When did your love of STEM begin?

My love of STEM started from a very very early age. It wasn't called STEM. Obviously that's a pretty new and cool development, it's easy to remember. But I've always loved science and for me STEM is really just that want to learn and that want to know more. I've just always loved it I grew up going to the Royal Ontario Museum going to the zoo, the Science Centre always going there and learning. I loved it from the beginning but I didn't know I knew I loved it. I just knew I'm that person who likes to learn about dinosaurs and watch documentaries on my sick days instead of anything else.

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

I truly love science and I knew I wanted to pursue it when I was in grade 11. I was always told you're not smart enough you need to work harder maybe maybe you should go into the trades which is there's nothing wrong with that I would love to be a carpenter, that was one of my favorite classes woodworking. I was often discouraged when I was told that I wasn't smart enough, my “brother is the smart one” not me when we're both smart in our own right. But that didn’t stop me from loving STEM. When I was little I would go to different stamp camps and different science museums and all that. And those really improve my life because it showed me that there was learning outside the classroom and that was the biggest thing. For me in school. It was always tough because I was never seen as a cookie cutter great student. But when I was at the Science Center or at the ROM or the zoo. I was in my natural state. I was the happiest I could be asking questions to the zoo keepers figuring different things out at the ROM. And those really just so fundamental in where I am today.

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

I would tell a young girl who is considering a career in STEM. You just do it. Don't listen to what a teacher may say. Don't listen to what your peers may say. If you truly think that you love (chemistry) you're going to do well (in chemistry) and that's what it was for me. I wasn't doing well in the beginning. I got a tutor. I worked very very hard and now I'm going to study chemistry in the fall. Don't let bad experiences, grades, and learning disabilities discourage you. If you love STEM and want to pursue it in college or university, work hard, try your best, find a number of mentors to support you, and you will get there!