How one early career experience transformed my career path
Early career experiences can transform your life. I had the good fortune to participate in such an experience the summer after high school, when I was selected as one of two Washington State delegates to the North American Youth Science Leadership Institute.
That science camp brought me to Washington, DC for the first time. It was the first time I saw the Washington Monument and wandered through the Smithsonian museums. Those two weeks introduced me to science careers I hadn't known existed. But even more impactful were the friendships I forged with delegates from around North America. The perspectives of these new friends from Canada and Mexico challenged me and my worldview.
I was lucky to meet people early in my career who permanently shifted how I see the world and think about public policy. More than 20 years later, this science camp's alumni network is thriving. Through the network’s recurring postcard exchange, I have connected with alumni spanning many states and decades.
When I saw that the camp is accepting applications for its next cohort, I dug up these scrapbook pages and reflected on how that first trip to Washington, DC set me on the path to formulating science policy for the White House. If you know a high school science student seeking a transformative summer experience, send them the link below. It just might change their life, too.