Job Preparation

I took all the science I could in school. But, because I did not have the advantage of going to schools with strong science programs, I motivated myself to go to the library by inventing projects. Books were some of my best friends growing up, and they helped me maintain my interest and growth in science. When I was 10, I went through a phase where I became extraordinarily interested in birds. At that point, I started my bird book project which lasted two years. It was a three-ring binder filled with every picture and every fact I could find about birds. I had pages of envelopes with feathers, and even spent time at the zoo taking pictures with my Kodak Brownie camera of exotic birds. Sometimes the zoo keeper would give me feathers that he saved when he cleaned the cages, which ended up in my book. My friends called me "bird brain," but it didn't bother me much. I liked my project and learned a lot.

Influences

My biggest inspiration was my mom. Both literally and figuratively she "egged me on" to collect my rocks (she provided the egg cartons to house my collection!) and then helped me identify them. She always encouraged me to pursue my interest in nature and to read the right books. She even tolerated my museum/room with all the creepy crawlies that were in there (or in my pockets come laundry time!).