Welcome! I’m a senior in the STEM Program at STEM Marin, located at San Marin High School in Novato, California.
The STEM Program uses project-based, technology-focused curriculum to develop our critical thinking skills through experimentation and real-world problem solving. Our teachers emphasize collaborative group work; the communication of ideas verbally, in writing and through technology; and creativity and innovation. We document our work online in academic portfolios…and you’ve landed on mine!
While I don’t intend to pursue a specifically STEM-related career, I do plan to become an elementary educator whose classroom, like STEM Marin classrooms, is hands-on, engaging and fun for my students.
As an aspiring teacher, I’m passionate about kids and about advocating for education reform. Nearly every student, teacher, administrator and parent would agree with what the statistics confirm: there’s an undeniably serious youth and young-adult mental health crisis in America. School districts are determined to raise test scores, reduce dropout rates, close the achievement gap, and address racial, ethnic, disability and socioeconomic disparities...but if they can’t even help keep students alive and healthy, none of these education initiatives matter. I feel strongly that youth and young-adult mental wellness should be the number one initiative of all K-12 schools and universities.
On the lighter side, I’ve competed on swim team since the age of four (I’m a backstroker), and my many hours at the pool led naturally to my work as a lifeguard and swim instructor.
I’ve also spent many hours in pursuit of the ideal chocolate-chip cookie. After baking countless ho-hum recipes (sorry, Mom! And sorry, Giada, Martha, Nestle and The New York Times!), I decided to put my STEM training into action. I studied up on the chemical properties and interactions of ingredients. I learned about new and unusual sweeteners, flours and unexpected additions. I experimented with ratios. I tried various scooping and chilling techniques and baking temperatures and times. I painstakingly perfected my recipe for just the right appearance (fluffy, golden, risen), texture (light and crispy outside, soft and chewy inside), mouthfeel (dense, rich, smooth) and taste (not too sweet). The results are delicious, and the experience of baking is always therapeutic for me.
I'm from a family of five (eight if you count the three kitties!) and land in the middle of my two siblings. My older brother is a junior guitarist in the Popular Music program at University of Southern California (USC--Fight on!). Watching him fearlessly follow his passion has inspired me to follow mine. My younger sister is a 7th-grader and the funniest and silliest person I know. Her young spirit keeps me in check--she won't let me take life too seriously!
Feel free to explore my website for highlights of my work from the past four years!
The STEM Program uses project-based, technology-focused curriculum to develop our critical thinking skills through experimentation and real-world problem solving. Our teachers emphasize collaborative group work; the communication of ideas verbally, in writing and through technology; and creativity and innovation. We document our work online in academic portfolios…and you’ve landed on mine!
While I don’t intend to pursue a specifically STEM-related career, I do plan to become an elementary educator whose classroom, like STEM Marin classrooms, is hands-on, engaging and fun for my students.
As an aspiring teacher, I’m passionate about kids and about advocating for education reform. Nearly every student, teacher, administrator and parent would agree with what the statistics confirm: there’s an undeniably serious youth and young-adult mental health crisis in America. School districts are determined to raise test scores, reduce dropout rates, close the achievement gap, and address racial, ethnic, disability and socioeconomic disparities...but if they can’t even help keep students alive and healthy, none of these education initiatives matter. I feel strongly that youth and young-adult mental wellness should be the number one initiative of all K-12 schools and universities.
On the lighter side, I’ve competed on swim team since the age of four (I’m a backstroker), and my many hours at the pool led naturally to my work as a lifeguard and swim instructor.
I’ve also spent many hours in pursuit of the ideal chocolate-chip cookie. After baking countless ho-hum recipes (sorry, Mom! And sorry, Giada, Martha, Nestle and The New York Times!), I decided to put my STEM training into action. I studied up on the chemical properties and interactions of ingredients. I learned about new and unusual sweeteners, flours and unexpected additions. I experimented with ratios. I tried various scooping and chilling techniques and baking temperatures and times. I painstakingly perfected my recipe for just the right appearance (fluffy, golden, risen), texture (light and crispy outside, soft and chewy inside), mouthfeel (dense, rich, smooth) and taste (not too sweet). The results are delicious, and the experience of baking is always therapeutic for me.
I'm from a family of five (eight if you count the three kitties!) and land in the middle of my two siblings. My older brother is a junior guitarist in the Popular Music program at University of Southern California (USC--Fight on!). Watching him fearlessly follow his passion has inspired me to follow mine. My younger sister is a 7th-grader and the funniest and silliest person I know. Her young spirit keeps me in check--she won't let me take life too seriously!
Feel free to explore my website for highlights of my work from the past four years!