Blog: The science community needs more women. As a young Latina student in science, I encourage other girls to find their passion and go for it.
By Marissa Martinez, a first-year student of the Department of Biology at Colorado State University.
I grew up in Monte Vista, a small town in Southern Colorado. My mom was originally from Denver, and my dad was from Mexico. Sadly, he was deported when I was about seven. Then, my grandparents took guardianship of my brother and me, raising us. They were hard workers. Not being raised by my parents was difficult, but seeing how hard my grandparents worked and the barriers they faced to provide us with opportunities they didn't have when they were young encouraged me to work harder to pursue my dreams.
Many people from my hometown can't afford higher education. As a young Latina student, it was important for me to attend school, represent my family and community, and make them proud.
My passion for science, conservation, and the outdoors started during my sophomore year in high school when I received help from my mentor conducting an ecology-based project. She works as a contractor in the summers for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and was the first person to take me out into the field to get water samples and do research. I was hooked!
Through her, I got an internship at the BLM, where I did my first big project on the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, using critical locations on the BLM to create a scoring tool to measure the suitability of their habitat, which informed federal managers at the agency on which actions they could take to better improve their habitats. After that, I got involved in another project investigating invasive species like the American bullfrog.
These projects led me to the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Sharing my work with other students and scientists from all over the world has been one of the best experiences in my life!
When I graduated from high school, it was not a surprise that I wanted to get into ecology or conservation-based fields. Going to college was something I dreamed about when I was younger, but I knew I could only do it if I was awarded a scholarship, so I applied for a bunch. I was accepted at Colorado State University and Arizona State University which were my two main choices. I was able to get a full-ride Boettcher Scholarship to attend Colorado State University. It has not only given me the financial help I needed but it also provides so many other opportunities, like studying abroad and community outreach and service.
I am currently a first-year student in the Department of Biology at Colorado State University. While I don’t know what the future holds, I think I would like to have a lifelong career as an ecologist, do research or work for a federal agency like the BLM or the Forest Service. But time will tell.
As a young Hispanic woman in science, I encourage other young Latinas to never give up on their dreams, no matter how difficult or unreachable they seem. The science community needs more women. We bring innovative ideas and have so much to contribute to make our world a better place.
No matter where you come from, remember that you ultimately have the power to overcome the challenges and the choice to create your own destiny. Defeat your fears, work hard, find your passion, and go for it.