When I was younger, I had many dream jobs: fashion designer, veterinarian, actress, and professional chef. I never was the star student in my math and science classes, but I had a knack for speaking and I worked well with others. I didn't have the natural technical skills so I didn't think I had the potential to be a scientist. I hadn't really considered it as a viable option for me.

Once I got to college and took a geoscience class, I could see that science was for anyone who is curious enough to pursue it. You don't need to have an A+ in calculus and physics; you just need to have the perseverance to move forward when you don't know something and figure it out and you have to stay curious. Answering unknown questions is at the heart of science. Even if you don't get to the bottom of your specific question, you will definitely learn a lot along the way!

My ability to work well on a team, take up leadership roles, and speak clearly and confidently has helped me more than I thought it would during my career in science. I can communicate my science to all sorts of people and have lead successful collaborations and student organizations. Don't count your "soft skills" out; they are more important than you think! And I still cook all the time! :)

Me! At Aialik Glacier is a glacier in the Kenai Peninsula Borough of Alaska.