Meet Sandra Klemet-N'Guessan

Sandra Klemet-N’Guessan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from McGill University. She is currently a PhD student at Trent University. In her spare time, Sandra loves dancing, cooking, reading, writing, crafts, outdoor sports, making videos, and taking care of her plants.

When did your love of STEM begin?

Early on! As a kid, I would watch Dexter on Cartoon Network and imagine myself being a cool scientist in a lab making "new colourful mixtures". It is when I watched a documentary on climate change that I realized I wanted to work to protecting the environment. I was so mad that the adults had damaged our planet, I wanted to do something to save it!

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

Engaging in critical thinking a lot.

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

Be curious: cultivate an open mind, don’t hold too tight to your opinions or beliefs, be open to hear a different perspective.
Keep your options open: experience (it is okay not to know what you want to do) – skills are transferable.
Cultivate self-compassion and self-care: try to be your biggest champion instead of your biggest critic, acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, and take care of yourself as a whole individual - your work does not have to be your entire life. Have your own personal definition of success: try to go beyond our society's standards regarding what success "should" look like; define it yourself for yourself!