My Science Journey

Early Curiosity

I knew early that I wanted to work with children. Around the age of ten, I asked my pediatric nurse what her title was, already curious about how people found their place in healthcare. At the same time, I was drawn to science, animals, and Earth documentaries.

 

One night, while watching National Geographic, I saw a segment on the brain—researchers showing subjects different images and measuring how the brain responded. Something clicked. I knew I wanted to study the brain, and I wanted to do it for children. That curiosity led me to pediatric neurology.

 

Finding the Right Path

When it was time to attend college in my small hometown, my advisor—who truly cared—guided me toward nursing, hoping it would place me close to the right people and environments. I quickly realized nursing wasn’t for me and spoke up.

 

We switched my major to biology, but I was still encouraged to find clinical work that would keep me inside hospitals.

 

Learning What Didn’t Fit

That path led me to becoming a CNA. The experience was challenging and, at times, traumatic, but I pushed through. I spent that period seeking shadowing opportunities and mentorship in neurology, often without response.

 

Knowing I didn’t want to remain a CNA long-term, I earned my phlebotomy license—only to find that breaking into those roles in a small town felt more like navigating cliques than building a career.

 

Behavior, Care, and Commitment

I eventually moved to a larger city in Florida and began applying for in-home healthcare roles. During that time, I encountered a pediatric hospice case that changed everything.

 

The owner of the company encouraged me to become a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). I researched the role, felt aligned, and committed.

 

I trained, relocated, and stayed flexible—because being an RBT in my hometown wasn’t sustainable. When I was accepted into Florida Atlantic University’s Neuroscience and Behavior program, it felt like I had finally entered the field I’d been working toward.

 

A Necessary Pivot

Then the pandemic hit.

 

I moved out of state to Louisiana and attempted to continue my degree online while working as an RBT. Between the time difference, relocation, and emotional demands of the work, it became clear that I needed to adjust.

 

I enrolled in a nuclear medicine program at Delgado Community College—not as a detour, but as a way to stay close to brain science, imaging, and data while building stability.

 

Burnout and Clarity

At the same time, I noticed how limited autism services were in Louisiana, often requiring travel to Texas or California. Los Angeles reached out first, and I continued my coursework online while working in California throughout the pandemic.

 

Eventually, the pace led to burnout.

 

When I could no longer work as an RBT, I transitioned into specimen collection and testing. That experience brought clarity. Working hands-on with samples, data, tools, and real research environments felt right.

 

I knew then that the lab was where I belonged.

 

Coming Home to Research

After stepping away from school for a few years and returning home to support my parents during COVID, I came across a flyer for ORCA in Vero Beach. They were hosting an art-and-science contest using real research data.

 

I entered, placed, and soon learned that ORCA also conducted labs, fieldwork, and data collection.

 

I said yes to everything—trainings, research support, lab work, field projects. That’s when everything came together.

 

Where It All Converges

I realized I didn’t just love neuroscience in theory—I loved data, labs, observation, and research in practice. ORCA’s focus on oceanic restoration also reconnected me to the curiosity I had as a child watching nature documentaries.

 

Throughout my education, I was often the only girl of color in my labs and lectures—or one of two. No one explained how to navigate hands-on lab work or use unfamiliar tools.

I learned by doing, observing, asking questions, and staying long enough to find my rhythm.

 

Today, I’m building STEM & Leaf while continuing to deepen my focus on neurobiology. It’s where everything I’ve explored—pediatrics, behavior, neuroscience, data, lab work, and access—finally converges.

 

My path wasn’t linear, but it was intentional. Every step clarified not only what I wanted to study, but how I wanted to make science more accessible for the next generation.