This summer, we Roadtrippers—Jackie, Zachariah, and Megan—plan to travel cross-country with Roadtrip Nation. During this trip, we hope to meet with people that inspire us and hold meaningful conversations to learn how they have created lives around their passions. We are looking, in particular, to speak with individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—as all of us are interested in these fields in some way or another. Traveling in a Green RV, we will begin our Roadtrip in San Diego, California and stop in various cities en route to Boston, speaking with Leaders who are living lives doing what they love. All of us, as college students and recent college grads, are eager to learn more about these Leaders' journeys as we embark on our own—during our six-week Roadtrip and in our futures. By speaking with Leaders who have defined their own Roads in life, we hope to explore how we can create lives for ourselves, rather than accepting the lives defined for us by others. The typical path established by our families and institutions tells us that there are only two career options within the sciences: academia or industry. From this Roadtrip, we want to learn about more possibilities in STEM fields and the steps that you took to get to where you are today. The science fields are also commonly regarded as one-dimensional; young people in our generation continue to view STEM fields as time-consuming obligations in academia. We hope to shed light on this misconception by connecting with you and hearing your unique story.
