In this milestone 20th episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Sirja Joeever, a Harvard freshman studying math and statistics, about navigating high school while exploring diverse passions. From competitive math and orchestra to founding Women on Wall Street, co-founding a nonprofit, tutoring, and becoming a nationally recognized ballet dancer, Sirja shares how she balanced her interests, made decisions, and discovered her direction.

We dive into how to prioritize what matters most, the challenges of leading clubs and initiatives, and advice for students who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “do it all.” If you’re a high schooler trying to figure out how to explore your passions without burning out, this episode is for you!

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In this episode, Ayana talks with Dr. Sibel Ebru Yalcin, a biochemical physicist at Yale who works on one of the most interesting parts of science, which is building the microscopes and imaging systems that allow researchers to "see the invisible."

From Turkey to Los Alamos to Yale, Dr. Yalcin has followed her curiosity across the world, designing tools that help scientists study bacteria, proteins, and nanoscale structures in ways never before possible. She shares how she found her niche, why creating scientific instruments matters just as much as running experiments, and what young students should know if they’re curious about research but don’t know where to start!

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When most people think about dentists, they picture routine checkups or fixing cavities, but there’s so much more to the profession. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jasmeet Khurana of Hudson Family Dental to talk about what really goes into building a career in dentistry.

She shares her journey from studying dentistry in India to completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery at NYU, what a “day in the life” of a dentist actually looks like, and the challenges that shaped her along the way. If you’re a high schooler curious about dentistry, or just wondering how to start exploring healthcare careers, this one's for you!

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