The Advocate & Educator

My love for teaching began when I was a middle school student tutoring neighborhood kids for a few dollars an hour. I continued tutoring at a local library throughout high school and when I went away for college, I started private tutoring in an upscale beach community. While I was a grad student, I volunteered at an after-school program for ESL kids, helping them with math homework and science projects. I also mentored several young female high school students interested in pursuing STEM degrees. After graduation, I took a teaching job at a private academy in Silicon Valley, while I bootstrapped my first company. Once I started working full-time on my business, I began volunteering for Girls Inc., working with middle and high school girls from underserved communities.

The reason I share my experience is to show that despite their different backgrounds, all of the students I worked with benefited from having access to education, mentorship, and someone who was eager to help them learn. My goal as an educator was to make sure these students knew they had someone in their corner who believed in them, was rooting them on, and wanted to see them succeed. I believe that education is the great equalizer and that all students, especially young children, deserve equal and fair access to educational resources. However, I don’t think we’re quite there yet. I hope that we can continue to close the educational achievement gap as well as encourage and support more young girls and women to pursue STEM education and careers. It’s up to us to help shape and influence the next generation of innovators, leaders, and game-changers.