Question: Who was your inspiration

Miriam Ngarega answered on 22 Jul 2025:

When I was in school I really wanted to become a scientist. I wanted to do work that could make have an impact in people. Then one day, I met someone who changed my thinking. I met a mentor who was a well-known epidemiologist in the world.

An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies diseases, though not as doctors. We try to find out why people get sick, how diseases spread, and how we can stop them. Imagine being the person who helps prevent people from getting diseases like malaria, cholera, or even new diseases like COVID-19. That is what epidemiologists do. Meeting that mentor helped me see that I could mix my love for science with work that directly helps people. It showed me a career path I had never thought about before.

Today, I work as an epidemiologist. My job allows me to investigate health problems, look for solutions, and help protect communities from diseases. I am still young and growing in my career, but so far, I am living my dream of being a scientist and hope that the work I do will have an impact.

If you dream of becoming a scientist or having a job where you help others, keep going. What you are learning now in school can lead you to a career where you can change lives.