A virtual visit to Connecticut classrooms
Windham, CT
In April 2021, I was invited by the Education Committee of the Windham-Willimantic (Connecticut) branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to speak as part of their Dream Big Project. This inspiring initiative brings professionals from diverse backgrounds to high schools in the area to share their career paths, personal stories, and experiences navigating bias. At its heart, this initiative serves as a platform to spark courageous conversations about race, equity, and justice, and to expand students’ visions of what is possible.
The student population at Windham High School is predominantly Puerto Rican, and the program organizers had been working to bring more Hispanic/Latinx voices into the conversation. That is how I found myself back (virtually), in the same region where I completed my Ph.D., this time not in my office at the University of Connecticut, but in a Zoom room, speaking to students who now enjoy recess just a few miles from where I used to go frogging for fun each spring.
I spoke about my journey from high school to earning a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the challenges I faced along the way, the joys and struggles of becoming a scientist, and the role that curiosity and resilience played in shaping my path. It was a deeply meaningful experience to share not just the science but the story behind it. Afterward, one of the teachers told me, “Your story was really interesting, and I'm always glad when we can show kids real scientists and how they do their job. I think a lot of them think that becoming a medical doctor or working inside a lab is the only option for those interested in biology.”
Two years later, in June 2023, I was honored to be invited again, this time to speak to the biology students at Coventry High School, also in Connecticut. The Dream Big Project had expanded, and a biology teacher at Coventry reached out specifically to request a session focused on animal behavior.
Reflecting on both experiences, what stands out most is the value of showing students that science is not a one-size-fits-all career. During the Coventry talk, I shared how my fascination with frogs began, how it grew into a research career, and how I have navigated personal and professional challenges, like adapting to a new culture and language while studying far from home. These honest conversations resonate deeply with students, especially those who are also negotiating questions of identity, belonging, and future aspirations.
There were many frog enthusiasts in the audience, and I learned that some students who were not even enrolled in biology asked for special permission to attend the talk. I was delighted to see so much interest! These experiences have reminded me that representation is not just about who is at the front of the classroom; it is also about the stories we tell, the challenges we do not gloss over, and the joy we share in doing the work we love.
