Throughout my journey, academia and scholarship have been a point of comfort and hope for me, and universities became a point of focus, community, and success. Very early on, my drive, intellect, and unique background were noticed and cultivated by great mentors who allowed my interest in biology to grow and mature. A high school teacher advocated for me to join my high school's biomedical and environmental advancement magnet program, even while I was still taking ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. That mentor affirmed my potential and set my trajectory in motion. By the time I graduated high school, I had grown so much academically that I was tutoring other ESOL students who had gaps in science and math.
As an immigrant, the expectation of success was — and still is — imperative, though finding guidance in translating my interest in biology into something impactful was a challenge. In college, after exploring STEM academically, my genetics professor, together with the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS)-Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program, exposed me to biomedical research. Eleven years later, I've attended a dozen research conferences, acquired two years of teaching experience, obtained a master's degree in biological sciences, gained research experience in cellular, molecular, and developmental biology and neuroscience, and begun publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers — becoming, in short, a bona-fide "lab rat" obsessed with research and with developing better ways to educate other immigrants and underrepresented communities.
I consider myself fortunate to have found the right mentorship at the right academic moments. Unfortunately, appropriate mentorship is hard to find, particularly for first-generation American students from minority backgrounds who are also assimilating to a new culture and academic system. My path is an exception, not the rule, which is exactly why the need for better guidance and mentorship in STEM — especially for first-generation Americans — matters. If you're looking for a mentor, I'd suggest using LinkedIn and social media as tools, and not being afraid to reach out to people who look like you, particularly those already in the field you want to enter. I've mentored, coached, and taught students who needed to see themselves represented in their field, and several of my mentees have gone on to build careers of their own in STEM.
Higher education in STEM effectively promotes interdisciplinary training and multi-disciplinary problem-solving. Even so, there remains a lack of academic mentorship for minorities like myself. In my own case, I've maintained a strong mentoring support system since undergrad — over a decade — including mentors from my early graduate career who still nourish my intellectual and personal growth today. Graduate school is lengthy and extremely challenging; if you find good mentors, hold onto them.
Think of a mentor as an investor: they invest time, resources, and sometimes even finances in making sure you succeed. A good mentor helps you in ways you didn't know you needed support, and becomes your advocate at critical points in your academic journey. I currently have four mentors who remain an active part of my academic life.
I did not make this journey alone, and you shouldn't have to either. I am a fourth-year Biomedical Science PhD candidate at Florida State University. As I near the end of graduate school, my work in mentorship, teaching, and coaching continues, and I still want to help educate and mentor first-generation American minority students by sharing my story and experiences.
Find a mentor who believes in you — it will make a real difference in your academic journey.