Career day is an event that many people who have gone through grade school are all too familiar with. It is a day when parent volunteers come into the classroom to inspire the young minds of tomorrow by sharing what it means to be a firefighter, a doctor, a sanitation worker, a welder, a store owner, or any one of the many possible career opportunities. While some students may dread having their parent in the classroom, that could not be further from the truth for fourth-year student Raeann Giannattasio.
Raeann is majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Science and Technology Policy, and her academic passions blossomed from all the wonderful times her father, a high school science teacher, visited her classroom in elementary school to perform science experiments. Those exciting and educational visits were immensely formative and impacted her career path. When she looked at Madison House as a way to fulfill a field experience requirement for a class in the Curry school, the From Student to Scientist program jumped out at her immediately.
As a part of our Youth Mentoring programs, From Student to Scientist goes into Johnson Elementary School once a week to perform experiments, promote scientific enthusiasm, and impart invaluable leadership and communication skills. “This seemed like a great opportunity to step in [my father’s] shoes and give back that experience that shaped me as a kid,” said Raeann. “I definitely wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue a STEM degree as a woman without my dad and other supportive role models.”
Raeann now serves as that supportive role model for the next generation of scientists. She has volunteered with the Johnson Elementary School students for five semesters, worked as a Program Director for From Student to Scientist, and now serves as the Head Program Director for Youth Mentoring. “It is so fun watching them get so excited over a simple chemical reaction,” said Raeann of the time she and the students launched “rockets” made out of film canisters. “The relationships I’ve developed with the kids are so special to me — and you can tell there’s a scientist in every single student!”
But Raeann’s not just inspiring students to pursue their passions and dive into the unknown — she’s learning a lot from her volunteering, too. “When you learn how to explain gravitational waves to 7 year olds, you learn how to synthesize information in a relatable manner,” said Raeann. “This has helped me communicate complex engineering material to political scientists, business people, and more.”
Raeann’s story demonstrates the cyclical nature of service and just how beneficial volunteering is for all parties involved. Raeann's father inspired her with his excitement for science, and she has chosen to pass the same enthusiasm onto the next generation. While she gives back to the community, she gains new valuable experiences and an inspiration of her own. Soon enough, she will become a scientist, just like her father, and continue to transform the lives children just as she has through Madison House’s From Student to Scientist program.