Genomics and Microbiology Lab-Day 1

Thus far, I could not have asked for a more welcoming mentor and community. Not only is Julia Stevens, pictured below, a fantastic mentor, but the community of interns, post docs, and museum staff that work in the Genomics and Microbiology lab are very understanding and patient as we learn the ins and outs of this process. Tuesday, June 30 was my first day in the lab with Julia and I had no idea my apprehensions would disappear so quickly. She is so thorough in explaining processes and is not afraid to give constructive criticism. The pieces of the puzzle that is my Citizen Science project started coming together just in the first day which excites me for the potential possibilities I will have to make a truly great product for teachers to use.

I teach at C.M. Eppes Middle School in Greenville, North Carolina, which is located in Pitt County. I will be entering my third year of teaching this year and will be tackling 8th grade science. I taught 6th grade science during my first and second years of teaching. The goal of my Kenan Fellowship is deep rooted and originates in 2006. In 2006 I was accepted to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina. I was excited for the new experience and diversity I would encounter coming from a small town in Martin County. At NCSSM I realized how far behind, academically, I truly was in comparison to my peers from schools west of I-95, specifically in the Triangle area. Throughout my schooling I thought I was an A student, but quickly realized that I could only compete at a C level amongst comparable students in North Carolina. I had no idea until that point that there was such a great educational divide in North Carolina and how underprepared students east of I-95 truly were. This is when I decided I wanted to pursue education to help bridge the gap. I was accepted to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program at East Carolina University and graduated with my bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in science and language arts. My goal as a teacher is to bring as many resources to the eastern part of the state as possible and that is why I applied for the Kenan Fellowship. I knew that by working with this wonderful cohort of teachers I could gain resources, contacts, experiences and opportunities that would help me accomplish my goal.

The wonderful aspect of Citizen Science is that by helping Julia with her research and designing lesson plans that are aligned with her goals I can reach so many teachers. I did not know what Citizen Science was until  my exploration of the Kenan Fellows Program and now the possibilities are endless. I am so excited to continue this journey with amazing colleagues, museum staff, and a wonderful Mentor.