I ultimately got into science because it challenged me. I’m one of the first scientists in my family, so I didn’t have anyone to explain the importance of STEM to me when I was a child. Growing up, I was great at fine arts subjects but struggled with the sciences and math. I loved working with my hands and researching answers to questions before asking my parents, which I think were the makings of a strong scientist now that I look back on it. Once I really sat down and read my textbook for introductory biology in college, I realized that it was extremely complex and intriguing. Understanding the mechanisms that keep cells and ultimately entire organisms alive was mind-blowing. I was also fortunate to have a patient introductory biology professor who answered my endless questions and saw my potential to be a great scientist. I realized that I wanted to pursue science after that class during my sophomore year of undergraduate, and I joined a research lab and switched my major to Biology at the end of the semester.