I was the only Global STEM Challenge Program high school student to serve as a volunteer teaching assistant to the STEM Coordinator at Mount Eagle Elementary School while she led the 2018 Young Scholars STEM Camp. I met with the STEM Coordinator prior to the camp and gave her ideas for her lesson-plans based upon my STEM studies at Edison High School's Global STEM Challenge Program. The STEM Coordinator asked me to lead classroom exercises and discussions on aeronautics and careers in STEM. I also presented about an issue that I am passionate about--the growth mindset.

I served as a Math Tutor for gifted 2nd graders doing 4th grade level math in our community as they participated in the John's Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program. I was a paid tutor because people in my community learned that I was in Algebra Honors in 8th grade. This experience as a math tutor gave me a good foundation and has the potential to turn into other teaching opportunities in STEM related fields.

I was selected in 8th grade to serve--as a rising freshman in high school--as a Summer Camp Counselor in Training for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). I believe I was chosen for being more mature than peers in my age group; but also because I speak multiple languages, which helped me coordinate camp participants that are first generation immigrants from Latin American countries. The RecPAC CIT program is a wonderful opportunity for teens who want to further develop their leadership and communication skills as well as gain experience in planning and instructing activities for young children.