These past four years would not have been possible without the mentorship of my Black female professors: Dr. Valerie Purdie Greenaway and Dr. E’mett McCaskill. I would like to express sincere gratitude to these women for their guidance and efforts to instill a sense of belonging within the STEM sphere. To my parents, Courtney and Karen Coke, who continually shared their support, either morally, financially, or physically, thank you for your unwavering faith in me. Success is neither linear nor monolithic. There are a myriad of paths to finding purpose and I look forward to discovering my path as I embark on the next phase in my life.