Dr. Dave:

Okay. Okay. All right, Latanya. So you're the recipient of the 5 Saturdays Scholarship for 2021 here in Tucson. So where are you going to go to school? Where are you going to college?

Latanya:

I'm going to Howard University. I'm going to be attending Howard University.

Dr. Dave:

Okay, awesome. So you go to HBCU, right, yeah? Yeah. I said that right, right?

Latanya:

Yeah.

Dr. Dave:

So what do you plan to study when you're at Howard?

Latanya:

Computer Science.

Dr. Dave:

Oh, perfect. That's what I studied when I went to undergrad school, I studied Computer Science as well. So we're kindred spirits. Yeah. Are you going to look up the Vice President when you're in DC, since she's a Howard alum?

Latanya:

Yeah, planning on that.

Dr. Dave:

I would too. So tell me, what are some of the business ideas that you learned in the mentoring and the 5 Saturdays STEAM program?

Latanya:

I was able to learn that whatever you choose to do or if you choose to become an entrepreneur or anything, you're going to have to know how to work with people and connect with them. So that was the major thing I got from my mentoring class and from the 5 Saturdays courses.

Dr. Dave:

Yeah. Did you come up with a business idea?

Latanya:

Yeah, when we had a project, because when I was on my phone once, I saw that someone created a black-owned version of Amazon. So I was like that was my project too, so I picked that and that I was my business plan, where black people can offer their services or sell their products to an audience that uses them most like their peers and stuff like that.

Dr. Dave:

Oh, that's brilliant. Put Jeff Bezos out of business, right? Or be his competitor.

Latanya:

Yeah.

Dr. Dave:

So tell me, how did going through this experience make you more resilient?

Latanya:

It made me not be too afraid about moving across the country to go to college and pursue my dreams of working in the STEAM field, because there's not many black women in that field. So I feel like I'm more prepared and wouldn't be so hesitant to express my ideas when I'm in the career I am in or when I'm in my classes and doing projects and things like that.

Dr. Dave:

That's wonderful. No, it's great that you got that out of that program about building resiliency, because Computer Science is hard, but it's so rewarding, let me tell you. Yeah. So if you had to share with a friend or family member about the mentoring and 5 Saturdays STEAM course, what would you tell them?

Latanya:

I would tell them they'll get a lot out of it. Not only would it help them in whichever career they're in right now or plan to do, but how to connect with others and just put yourself out there and become more mature and more just ready to... If you're given any obstacle, you'll find a way to get out of it or make it a lesson to yourself instead of just being defeated or something.

Dr. Dave:

So now that you're graduated, how do you feel about that?

Latanya:

I feel excited for what's to come now, since I'm going to graduate, I think, in two days. So I'm excited for what my future holds for me.

Dr. Dave:

Excellent. Well, Latanya, I just want to say I want to affirm you first of all, for going off and planning to go study Computer Science. That's very exciting to me since that's what I studied in undergrad and grad school and some more stuff into unto my doctorate level. So I'm so excited for you to go down that path, right? And for you to investing the time and energy into... Investing in yourself and going through the mentoring and the 5 Saturdays STEAM programs. So I just want to affirm you for doing that and I can't wait to hear what happens next for you, right? Because I would like to follow up in the future, I'll be sending you an email, "Hey, can we talk more and find out what happened as you went off to Howard?" Right. Howard University. So I'd like to see what goes on with you in the future.

Latanya:

Yeah, definitely. Thank you so much.

Dr. Dave:

Okay. Well, thank you for your time and congratulations again. Congratulations for the scholarship. Congratulations for finishing high school and then off to your future.

Latanya:

Thank you.

Dr. Dave:

Okay. Have a great one. Thank you.

Latanya:

Thank you, you too. Bye.