---
title: Words of Wisdom for Personal Enrichment from Female STEM Research Leaders
description: Female STEM Research Leaders from TERC share advice for personal enrichment based on their education, career paths, and challenges they've overcome.
---

[TERC Blog](https://blog.terc.edu)

# [Words of Wisdom for Personal Enrichment from Female STEM Research Leaders](https://blog.terc.edu/7-words-of-wisdom-from-inspiring-female-stem-research-leaders)

 Written by [TERC](https://blog.terc.edu/author/terc) | Mar 8, 2021 2:25:11 PM

## *Part 2: Personal Enrichment*

At a panel discussion for emerging TERC leaders, [Maria Blanton, Senior Scientist; ](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/maria-blanton/)[Teon Edwards, STEM Education Senior Leader;](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/teon-edwards/)<https://www.terc.edu/profiles/maria-blanton/>[Joni Falk, Center Director;](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/joni-falk/) [Martha Merson, Principal Investigator;](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/martha-merson/) and [Andee Rubin, Principal Scientist](https://www.terc.edu/profiles/andee-rubin/) shared their education and career paths, challenges they've encountered, and ways they've advanced their work.

Part 1 of this series shared words of advice [for the work environment](https://blog.terc.edu/10-words-of-wisdom-from-inspiring-female-stem-research-leaders) from these extraordinary women. We hope these quotes on personal enrichment in Part 2 aide you in developing successful careers in STEM research and education.

### Ask for help

> People do ask for help. The smartest people I know have developmental editors. The most statistical savvy people I know have psychometricians as advisors on their boards. Let yourself receive help.
> 
> —Martha Merson

### Confidence can be learned

> Taking on projects that weren't always in my wheelhouse gave me confidence in myself as a learner. Having this confidence in oneself is something you can develop over time.
> 
> —Andee Rubin

### Find things that balance you

> My faith and my family are the core of my identity so when one of my papers or grants gets rejected, I don't feel like everything has fallen apart. It stings for a bit, but then I move on to the next challenge. I love this job but it's only one part of who I am.
> 
> —Maria Blanton

### It all works together

> Have a rich life and bring it to your work.
> 
> —Martha Merson

### Find your passion

> A mentor once said to me, 'all you need is fire in your belly and passion for what you're doing.' That really stayed with me and helped me persist.
> 
> —Joni Falk

### Value your own path

> We all have meanderings and there's no straight line or typical thing that gets people to a job. It's these different paths that inform the way we do our work.
> 
> —Andee Rubin

### Start now

> Don't wait until you feel ready or you receive some sign from the universe. Throw yourself into it now and be ready for the job to feel too big. I always say, I'm wearing a huge t-shirt and one day I might grow into it.
> 
> —Martha Merson

 

[View full post](https://blog.terc.edu/7-words-of-wisdom-from-inspiring-female-stem-research-leaders)

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