing one female geologist on the news at 1:00 am in the morning about 8 months pregnant.  That experience convinced me that there was little that could hold me back. 

With supportive parents and teachers, I attended a university and received my degree in geology.  I went on to work with several engineering firms.  No matter how much I appreciated the natural process of the Earth, it was becoming increasingly important to me to be a part of the solutions to environmental degradation.  I am now a environmental specialist with the City of Los Angeles and I run a $50 million dollar program that provides recycling services to residences in the City.  So this May ... as I receive my master's degree in Environmental Science,  I will think about all the people who helped me reach this point. Most importantly, I hope to be an inspiration and supporter of other young women (specifically minorities) that are interested in entering a career in science.

So never let anyone tell you that science isn't for women! Keep working on what makes you happy and fulfilled.  If science is as special to you as it is to me, you are bound to go far.

TrackBack URI for this entry

3 Comments

Show/Hide comments

Shirley March 13, 2009 141.155.15.214	You are a great role model. Your story is so inspirational. I hope many, many girls, not only Latinas, read it.
Belkis March 26, 2009 173.70.224.95	I really enjoyed your story. As a Latin girl myself, I understand it is a little hard to rise above the rest. Congrads!
miraclbab36 August 02, 2010 67.186.121.89	wow your post was very inspiring to me. I really needed to read this today. Thank you!

Show/Hide comment form