In 2018, I was invited by Dr. Rebekah Corlew to participate in AAAS Classroom Science Day in Austin, Texas. This event was the most intimidating and rewarding outreach event I have had the fortune to participate in. The story is, word started to circulate around Austin that teachers were going to be hosting scientists in their classrooms. This led a teacher, one of my hosts, from a juvenile detention facility to reach out and inquire if any scientists would be willing to speak to her students. This is exactly the kind of opportunity that I got into outreach for, Dr. Corlew contacted me and I agreed without hesitation. Once I arrived in Austin, word spread among the various detention facilities that there was a speaker, a scientist, willing to meet with their students. What originally was a plan to speak at two detention facilities, became 6 different facilities in two days. Because of security concerns, these juvies could not host a large number of kids in one room at the same time. Thus, I gave my outreach talk ~16 times to smaller groups of students. On the third day, I presented at the AAAS convention center as part of their family science days. By the end of this trip, I spoke with ~200 incarcerated students. Scroll down to see what they had to say!

Below are some pictures of me at the different events

I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on what it was like to meet with the students who were in juvenile detention. For me, this was a full circle moment because I am a “reformed” juvenile offender. When I was a teenager, I was arrested three times, sent to the local juvie twice, and expelled from the public school district. The first night I spent alone in juvenile detention, in my cell, was one of the loneliest and most devastating nights of my life. I felt like I had succeeded in alienating everyone who loved me from my life. When I met the kids in Austin, I knew very personally that they were at a low point in their life. I felt that through my outreach talk, where I share my life and my science, I was able to connect with many of them and offer hope and a role model. This will forever by one of the most important moments of my life.

Below is feedback written by some of the kids and sent to me by their teacher.