"The importance of providing guidance, mentoring, and opportunities to network drive the conversation in this second part of our special two-part episode with chemistry professor Cord Carter and his former student and research assistant, Brianna Brown. Brianna explains how her alma mater, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, has successfully helped her to stay motivated to reach her bold goals. Cord tells a personal story about how important it was that one of his own professors expressed a personal interest in him, and how he now works to help his students to take inspiration from a diverse group of STEM professionals he invites into his classroom. "
Memorable Moments:
Brianna [00:02:52] I feel as if the universities and colleges can definitely show you where this degree can take you in different jobs. There's so many other things that you can do with your degree. And Fisk has a roadmap for us that shows us the different jobs and different career paths that we can take with this degree, with your chosen degree, which is really cool.
Brianna [00:03:56] Fortunately, I've had teachers like that say, 'you want to be a doctor? I got you. Here are some resources. Here, I can help.' And Fisk has done the same thing. 'You know, you want to be a doctor. Do you want to go here, talk to this person, go fill this out? Let's look at your resume.' But unfortunately, that's not your everyday thing for people of color.
Cord [00:08:29] But it was just cool just to have people that really care about me as a person, as a human being versus as a number. So I think going to a major university, like Oklahoma State or [where] you're in the class of 100+ students, you're not getting the opportunity to really get to know the professor, not just at a professional level, but at a personal level.
Cord [00:09:41] ...Because when you see people that look like you, they have a better understanding of where you come from. I think the professors before they start their courses, should tell them about their history, share what they started from, so students can understand where the professor is coming from. And as well the professors should ask students where they started from or tell their story. So that way, they can know who they are dealing with.
Cord [00:16:31] I think sometimes when we try to copy and paste what other people have done, we get caught up in a competition. Don't do what other people are doing, because what tends to happen is when you don't get into that program that you always dream about on your first try, they feel like you are not good enough. No! You're good enough. It's just not your time.
Episode 15 Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gpyAsJrukQAqIo7NXugWmU-JYIyPOjVcZK7uhb1lQys/edit?usp=sharing
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