The students and young professionals profiled in this issue share their journeys and some tips they’ve picked up along the way. Our AISES college members come from diverse backgrounds and far-flung places, and not all take the traditional route to higher education. You will probably see some elements of your own story reflected in these pages. With the continuing support of family, friends, and AISES, these students — and you — are on the path to success.
Native Hawaiian taro farmers inspired me to enter the 2017 AISES Energy Challenge, an energy-specific science fair that encourages high school students to get into STEM. Taro is a prized staple food and the root of Hawaiian culture. These farmers are off the grid because many of their patches are historical or cultural sites. I wanted to learn how byproducts from bacteria in the mud in their fields could provide them with a sustainable source of energy. I won the Grand Prize for designing a microbial fuel cell. Last year I won the prize again for my project on producing graphene for use in electronics.
My parents had different impacts on me in high school. My father, an electrical engineer who works in IT, inspired me to also become an electrical engineer. My mother made sure my work was well thought out and that I was punctual. Thanks to her example, I had enough discipline to keep my high school life intact and do my experiments.
When I was a freshman at Kamehameha High School in Honolulu, I didn’t know high school students could do scientific research — I was only interested in playing snare drum in the marching band. But in my first year, I took Honors Biology, the most notoriously difficult freshman class. The next year my teacher got me interested in Honors Science Research. It wasn’t a popular class — only two other students in my grade signed up for it.
I’m super glad I made that choice because it got me into science research. I had to create my project ideas by researching current world problems and figuring out how to fix them. My teacher helped me design experiments, but when it came to performing them, she left me on my own. It was rough in the beginning. But after I did the experiments, processed the data, and wrote the report, I understood how to do it independently.
The thing I like most about STEM is being creative and innovative. When you do research, you touch topics on the edge of innovation — you’re trying to find things that haven’t existed before to help humanity.
I like the Hawaiian proverb Nānā i ke kumu: look to the source. Our ancestors innovated by observing nature — by looking to the source. For students today Nānā i ke kumu means look to our teachers, textbooks, and the internet as the source of knowledge.
I decided to go to the University of Portland because it’s a small school with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. There’s almost no class where the professor isn’t able to help. As an incoming freshman, I found the community there very welcoming and the professors very supportive. You’re almost always able to find someone you know at the library and dining areas, or walking around the Bluff. For engineering and computer science majors, the recently renovated Shiley Hall offers a variety of resources, such as a maker space, computer lab, and metalworking shop.
Still, when I came to the mainland for college, the culture shock was pretty huge because of the differences in climate and people. There were definitely hardships with me being from Hawaii, a little rock in the Pacific. Thankfully, my transition was smoother than I expected, due to my science research background and the welcoming community. Many of my classes in math and science required understanding the scientific method, and my research experience helped me a lot my first year.
I decided to go to the University of Portland because it’s a small school with an 11:1 studentfaculty ratio. There’s almost no class where the professor isn’t able to help. As an incoming freshman, I found the community there very welcoming and the professors very supportive.
My best advice for anyone in high school is be creative. You want good grades, but being textbook smart will carry you only so far, so expand your experiences.
Another saying I live by is A’ohe pau ka ’ike i ka h’lau ho’okahi: all knowledge is not taught in one house. I consider a school a house (h’lau) that teaches us information. The world around us is the h’lau that teaches us how to gain knowledge ourselves. Look at everything as a learning experience and opportunity to grow.
—As told to George M. Spencer
I am Water’s Edge born for Red Running into Water. My maternal grandfather’s first clan is Mexican Clan, and my paternal grandfather’s first clan is Water’s Edge Clan. In this way, I am a Navajo woman.
I grew up in rural Thoreau, N.M. I like that it’s not crowded. I like that even though it’s in the desert, we experience all four seasons. I live with my parents and my twin sister, Alyssa, who is also starting college online this fall. My family has always told me not to strive in my education for them, but to do it for myself. They gave me a lot of support along the way and pushed me to focus on my education — sometimes in a way that felt a little too strict. They’d say, “Always study, do your homework the same day it gets assigned, and review your notes for at least three hours.” But then again, I’m fortunate that I have both my parents pushing me to become better for myself.
I went to the Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, N.M. It’s about two hours from my hometown, so I stayed on campus during the week and took the bus home on weekends. There was a lot of pressure to do well and get into college, both from my parents and from my peers. This made for an especially difficult senior year. I had a lot of work to do for my classes — I was a full diploma International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate — as well as my duties as the senior class secretary.
I have Ms. Flores to thank for helping me get through high school. She was my mentor, and consistently valued the students who want to have a STEM career. She pushed me to do better in my science projects and to travel to STEM events where I started to branch out and make connections I know will help me in my future plans.
