Madame C. J. Walker. Barium Hydroxide. 5x3+35. Mae Jemison. I listened intently as the middle schoolers responded to each of my mother’s practice questions. I, a then fifth-grader, watched as the students practice for the NOBCChe National Science Bowl. NOBCChe stands for the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. My parents were both heavily involved in the program: my mother, a middle school teacher, was a science bowl coach, and my father, a chemical engineer, was a chairman. As I listened to the practice drills for competitions, my love of the sciences, specifically chemical engineering, began to flourish.
I remember when my mother’s team was invited to the NOBCChe National Science …show more content…
I was too young to compete, and by the time I was old enough, my family and I had yet moved again this time, Georgia. Although my environment had changed, my passion for math and science did not. In eighth grade, I applied to a magnet math and science program. I chose to apply to a STEM program for high school students and met people with similar passions for math and science. In my current program, I'm taking on new challenges. I interned at a chemical plant under the supervision of a senior chemical engineer. I learned about real world applications that went beyond the chemistry courses I’ve taken. Theory truly turned into practice. I had the opportunity to conduct research through a quantitative experimental study on the production factors that affect the viscosity of a water-based defoamer. I loved collaborating with the engineering and research and development teams. This experience has me a lot about the working environment in corporate America and professional scientific experimentation. I can easily see myself continuing research and interning in college. As for science competitions, I found my niche in Science Olympiad at my school. I’ve had the privilege to compete regionally and state-wide for Technical Problem Solving and creating Compound Machines. I am highly anticipating this year’s competition in Chem Lab. The influence of my parents and the NOBCChe Science Bowl ignited a spark that I carry with me