My professional and personal network has been broadened through my active participation in various affiliations at the University of Washington, locally within the city of Seattle, and on the national level. Hearing from professionals in my research field helps keep me up to date on the latest news, while also teaching me the habits of successful people who have accomplished what I aspire to accomplish in academia. Having this impact on students is also what I try to achieve concurrently as I learn to grow, because I am self-aware that I have already passed through many important stages in my life. This is why I volunteer in middle school, high school, and early college programs because I believe that I can help students at those stages progress to where I am at now.