I joined AISES in my junior year, and went to my first AISES National Conference senior year. Meeting new people from different tribes was so fun, especially when I had to venture out on my own during the college fair and talk with school representatives. Through AISES I found out about scholarships such as the Cobell Scholarship, which I was very fortunate to receive. I also enjoyed the opportunity to meet with the Council of Elders. Talking with them and hearing their different perspectives reminded me of when I would ask my grandparents for advice.
This is my first year at Washington State University. So far I’m doing well, but it’s been a struggle to discipline myself to work online. Sometimes I think that I push myself too hard, because I’ll work for a full day, starting early in the morning and ending late at night. My mindset is to get it done now, so I can have other days free.
I always knew I wanted to be in STEM. At first, I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I realized during a college visit at the University of New Mexico that I want to work toward a doctorate in pharmacy.
I’ve enjoyed biology lab, where I’m sociable with my lab group. It’s nice talking to classmates and working through the lab. I’m looking forward to whenever we get to be on campus. I’d like to join other Native groups as well as have internships and jobs that help me on my career path.
I always knew I wanted to be in STEM. At first, I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I realized during a college visit at the University of New Mexico that I want to work toward a doctorate in pharmacy. I have a strong interest in how medications work for people, and hearing what pharmacists do intrigued me. I’m interested in learning the hows and whys of medicine.
I know that I want a bright future and that I want to help people — more importantly, help my people. That’s what keeps me motivated. I know that I have to leave home to learn, so that I can return home and be fully prepared. I know that I can do this if I push myself.
—As told to D.J. Pollard
When I was young, I remember being awe-inspired by large structures and how things so massive could stay standing. Then on the Navajo Reservation, where I have lots of family, I would see collapsing houses and imperfect roads. That’s when I realized civil engineering could be a way to positively impact my community and the world around me, using my math skills to improve the lives of fellow Natives.
Growing up in Chandler, Ariz., I had a wide support network of family. My parents were always encouraging, and I had several awesome role models. My older sister went to Yale, which signaled to me that attending a high-caliber school was something I could achieve, and my maternal grandma (shimá sání) was the first female district judge on the Navajo Nation. She meant a lot to me.
When I went off to college over a thousand miles away, I was afraid that my family would feel abandoned or assume I thought I was better than they are. But spending time back home taught me that neither of those things was true and that some of my older cousins even looked up to me.
I’ve always felt as if I belonged at MIT and have made some lifelong friends here. I joined AISES my freshman year — I knew I wanted to be a part of the Native community at whatever college I attended — and am now going into my third and final year as president. It has deepened my connection to my culture, helped develop my leadership skills, and connected me to awesome opportunities like working with MIT Solve and being a judge for their Indigenous Communities Fellowship. I’ve met inspiring Native scientists and entrepreneurs trying to improve their communities.
I do my best to create an environment where students feel welcome and part of our community. This semester we implemented a buddy system for new students because everything is virtual due to COVID-19. We have been working on establishing a dedicated Native space on campus and renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day, which MIT actually did!
One of the first meetings I led as president was about what we could do to stop celebrating Columbus. I didn’t want people to think it was okay that a holiday celebrating a propagator of genocide existed just because Native Americans are often forgotten or treated as invisible. So we formed the Indigenous Peoples Advocacy Committee to connect with allies all across campus.
We have been working on establishing a dedicated Native space on campus and renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day, which MIT actually did!
I think with the Black Lives Matter movement that really took hold this summer, the administration finally realized that they ought to be doing more. After many meetings, MIT’s president publicly announced the name change and committed to helping us find a space on campus. It certainly could have happened a lot sooner, but I was filled with so much joy that I, as a Native student, was widely visible.
I appreciate my Indigenous culture even more than when I first came to college. The community values of helping out and taking care of one another provide my life purpose. Sharing what little I know of Navajo traditions reminds me of home and family. I love having the chance to introduce myself in Navajo or wear my jewelry, and it’s so nice when my friends feel a strong tie to their culture as well.
My Navajo culture has been a source of strength for me at MIT, which can be intense at times. The fall semester of my sophomore year, when I began taking all my engineering classes, was especially challenging, but at least we all struggle together. A lot of my work at MIT has been finding ways to reduce the impact of building design on climate change, which will disproportionately affect lowincome communities.
My internship experiences have given me the confidence to know that I will succeed in the working world and have the ability to forge my own path. I want to be a structural engineer who designs more environmentally friendly structures. Climate change is a colossal issue that needs to be addressed, and that’s one way I can give back. I also would love to find more direct ways to use my engineering skills to contribute to my community and tribe.
—As told to Patrick Quinn