Find the time to pay it forward

by Fanuel Muindi 

“If you had 5 extra hours per week to devote to advocacy for science, how would you use that time?”

This is a question that was asked as part of NextGen VOICES series in the April 2014 issue of Science magazine. I wrote that “I would devote it to mentoring and giving talks to high school and middle school minority students”. I went on to write that “strengthening the quality of mentorship within the STEM pipeline is crucial if we are to diversify the STEM workforce.” As i reflect back on this statement, I am happy to have had the opportunity to do exactly what I wrote. Most recently, I was invited to talk to middle school students at Mary E Curley Middle School in Boston. For 45 minutes, the students asked a whole load of questions about my research interests, and more importantly, they asked my journey in science. I was humbled to stand in front of that classroom and share my story. My take home message for them was to never give up. I said: “Things will get difficult. You will likely find yourself not understanding some concepts in class. Don’t get frustrated. Ask for help, but whatever you do, don’t give up.” I still think that when time permits, such activities should be encouraged for graduate students, postdocs and even professors. Sure, we are all so busy and there is little time to such things. However, I think there is always time to pay it forward. Imagine if more scientists in industry and academia, postdocs, graduate students and even staff were to do more outreach events in middle schools and high schools! It would make a difference.