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This summer I have been digging into data, hanging out with family, and getting ready for a job change (the pic gives an insight to the change)...more to tell in a future post.

Would love to hear what you all are up to.

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Hello,

My name is Aaron and I am a descendent of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. I grew up in Duluth, MN where I received my bachelor's degree in Biology. I am now a PhD candidate at the University of California Santa Cruz studying microbiology. I love laboratory science and my project implements aspects of microbiology, immunology, physiology, and pharmacology.

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Introduce yourself by making a video or typing who you are. Here are some items to help with your introduction:
- Name
- Tribal affiliation
- Where you are from?
- STEM field you are in
- Where you are in your STEM journey?

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Tried to video but dog will not stop barking at the next door neighbors who are removing a tree.
I am Choctaw and I am from Stillwater, OK.
I go to Oklahoma State University where I am majoring in Geology.
I am currently a senior but will not graduate until 2022.

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It won't let me post a video. My name is Hozhoo. I am Navajo and am from Phoenix, Arizona. I'm studying geology and I'm a junior in undergrad.

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- Ian Her Many Horses
- Sicangu Lakota (Rosebud Sioux Tribe)
- Grew up on the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota. I currently live in Lafayette, CO.
- Computer Science, CS Education, and STEM education
- Currently working on starting my career in CS/STEM Education through research and teacher education.

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Hello! I am Chelsea from the Navajo tribe. I am from Cedar Springs, AZ on the southwestern part of the Navajo Nation. I am not in a STEM field specifically but my STEM background is Environmental Science. I am a early career professional.

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Hello! My name is Jessica Sanchez,  I am from Santo Domingo Pueblo and a member of the Navajo Nation. I am an undergraduate student at Fort Lewis College majoring in Biochemistry.

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Moving ideas around  science and knowing.

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A connection looking through two eyes as both a scientist and an indigenous person

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Connecting your culture with your education experience and future career.

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Seeing a new perspective in the field.

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Unangâx from LA

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The lack of representation broadly across fields

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Venn diagram with new opportunities and technologies because of many perspectives

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Moving the paradigm towards a different way of knowing and being.

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I met one!

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Both of who I am. Took me a bit to get to integrate both.

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I was recently accepted in an REU for this summer

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Lack of Indigenous people in STEM

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Got buy-in from my siblings to plant corn and veggies in our field soon. We are in prep mode now.

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SAP Appeal Approval
New CARES Act Funding
I am supplying the on campus food pantry with product that I get for free through couponing

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I sent in a presentation and we're going to see if I can present it at some different conferences

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Working a student led job to help Oklahoma 4-H have a better, more efficient website. While keeping my grades in a good standing.
Joining in a weekly conference to learn more about Cherokee culture.

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I have been writing new ideas, which feels like a success to me.

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1. Passed a certification exam in a new area!!!!
2. Submitted a PostDoc Application
3. Taught my daughter a new Hawaiian song that she sings non-stop

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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present to the Madison Metro School District (middle/high school students) AISES chapter! It was a workshop filled with talking about higher education, introducing physical therapy, and getting the students up and moving :)

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good grades so far in the masters program

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good grades so far in the masters program

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Understanding that STEM and Indigenous teachings can be interconnected

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Keeping a healthy balance with school, work, social life, culture, and myself.
Trying to stay motivated this semester in my classes.

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Got a grant to do some CS Ed work in SoDak. Starting a new position in teacher ed.

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Hi!  My name is Jamie Sparks.  I am from the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans.  Our original homelands were in what is now Massachusetts.  We are now located in Bowler, Wi.  I currently reside in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attend the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee where I am studying biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science.  I have 3 more semesters left and start my clinical rotation in November.

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I am currently in the middle of midterm exams. One challenge I am facing is keeping up with all of my courses' demands and trying to stay focused on studying while it's getting nicer outside.

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Had an interview for a summer research internship

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I have struggled with really bad depression this semester, however, I was able to get my medications and I am finally feeling my normal again, however, I am behind on my classes.

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I'm taking the two hardest classes in my major and I am struggling hard

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My medical microbiology course is a challenge

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Learning how to be a better communicator. Exercising a few times a week is challenging for me.

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Reaching the midpoint of the semester and feeling a bit burnt out

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TIME!!!! My kids are still doing school virtually so we are all in one space working and schooling together. It never seems like I have enough time.

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Sometimes I feel like I forget to appreciate the blessings in my life.

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Doing work back home isn't a priority in my current spaces, and it's been a challenge making time to do that.

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Received NSF GRFP :)

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Being far from home and family, and not being able to visit. Work/life balance and mental health during a pandemic.

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I need the most support in figuring out how to start some of my papers, because sometimes I don't understand the readings

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I need support from the communities I'm hoping to work with. The challenge is that they don't have the context to take the chance on a new thing, and also have understandably higher priorities.

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I still don't know what I want to research (if I go back to grad school), and I often feel like I'm behind my peers who already have publications and know what they want to do. I have some idea about what I want to do, but even then I don't know how to start

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Just diligence and passion to keep driving forward

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I need the most support from my affiliated tribe, my friends, and my family.

