An Interview with Camille Carlisle
We would like to introduce Camille Carlisle, who just graduated from St. Mary's Academy and has been helping us out at Yellow Scope: Science Kits for Girls' Headquarters. In the fall she will be attending Tufts University to study bio-psychology and pursue a career in medicine. For some insights into this young woman - who is definitely going places in the world - please read her answers to some questions that we like to ask interesting girls/women in STEM.
1) Who inspires you the most?
It is a combination of Sheryl Sandberg, the author of Lean In and COO of Facebook, and my mom. They both represent the rewarding and complicated life of being both a mother and a successful career woman. Coming from St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girl school in downtown Portland, I have been surrounded by confident and empowering women who encourage me to not limit myself. My mom has been able to balance a career as an Emergency Physician and a mother for 18 years. I can only hope to do the same in my own life.
2) What mistake have you made that turned out to be a great learning experience?
It was a huge mistake for me to think that St. Mary’s would not be a good high school fit for me. I did not want to go to St. Mary’s Academy my 8th grade year because I had never been to my neighborhood school for more than three years. However, SMA has been the best education I have ever had. When I have a daughter I will encourage her to go to an all girls school because of the environment that states, “Today’s young women. Tomorrow’s leaders.”
3) We are really into the Growth Mindset at YS. (If you're not familiar with it, look it up because it will change your life.) What's something you're not good at... yet?
In a formal, educational environment, I tend to not be confident in my answers in large groups. I like to be right and often don’t articulate my thoughts because I don’t want to be wrong. After being surrounded by such self-assured young women at Saint Mary's Academy, I continue to work on becoming more assertive and unafraid of being wrong.
4) What's your favorite element, and why?
Carbon by far is my favorite element because it manages to sneak its way into every compound. From sugar, to carbon dioxide, methane, and diamonds! Who would think that nature could create diamonds from the Earth’s mantle to a crystalline structure of carbon (diamond lattice) and strong covalent bonding? Diamonds are supposed to be a girl’s best friend too right?
We are so happy to have Camille as part of our team!
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