Audrey Smith: How I was Inspired to Become a Scientist
When most kids are asked What do you want to be when you grow up? many answer with careers that are fantastic like being an astronaut, a ballerina, or a professional athlete. I always responded with Lawyer. Nobody knew where I got this idea into my brain because every member of my family had been some sort of businessman or woman, but I guess this was early evidence that I was to be the one who finally branched out. I think I was fascinated by the idea of being a lawyer because that meant I would get to go to a fancy law school and either aide in putting away the bad guys or defending a person’s innocence. I knew I liked justice, and I knew I liked facts, so being a lawyer sounded perfect. However, at this point in my life I had not taken into consideration the fact that I loved many of the subjects I was learning about in school. School was fun for me, and I enjoyed every aspect without thinking much about what I was actually doing or learning and what that meant in the greater scheme of things. When I entered high school I was placed into Biology Honors, an advanced course. The class made me feel both intimidated and super cool because I was one of the few freshman in a primarily sophomore level class. It was a challenge, and I worked very hard because I did not want to let myself down given an opportunity I felt was unique. I also wanted to prove myself to my teacher.
His name was Mr. Motroni. He is infamous for being somewhat of a hardass, but also for having a witty sense of humor, and for making speeches on the topic of providing meaningful presence to the ones you love. Mr. Motroni also taught my mother when she had attended the same school approximately twenty years earlier; this coincidence led us down the path of developing a special relationship. Mr. Motroni not only taught me my freshman year of high school, but also in both my junior and senior years. I feel very lucky that I was repeatedly placed in his classroom as he is the person responsible for instigating and solidifying the foundation of science that peaked my interest.
I excelled in most subjects throughout my high school years, but nothing made me as excited as my science classes. From biology to chemistry to physics, being able to understand the mechanics of life blew me away. To me, the subject of biology made the most sense. Concepts flowed together, and it allowed my network of information to grow immensely and form new connections frequently. I attribute much of the mind blowing nature of my impactful science courses to Mr. Motroni. His delivery of information, coupled with the examples he used, worked together and landed firmly in the minds of his high school aged students. I retained more from the classes he taught me than any others. I know this for a few reasons. To this day I can not only recall many of the particular moments in class where information was provided and I was shocked, but also what images or videos were used to convey the information. Also, when I came home from school it was within my routine to fill my parents in about my day. I included drama in my friend group, information regarding my extracurriculars, and other tidbits I found noteworthy enough to mention. I would come home, go into my dad’s office and basically recite my whole lesson from my science classes. Mr. Motroni always said that the best way to learn was to try and teach someone else in your own way, with your own knowledge. So that is what I did. Freshman year it was something from Biology Honors. Sophomore year it was something from Chemistry Honors -- not my favorite and unfortunately not taught by Mr. Motroni. Junior year was all about AP Biology. And even in my senior year, filled with senioritis, I raved about Physics. There is not a way to explain the love I developed for science other than pure passion for learning and understanding the world around me. I prioritized biology as the subject above all others, and being able to take two years of instruction in biology was something I was proud of. My intrigue has only grown as I have been able to study more specialized topics, and I attribute this to a perfect seed being planted during high school.
Audrey in high school
During my senior year of high school I entered into my third year of class with Mr. Motroni as my teacher. At this time I was taking physics and was his teacher’s assistant for the biology classes he was additionally teaching. It was an interesting position to now be the person grading the same assignments I had completed in the years prior. Mr. Motroni trusted me and believed in me. All of my years spent in and out of the “Science Lab” at school had proved that I was dedicated. When something did not make sense, I went to the “Science Lab”. When I was bored at lunch or my off periods, I went to the “Science Lab”. And now, as a teachers assistant I went to the “Science Lab” to hang out with my friend and teacher, Mr. Motroni, as I helped him grade, organize, prep for labs, or really accomplish any task he needed. Throughout all of our years of interaction Mr. Motroni joked with me in a very particular manner. As a timid freshman with virtually no confidence about anything his jokes made me act more awkward than you could imagine. My high school years provided intellectual and social development, and finally in my senior year it was as if Mr. Motroni and I were old friends, joking in class and waving to each other around campus.
As I concluded my senior year, I told him I would be attending UC Santa Barbara and studying biology. I came to find out this was his alma mater and I felt it was only right that I somehow ended up following in his footsteps. I have truly desired to emulate his knowledge and personality for the entire time I have known Mr. Motroni. He was the teacher I spoke most freely with about my academic and personal struggles because he created a safe environment where I knew he cared enough to listen and provide real advice. He believed in me time and time again when I did not believe in myself, and he pushed me harder than any other teacher to become a better person overall. When I finally graduated high school he wrote me a letter that made me cry. Among other things, Mr. Motroni said he was going to miss me and the valuable relationship we had built. After teaching for decades, to be referred to as one of his favorite students was an enormous achievement and compliment in my eyes. He really understood how I thought, and it was difficult to move onto college knowing that I may never connect with a teacher or professor as well as I had with Mr. Motroni. Having now completed a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences, I can honestly say that the confidence Mr. Motroni instilled in me was a source of perseverance throughout college. Anyone who has gone through, or is currently enrolled in, college knows there are multiple times when things get tough and you doubt yourself for one reason or another. Especially as a woman in stem I felt challenged by circumstance and questioned if I was truly dedicating my time to the right major. I focused on the fact that learning about biology was still the subject I felt most passionate about, and that I had a lot of love for science. What makes you, the student, the most happy is what you should pursue and if it was not for Mr. Motroni I don't think I would have made the life choices I have to become a scientist. Thanks to him I will believe in myself, trust myself, and push myself to make choices that stimulate my brain and make me excited to learn about new discoveries everyday.
Audrey in her UCSB lab coat