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I have to begin figuring out graduate school, taking the GRE, applying, finding financing, etc., I just need support to help navigate this very difficult path.

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Finding mentors in my specific program interest

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I need more support from the Medical Laboratory Science program at my university but I receive the most support from my family

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Sometimes I get tired

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maybe consider tutoring videos?

or study groups?

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I feel I need the most support from my professors at the moment to be clear on expectations for upcoming practical evaluations.

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Awareness of what people are wanting to do, and for ourselves, working to understand what our own goals are.

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To encourage and celebrate our peers

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Reflecting on your own strengths to be able to provide support in areas others need it and vice versa.

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Keep reminding yourself that you got this, and you have others ready to help you out as well to meet your goals.

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We can let each other know we are here and share experiences that are helpful and relevant.

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Check in meetings to see how everyone is doing

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Being available if someone needs advice, not giving up on our own goals and reaching out for help if needed.

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Create a sense of community

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Providing each other a listening ear and guidance/advice from our own experiences when relevant

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Hello I am from southwest OK an from the Kaw Nation. I have a civil engineering degree and am currently attend University of Colorado - Denver and am pursuing a PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design.

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I started my current program this fall, in the pandemic. We moved to the area from out of state and it's been hard to build a community with everything being remote/online this year. Excited to see and meet more people this fall!

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Submitted an abstract for a conference this fall

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Sharing opportunities or resources that we know of with each other

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Hello my name is Haley Singer. I am Navajo. I am from Cedar Springs, Arizona. I am a Biomedical Sciences major and I am an Undergraduate student at Northern Arizona University.

(the picture isn't from Cedar Springs)

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The lack of indigenous presence in STEM careers.

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I am apart of a Research team with the Navajo Healthy Stomach Project which is one of the many project teams under The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP).

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Aho! My name is Dr. Amy Redford. I am Lenape living in Central Kentucky. I am 55, married with three children (only one left at home). My doctorate is in Information Technology. I also have a degree in Biology. I currently teach online with SNHU and am starting a 3D simulation company for education and training in emergency and disaster relief.

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I just received my doctorate (DIT) in Information Technology from Capella University in February. My plan is to continue teaching online with SNHU and start a 3D simulation development company for education and training in emergency and disaster relief organizations called Rewlz 3D.

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Create opportunities for success and programs of achievement for STEM students where they live.

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Hello! I am Bianca, a member of the Chickasaw Nation. I am from Phoenix, AZ. I'm a current freshman at MIT studying Electrical Engineering.

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Hello, my name is Timothy Denego. I'm finishing up my first undergraduate degree from Haskell Indian Nations University (Business). I'm interested in most things STEM and hope to be involved in K-12 sometime (teaching or possibly pre-college chapters) in my life as my mother has her Master's in Early Childhood Curriculum and teaches on here on the reservation.

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Traditions and misconceptions. Native Americans, like everyone else, are natural scientists/experimenters. For the most part.

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I consider staying in college a success and finding my path, academically. Financially, I've started working this past January, which can be tough with a full schedule of classes.

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Some challenges I've had (and still have) are staying caught up with classes, being considerate of co-workers, and eating healthy.

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For myself, I'd say staying connected and interacting with like-minded individuals as it's kind of tough to do that locally.

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Being mindful of the stresses we all have and how we address it. We can support each other by reaching out to each other and asking if a conversation is welcome or relevant to someone else's path and offering words of encouragement or just a listening ear like Makana said.

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I got accepted to a summer internship

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Starting college virtually. It has been hard to meet people and get adjusted to college life when I have never experienced it before. It's also been hard to balance work load with making sure I am staying healthy.

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Lack of Indigenous representation and presence in STEM

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Hello Everyone! My name is Naya Ziegler. I am a member of the Delaware Tribe (Lenni Lenape). I am from Sheridan, Colorado. I am currently working on my master's degree at Colorado School of Mines for Biomechanical Engineering. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering in May 2020 and decided to continue my studies to try and gain more knowledge and experience so that when I enter the workforce I will be well prepared. I will be graduating in December 2021 and hope to find an engineering position in a medical device company. Thank you!

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Hi! My name is Haley Hilborn and I am from the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico. I am currently in my second year of working towards a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech where my research focus is in additive manufacturing materials and methods!

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Teaching others about my native culture! Being at school or when going to conferences/internships, I rarely meet other Natives, so I like to spread as much about myself and my background to those who would like to learn, so they are aware and maybe encouraged to go learn more on their own/be more informed going forward in their lives.

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Looking forward to a summer internship at HP and an upcoming virtual conference presentation.

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Motivation. Working on projects by myself tends to lead to a little bit of tunnel vision and then burnout tends to follow.

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Hi my name is Makita. I am half Navajo and African American. I am from Coyote Canyon, New Mexico and currently reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a registered nurse and I am working on completing my masters as a Nurse Practitioner.

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Taking the knowledge of our indigenous people and incorporating it into the STEM world.

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2 weeks away from completing my first year of graduate school.

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Adjusting to online schooling.

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I think I need the most support with motivation and that completing my degree will be worth it in the end.