Well, I'm here to tell you about the exciting world of college freshwoman life, from a real live front-row seat kinda view.

Soon, you will be like me, filling out applications to schools and scholarships. Like my science teacher Gio told me, take your SAT's and ACT's early, and take them lots! But don't be like me and just apply to one school, take a hold of as many opportunities as you can because it's not you in search of a school to go to, it's the schools in search of bright young ladies like you.

So, here's what it's like to be a freshman in college: I went to freshman orientation and I felt very intimidated by the big campus, I worried that older students could telepathically tell that I'm just a freshman. But it's not true, they can't worry about that kind of stuff in such a big place, they have better things to think about. I also worried that I wouldn't have any friends and that all I would do is study all day.

But I got a great summer job down in Pasadena, California just for getting good grades in high school and applying to the University of Washington. I worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is part of NASA, as a summer tech and I did neat stuff in clean room labs. I was hooked up to my job by an awesome organization, the Minority Science and Engineering Program. I needed help with my math skills, although I took calculus level math, I only placed into math 102, pre-algebra. So MSEP hired a math tutor for me and seven other kids who were down there and we worked on math for two hours a day on top of our 8-hour work days. But it was all worth it because I took my math placement test again and got into a pre-calculus class. I also worked right from the book that I was going to need next quarter so I 4.0'd my math class, and I was only a freshman.

MSEP worked even more wonders for me. They offer incoming freshmen a B.R.I.D.G.E. program that got us even more ready for school. We made friendships that will last a lifetime because having friends in the same field really helps you stay on track. From the friends I made over the summer to the friends that I made at bridge, I have enough friends to work out with at the gym and study to fill my schedule.

But don't worry, you're guaranteed your mother's embarrassing statements. My mom and I were looking for a place to eat and we were on the "Ave", a street full of weird stores next to the U.W. I was trying to be a cool college kid, but she kept telling me VERY LOUDLY about how I'm going to "come here everyday" and that this place is going to be my "favorite place to eat". I know that she was just being excited for me but then she went and told the waiter that I am going to the U.W. and that I was going to become a scientist. The waiter just looked me up and down and said, "We'll see about that."

College is about frustration and having fun learning so much stuff. When a challenge like this comes along, just take it and make it your goal to show that person off, to prove to them that you've got what it takes.

I know that a lot of you are into sports, so I wanted to let you know that you don't have to be on the varsity teams to play. Every college should have intramural sports in almost every field of games. Last quarter I played on someone else's dorm volleyball team, playing sports is a good way to have fun and meet new people.

So, I guess my advice is to stick in there, have fun, apply, apply, apply to scholarships and schools and be optimistic and determined!!

You're all invited to write me back if you have any more questions, I love to get email detevuk@u.washington.edu. Try emailing another science gal, she'd love to hear from you.

Good luck!

Note:
Demarus was part of the Rural Girls in Science research team for Neah Bay High School. Her paper for the project, Whaling Rights in Alaska explores whaling rights issues in Alaska.