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  • Writer's pictureStephanie Fernandez

Reflections on Applying to #TeamHB6

Updated: May 3, 2021

For those who were interested in knowing more about why and how I applied to #TeamHB6 in 2020!

I first heard about Homeward Bound in 2018 from a friend and colleague who thought I would be a great fit for the program—I was a scientist and engineer, had already taken on several leadership positions within my community, and I was establishing myself as an advocate for social equity at McGill University. (Not to mention, I was a noted penguin lover.)

That being said, I was far from certain about my path forward. As an engineering graduate student, we typically hear about two main career branches: academia and industry. While I have always had an aptitude for STEMM, I struggled to find enthusiasm in pursuing a traditional career along either of those branches.


For years, my response to "What are your plans after your PhD?" was an uncomfortable "I don't know; all I know is I don't want to be a professor!" I came to realise that one of my major hurdles was a lack of exposure to diverse STEMM mentors and professionals, especially those who were carving out non-traditional career paths for themselves.

My passions had always been diverse—I’m fascinated with the humanities, for instance—but I wasn’t seeing enough melding of different disciplines to suit my tastes. I had a vague idea that I would need to craft my own niche rather than fit neatly into an existing position or structure, but I had no idea how to go about doing that!

It was largely through my volunteer efforts in the areas of mental health, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and sustainability that I began identifying my values, recognising my entrepreneurial spirit, and building confidence in my ability to create meaningful work for myself. (Check out these interviews about my EDI work: 1 & 2.) Importantly, I recognised that rather than falling outside the realm of STEMM, my volunteer interests are necessary within STEMM. Strong science communication, outreach, and intersectionality are vital for our fields to thrive. I shifted my focus from technical scientific conferences to professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and actively seeking out diverse voices, especially those of womxn of colour.


Homeward Bound appeared on my radar as an incredible platform to pursue connections and projects that would help me find my path forward after my PhD. Moreover, the messaging conveyed by Homeward Bound was welcoming and reassuring. The organisation explicitly acknowledges imposter syndrome as a common hurdle for potential applicants and encourages womxn from diverse backgrounds and stages of their career to apply.


Even so, I didn’t work up the confidence to apply to Homeward Bound right away. I knew I wanted to do it—I researched the organisation, wrote up notes detailing the application process, connected with a past participant to ask questions—but I needed another morale boost before I took the plunge.

One of the stepping stones that provided that boost was my 2019 participation in MIT’s Rising Stars in Chemical Engineering workshop. Held each year, the purpose of this workshop is to provide information, support, and resources to encourage womxn in PhD or postdoctoral positions who are considering an academic career. (And yes, I still participated and benefited from the content even though “I don’t want to be a professor”!) I experienced incredible positivity among the 2019 Rising Stars cohort, as well as inspiration and warmth from interacting with womxn of colour in leadership positions. These leaders were genuinely invested in our success, and for the first time, I truly started to feel like I was qualified, capable, and wanted in my field. Moreover, I wanted to help others feel that way too, which cemented my resolve to join Team HB6 and expand my leadership toolkit alongside like-minded womxn.


In early 2020, I began assembling my Homeward Bound application, which included a series of written questions, a 3-page CV, and a 2-minute recorded elevator pitch. I was so eager that I sat down and filled out the written application as soon as it was released! What I loved was that rather than marketing our past achievements, the questions tasked us with pondering our motivations, perspectives on leadership, challenges, and goals for the future.


It was an opportunity for each applicant to describe their unique vision; for me, to authentically express my values and my personal interest in merging STEMM and social work.

Of course, there were hiccups. In mid-March, my city went into its first lockdown in response to the spreading coronavirus. With the HB6 application due a few weeks later, I ended up filming my elevator pitch on my phone while sitting at my kitchen table and trying not to disturb my neighbours. Not ideal, but it got the job done!



Due to the pandemic, the future was uncertain, and the application results were delayed multiple times. (Homeward Bound is based in Australia, where the 2nd wave of the virus hit particularly hard over the summer.) I’m sure many applicants wondered if it would even be possible to travel to Antarctica within the next few years.


Life in Lockdown (Weeks 1-3), submitting the HB6 application and living the onesie life.

However, the good news finally came that October: my application had been successful! Though the date of our Antarctic voyage will depend on global COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, Team HB6 will officially begin our online programming on March 1, 2021.

 

So what’s next?


Rather than pick a specific New Year’s resolution, I like to find a keyword or theme that I can channel in each area of my life throughout the year. In 2021, my keyword is ‘visibility’. Of course, the obvious interpretation is that I am striving for visibility related to #TeamHB6. This alone is a momentous and intimidating undertaking for me as a graduate student still finding my footing in the professional world. However, ‘visibility’ is a multifaceted theme that extends beyond my involvement in HB6. In my next blog post, I’ll delve into this and discuss what visibility means for me both as an individual and as part of a global community of womxn.


If you have questions or ideas for me, I'd love to hear from you!

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