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 that beckons 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 Scientist conduct 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

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 in the 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 of which 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