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Personal Contribution Statement

I am an intelligent, resourceful woman, driven by both my compassion for others and instinctive curiosity. I will

use my skills in research and my insatiable desire for understanding of the human body as a vehicle to carry out

my love for people and empathy for the biological challenges they face. I have found my physical disabilities

entirely contrary to their defining label. My life circumstances have granted access to insight that would have

been otherwise inaccessible; enabling, directing and channeling my natural passions to an area in desperate need

of seekers. Any suffering I have personally experienced has taught me to see challenge as a wide open door thatbeckons and desperately needs people with courage to enter and search within. There are many brilliant people

in the world, all of whom extend immeasurable service, but in addition to my knowledge and curiosity, I will

also offer unique desire, one inspired by empathetic motivation, for the people our minds seek to serve through

scientific inquiry.

Potential Desired Roles:

Clinical Neuroscientist applies research to prevent/treat neurological disorders Cognitive Neuroscientist studies functions such as perception ,memory, learning Neuropathologist - studies nervous system diseases Medical Scientistconduct basic research/advance knowledge of living organisms

o Lab Manager/Research Assistant (M.S.)o Sr. Research Assistant (M.S.)o Research Assistant (B.A./B.S.; M.S preferred)o Clinical Research Coordinator (B.A./B.S.; M.S preferred)o Lab Director (Ph.D.)

Potential Desired Industries:

Universities Government Agencies Medical Centers/Hospitals

Potential Employers:

NYU Neuroscience of Language Lab Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language Princeton University Neuroscience Institute Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Professional Networking:

Dr. Princy Quadros-Mennella, Bay Path College, Neuroscience Program Director Dr. Lisa Sanders, University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Neuroscience and Behavior Dr. Rebecca Spencer, University of Massachustts, Dept. of Neuroscience and Behavior Dr. Kyle R. Cave, University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Neuroscience and Behavior Dr. Luke Remage-Healey, University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Neuroscience and Behavior

8/13/2019 WELL310 Narative in Class Presentation

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What I have learned from the book and how I can apply it to my career:

Coming into this class, I was excited to learn how to compose a more professional resume, I figured I would

pick up some handy hints, but I was not expecting to see myself in such a different light.

Before reading this book, I had never considered the difference between being merely a job seeker, and

offering myself as a solution to a problem. This shift in thinking was a little uncomfortable at times. I struggled

to write my contribution statement, and my cover letter, however as I began to play more with the ideas inthe book, some of them shown on the slide above,

I found myself nodding in agreement. I AM all these things; I do have passions, talents and I do feel a

responsibility to do certain things with my gifts.

As much as I had an awareness of my talents I have had so many perceive me as so different its as if I should

apologize for being the way I am. I have found, and still sometimes find, myself feeling cautious, afraid to hit

people over the head with my gifts, afraid that my strength that wants to step out in my own unique way,

might be too great an imposition on the people and space around me. I have spent the last ten years breaking

free from this fear of that is inside me might be too great an imposition on everything around me, much ofwhich was shaped by the ways others treated me. I have found a great deal of liberation over these year, and

it would seem this class and readings came at a perfect time where I was ready to further step out and not

only be myself, but to offer myself to others.

Out of all the many notes I jotted down, and nuggets of truth I found informative, I feel the most important

thing I am walking away with is viewing myself from an entirely different perspective. Not something to lie on

a shelf and wait to see if someone wants it, or it I might have to apologize for what is, what I am. I found the

readings confirming of that voice inside of me that rebelled every time I have or do reduce myself to being

offensive to the norm that see me as so different. Through many of the readings I felt they confirmed that it is

not intrusive or arrogant to boldly say I DO have something unique and special and there are people and

places that NEED someone like me. As opposed to being stuck in such a way where you hope to find a place

that wants to accept me or can deal with my unique features. I drew a lot of strength and courage from the

reading, which was something I was not prepared for when starting this class. Much more than the learning of

formats and standards, this COURAGE, is what went into learning how to do the other assignments, and

allowed me to write my contribution statements and cover letter with excitement and pride in what I have

inside of me. It was very much lifelong learning that will likely persist within me in many ways