by Kiersten Clements, Public Outreach and Education Specialist, EnergySolutions Foundation
Many of the people reading this blog are previous recipients of the EnergySolutions Foundation scholarship. Some of you are finishing high school, while others are beginning your freshman or sophomore years of college. We are sincerely proud of you and love hearing about what you’ve been up to since receiving your scholarship. As you begin a new school year, I have a special challenge for you, but before I give the challenge, I need to provide some background information:
First, at the risk of losing all credibility, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t have a background in math, science, or engineering. In fact, I have an undergraduate degree in recreational therapy (Brigham Young University) and a Masters in Business Administration (Westminster College). I think that it is because my areas of expertise are not in the math, science, and engineering fields, that I so greatly appreciate what you’ve all been able to accomplish. I will never be a chief scientist, but I do have some important advice for you. One of the most important things you can do while you’re still in school is to network with professionals in your field. Finding mentors can benefit you in at least three major ways:
- Mentors can provide a reality check about various careers and can help you to identify whether or not the career track you’re on is the right path for you.
- Mentors can provide recommendations for the best way to achieve your career goals (e.g. where to do internships, skills that need to be developed).
- Mentors can be great resources when you graduate from college and are looking for that first job.
The EnergySolutions Foundation created a scholarship recipient and professionals Facebook Group specifically for networking and mentoring purposes. The professionals who join this group are busy, but they understand the importance of mentoring the next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. By joining this group they have made themselves available to share their expertise with you.
I am confident that during this new school year, some of you will be given assignments to interview professionals in a field of your choice. Others may become stumped on a science fair project and need an outsider’s perspective to provide direction. Regardless of the situation, chances are you’ll need to communicate with someone who is an expert in his or her field.
My challenge for you is to put this group to the test. The next time you’re in a situation where you need to connect with a professional working in the math, science or engineering fields go to the EnergySolutions Foundation Facebook group for industry professionals and scholarship recipients. Let’s see if between our nearly 300 group members if there is someone who can provide the help you need or who knows someone who can. Are you catching the vision yet?
I am still looking for more industry professionals to join this group. If you know people working in math, science or engineering related fields that may be interested in participating in this group, please have them email me at kxclements@energysolutionsfoundation.org.
I hope you all will accept this challenge and put this group to the test!
EnergySolutions Foundation Staff (left to right): Kiersten Clements, Pearl Wright, Meredith Mannebach
