Anonymous (She/her/hers/they/them), 29, Pennsylvania

“Her enthusiasm for her work and math in general made me fall in love with math research as she patiently showed me the ropes and pitfalls of an academic life.”

Dakota (she/her/hers), 19, Mississippi

“STEM is crucial to me because it teaches society critical thinking skills and instills a passion for innovation.”

Jacob, 19, Texas

“I was intimidated and found myself questioning whether or not this lab was the right place for me; I told myself that I would continue to focus on the science aspect and pick up the math part when it was necessary.”

Araha (she/her/hers), 17, Illinois

“And that reminded me that even as the only girl in my class, I wasn’t truly alone.”

Ariana (she/her/hers), 15, California

“This extra boost of knowledge gave me the confidence to compete on an all-girls team.”

Gabrian (he/him/his), 18, North Carolina

“He worked so well with us and made us feel so valued, while also having so much fun with engineering and design.”

Ashley (she/her/hers), 22, New York

“I saw the power that math had to bring me closer to my peers, and relate to people with backgrounds far different from my own.”

Zahria (she/her/hers), 19, Missouri

“I just loved the idea of making observations, recording data, putting on my little lab coat and goggles.”

Carolina (she/her/hers), 18, Texas

“I started believing in my abilities regarding science and math thanks to their daily support and impulse.”

Madison (she/her/hers), 20, Maine

“The thought of being able to inspire and encourage students is what drives me.”

Anonymous (he/him/his), 23, New York

“Her energy, motivation, and her love for math basically rubbed off on me to love math as well.”

Paige (she/her/hers), 16, Pennsylvania

“As I entered into the robotics and programming type of work, I thought I was not prepared or even not good enough for some of the challenges against me, but I thankfully had amazing mentors that guided me and helped me through it all.”