My Pathway to Success by Janeil

My Pathway to Success by Janeil - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received was from my mentor, Selena Jackson-Guines, who told me that “a closed mouth does not get fed.” It was a simple yet powerful statement that has had a significant impact on my life. As a reserved person, I tend to hold back my thoughts and ideas, which can prevent me from seizing opportunities. Mrs. Guines’s advice reminded me that to achieve my goals, I needed to speak up and act. I realized that waiting for things to happen on their own was not going to work and that I needed to be proactive and assertive in pursuing my aspirations. I took Mrs. Guines’s advice to heart, and since then, I have been much more confident in expressing myself and going after what I want. Her advice has further fueled my passion for introducing women to STEM fields. Since STEM is a male-dominated industry the perspectives of research and ideas are limited. My goal is to help bring diversity to this field, not only in perspectives but also in the workforce. With more women in STEM careers, there will be more role models for young girls to look up to. I want to inspire young girls to take an interest in STEM careers and pursue their passions. Hence, I joined the Computer Science Honor Society, during my senior year of high school. In this club, members would volunteer at middle and elementary schools to encourage and incite kids about STEM. Being one of two girls in the club, I like to believe that I served as someone the girls could relate to as STEM is often associated with men. In my experience, I was never exposed to or interested in a STEM-related career until high school because I always associated those careers with men. However, after completing the cybersecurity pathway at my high school, I was able to realize my interest in the field. Hence why it is important to have representation in these careers. Ultimately, I hope that during my time as a volunteer, I contributed to sparking young girls' curiosity and cultivating their love for STEM by interacting with them at the elementary and middle school levels. In the future, I hope to show girls the glories of science, technology, engineering, and math by running educational outreach programs, workshops, and interactive sessions. I believe this will encourage students to practice creativity and critical thinking via experiments and projects, fostering their interest and potential in these areas.

Furthermore, I aim to use my degree to inspire other women to pursue careers in STEM disciplines and have a good impact on my community. We can not only broaden the field of knowledge by encouraging women to study and succeed in these fields, but also pave the path for generations of empowered women to come. I want to become a role model for young females by leveraging my degree to become one, encouraging them to follow their passions without fear. I want to demonstrate to students that they can succeed in the field of STEM by sharing my experiences, challenges, and victories. Kennesaw State University provides a space for me to accomplish this.

Overall, I aim to inspire more girls to pursue STEM fields and influence their lives and the world. In addition, I have learned to speak up and ask for what I need, whether it is in my personal or professional life. Moreover, I have realized that by being more vocal, I have gained more respect and opportunities from others. It has opened a whole new world of experiences for me, and I am grateful for Mrs. Guines’s words of wisdom. To sum up, the best advice I have ever received has been to speak up and act. Thanks to Mrs. Guines' guidance, I have been able to apply this advice in my life and see the positive results it has brought. I believe that this simple advice can benefit anyone who is looking to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.