skip to main content
Sarah  Milianta-Laffin

Sarah Milianta-Laffin

Hawaii Department of Education

Career Roadmap

Sarah 's work combines: Education, Science, and Upholding a Cause and Belief

See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.

Take Roadmap Quiz

Day In The Life

STEM Lab Teacher

I ignite a passion for STEM learning within my students, empowering them to go out and change the world.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

    Warren Central High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Political Science and Government, General

    Indiana University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education:

Bachelor's Degree: Political Science and Government, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    BrokenLeg

  • 2.

    College

  • 3.

    MultipleJobs

  • 4.

    Family

  • 5.

    Internships

  • 6.

    Teaching

  • 7.

    AlternativeCertification

  • 8.

    Moving

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    I heard a lot of subtle messages growing up that led me to believe that girls, myself included, weren't good at math and science. When I started teaching math, I was terrified that I couldn't do it. Turns out, I knew way more than I thought I did.

  • How I responded:

    I feel a responsibility to encourage my female students, and students from traditionally-marginalized populations to study STEM topics. I don't have to know every detail about every discipline to be their cheerleader. Find your cheerleader! If you don't have one, be one! Be passionate about what you do and how you do it; emotional intelligence is important. My "job" is to give students the best education possible; my mission is to fight for all students to have equal access to the same.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • As the oldest of 5 kids to a single mother, the cost of college looked insurmountable. Do anything and everything you can to get through it. Seek those in the same boat; they become your college 'family' because they just "get it." You can do it!