Lucy’s Story
Lucy, a 19 year old based in Scotland, is a Reviewer as part of the Youth STEM Matters Volunteer Team.
In her own words, this is her story.
From Typesetter to Reviewer: Getting a Role I Didn’t Apply For
Volunteering has been a big part of my life for almost 10 years; from helping out/organising at local science events to childcare at my local church. However, the pandemic made it quite hard to take on any new activities in a safe manner. So when I saw Youth STEM 2030 looking for volunteers on my LinkedIn this summer, I was intrigued.
I had never heard of Youth STEM Matters but I loved that they are a youth-led platforms FOR youth to share their scientific interests and discoveries. I decided to apply for the Typesetter role; it seemed relatively manageable even with the hectic University schedule that I knew was awaiting me in September. It had the least time commitment, the most diverse exposure (Typesetters edit a variety of articles across all sciences), and it could help boost my confidence in pursuing science communication in the future. But when I got a response a month later, it was not what I expected.
I had proceeded to the next stage of applying to be a Reviewer; a role that I hadn’t even considered for numerous reasons. I assumed it required a lot of commitment (3-4 hours a week), as well as in-depth knowledge of your subject. Even though I had read many chemistry articles for university, I didn’t think I was smart enough. I went through with the rest of the application and was honoured to be chosen as a Reviewer for the research team.
Was I expecting it? No. Do I regret it? Not at all!
After getting accepted, my fellow reviewers and I immediately underwent the organised training, which really made me more excited and less anxious for my role. It was so great to meet people who are passionate about science just like I am; I didn’t ever feel inadequate, and the training not only increased my knowledge and understanding of different scientific manuscripts, but it made me feel confident and prepared to review some chemistry manuscripts myself.
“It encourages me to know there is a platform that encourages us youth to think beyond today and towards our future.”
Being part of the Volunteer Team does require giving up some of your free time, but it’s very manageable! This role was not what I planned but it has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve met some wonderful people, learned so much through my training, and perhaps the best part has been reading some amazing research that has been submitted by scientists as young as I am! It is so inspiring; not only does it motivate me to read and discover more as a scientist, but it encourages me to know there is a platform that encourages us youth to think beyond today and towards our future.
So, what is my main point? Take risks, apply for that role, do that task! Although the training was quite in-depth, I was anxious and didn’t feel confident when reviewing my first article; which is normal! I learned so much just by diving in and reviewing an article myself, and the feedback I received from the editor was insightful and boosted my confidence even further for my future reviews.
Being able to contribute to something bigger than you and me is the best feeling; and that is something I definitely feel while working with Youth STEM Matters, and you can too!
“Being able to contribute to something bigger than you and me is the best feeling; and that is something I definitely feel while working with Youth STEM Matters.”