As the child of a Colombian immigrant and a Cuban refugee, I was raised on the basis that almost anything could be accomplished if the effort, passion, and persistence was there. My parents have always stressed the power of education and helping those who are in need. They have made it a point to show my sister and I that with hard work, any dream is possible, and I strive to pass this message on to all future mentees whose paths I encounter.
I believe diversity is a key factor in the expansion and success of any growing field, even more so in the field of science. The growth of scientific studies relies on the contribution of creative and diverse ideas. I believe it is imperative for organizations, institutions, and mentors, to consider the importance of seeking out persons from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. I have often been one of few, and even the only, person in the room sharing my cultural and diverse perspectives. I have previously had people doubt my abilities because seeing a queer Hispanic woman succeed in the field of physics isn’t something they were used to seeing. But it was from these experiences early on that I learned how to be my biggest motivator and be the change that I hope to see in the field one day. These experiences have fueled my motivation to volunteer with organizations like Adopt a Physicist, Women and Mathematics Mentorship Program, and the Society of Physics Students (SPS) Alumni Engagement Program. I hope that by having younger students see people like myself thrive in a scientific world, they will not fear belonging, and will not fear that their backgrounds or identities will limit their ability to succeed in this field.
I have enjoyed regularly volunteering with organizations like Adopt a Physicist in which I serve as a mentor to high school physics classrooms online by answering their questions pertaining to the field of physics and introducing them to the neat paths one can explore in physics. I am often recruited by classrooms in underserved areas, as well as classrooms with primarily Hispanic populations. Prior to my move to Blacksburg, I was involved in the Women and Mathematics Mentorship Program which is a program in which we mentor young women and encourage them to join the fields of mathematics and science by showcasing how women like myself enjoy being a part of the STEM field. I have always enjoyed being able to give back to my community. The feeling of being able to know that you have made even the slightest positive impact in someone's life is one of the most rewarding feelings out there. Whether that impact comes from helping someone who is struggling, or even just guiding young students to a path that they may have never previously thought was possible, I find all of these experiences fulfilling and plan to continue volunteering with these organizations in the future.
In addition to my efforts in promoting the recruitment of rising students from diverse backgrounds to the STEM fields, I feel that it is equally as important to create safe and inclusive environments for my peers and colleagues in professional settings. It is important for one to understand that oftentimes, minority communities are subject to struggles that peers, colleagues, and mentors, though even having best interests at heart, cannot fully appreciate without a genuine sense of these experiences unique to the given population. I have recently joined the board of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Hispanic and Latin-X Subcommittee, a subgroup of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion board for our professional organization. Through this opportunity, I am charged with creating safe spaces for students and professional Hispanic and Latin-X persons through mentorship, networking, outreach, and bringing up membership concerns to the greater medical physics community. Additionally, I serve on the executive board of the Queer Graduate Professionals and Allies organization on campus to provide a similar sense of community and resources. From these opportunities, not only have I been able to find resources to support myself, but I have been able to grow and learn new strategies to provide positive spaces for minority populations.
During my time at Virginia Tech, I have had the great benefit of joining a diverse lab containing a healthy balance of women and men, as well as Hispanic persons including my advisor Dr. Davalos. My first two years in the lab have further solidified my mindset on the importance of committing to a diverse work environment where everyone feels seen and valued for their different perspectives. I hope that as I continue to grow in my academic career, I can help contribute to safe mentoring spaces and push to create a diverse workplace to future students who I will hopefully one day have the pleasure of mentoring.
I believe diversity is a key factor in the expansion and success of any growing field, even more so in the field of science. The growth of scientific studies relies on the contribution of creative and diverse ideas. I believe it is imperative for organizations, institutions, and mentors, to consider the importance of seeking out persons from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. I have often been one of few, and even the only, person in the room sharing my cultural and diverse perspectives. I have previously had people doubt my abilities because seeing a queer Hispanic woman succeed in the field of physics isn’t something they were used to seeing. But it was from these experiences early on that I learned how to be my biggest motivator and be the change that I hope to see in the field one day. These experiences have fueled my motivation to volunteer with organizations like Adopt a Physicist, Women and Mathematics Mentorship Program, and the Society of Physics Students (SPS) Alumni Engagement Program. I hope that by having younger students see people like myself thrive in a scientific world, they will not fear belonging, and will not fear that their backgrounds or identities will limit their ability to succeed in this field.
I have enjoyed regularly volunteering with organizations like Adopt a Physicist in which I serve as a mentor to high school physics classrooms online by answering their questions pertaining to the field of physics and introducing them to the neat paths one can explore in physics. I am often recruited by classrooms in underserved areas, as well as classrooms with primarily Hispanic populations. Prior to my move to Blacksburg, I was involved in the Women and Mathematics Mentorship Program which is a program in which we mentor young women and encourage them to join the fields of mathematics and science by showcasing how women like myself enjoy being a part of the STEM field. I have always enjoyed being able to give back to my community. The feeling of being able to know that you have made even the slightest positive impact in someone's life is one of the most rewarding feelings out there. Whether that impact comes from helping someone who is struggling, or even just guiding young students to a path that they may have never previously thought was possible, I find all of these experiences fulfilling and plan to continue volunteering with these organizations in the future.
In addition to my efforts in promoting the recruitment of rising students from diverse backgrounds to the STEM fields, I feel that it is equally as important to create safe and inclusive environments for my peers and colleagues in professional settings. It is important for one to understand that oftentimes, minority communities are subject to struggles that peers, colleagues, and mentors, though even having best interests at heart, cannot fully appreciate without a genuine sense of these experiences unique to the given population. I have recently joined the board of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Hispanic and Latin-X Subcommittee, a subgroup of the Equality Diversity and Inclusion board for our professional organization. Through this opportunity, I am charged with creating safe spaces for students and professional Hispanic and Latin-X persons through mentorship, networking, outreach, and bringing up membership concerns to the greater medical physics community. Additionally, I serve on the executive board of the Queer Graduate Professionals and Allies organization on campus to provide a similar sense of community and resources. From these opportunities, not only have I been able to find resources to support myself, but I have been able to grow and learn new strategies to provide positive spaces for minority populations.
During my time at Virginia Tech, I have had the great benefit of joining a diverse lab containing a healthy balance of women and men, as well as Hispanic persons including my advisor Dr. Davalos. My first two years in the lab have further solidified my mindset on the importance of committing to a diverse work environment where everyone feels seen and valued for their different perspectives. I hope that as I continue to grow in my academic career, I can help contribute to safe mentoring spaces and push to create a diverse workplace to future students who I will hopefully one day have the pleasure of mentoring.