People

happiesbetter donated ten percent of all sales to movement.org in celebration of February as National Self Esteem Month.  We profiled a different Fierce and Fearless female each week throughout the month.  Check out these awesome chicks.  Know somebody who you'd like us to profile?  Send an email and photo to:  robyn@happiesbetter.com

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Likes Doing: Biochemistry research, making scientific graphics/comics, puzzles

Some Basics: 23 years old, attending Watson School of Biological Science as a Graduate Student in Cold Springs Harbor, NY.

Passions: Encouraging girls to believe in their ability to achieve their goals, and improving resources to help women and girls succeed in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

How Science Became Her Thing: I've always been fascinated with figuring out how things work and I love that science gives me the strategies and resources to answer questions about the mysteries of life.

Most Proud of: My compassion.

I feel powerful when: looking at pictures from when I completed a marathon!

Overcoming something scary: In order to start doing lab research, I had to find a teacher who was willing to let me work with them. I was terrified to approach the teacher I wanted to work; I was afraid he's say no because I wasn't good enough.  Nevertheless, I mustered up the courage to ask, and he said, "yes". This started a 3-years-long research collaboration that cemented my love for science, helped give me the experience needed to get into a good program, and greatly increased my self-confidence.

Greatest Inspiration: My dad. He has used his experiences struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to advocate for Mental Illnesses.  

A dream of mine: to become a research professor with a lab of my own.

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Favorites: My favorite activities I used to be able to do were basketball and soccer.  I also liked gymnastics.  I miss playing wall-ball at recess.  

My knee:  About seven months ago my knee started hurting.  The doctor told me I have something called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), where the bone basically died from lack of blood supply.  The surgeon drilled tiny holes in my bone to help bring the blood supply back. He  gave it an 80% success rate of the surgery working.  Fingers crossed!  He said I cannot walk more than 15 minutes per day and definitely no running or jumping.  

The hard part: The hardest part about healing is not being able to play.  My friends and I cannot do what we want to do together at recess or after school because of me.  When I first had surgery it was really hard since I had to be in a wheelchair for six weeks and depend on others to help me.  

What I’ve learned:  to always encourage others and that they too can do it!  I would let them know that I have faith in them, like others have had faith in me and have encouraged me.

On Feeling Powerful: Something that makes me feel powerful, is that my knee might recover good and healthy and it might be stronger than it ever used to be.

Fears: My biggest fear was being awake when the doctor was performing the surgery.  Luckily that did not happen and they gave me a lot of great medicines so I slept through it.  Another fear I have is not being able to play sports again, hopefully this will not be the case.  

Favorite thing about me: My favorite thing is that I am crazy about sports! I am determined to do my best.  When I put my mind to something I have to finish it.  

My inspiration: Steph Curry inspires me because he is so good at basketball. My dream is to meet him.

*happiesbetter chose to profile Taylor as a Fierce & Fearless girl because of the obstacles and changes she has bravely faced and will continue to persevere through with OCD.  Osteochondritis Dissecans is necrosis of the bone due to lack of blood supply. Approximately 1/100,000 children suffer from it. It is also seen in children that are active in year round sports due to repeated trauma or pounding on the bone. 

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Age: 12

Favorite Activities: I love going to the beach, traveling to new places, and spending time with family and friends.

I  feel powerful when someone tells me I can’t do something I want to achieve, and I prove them wrong. I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. I may not be the tallest or the strongest, but I'm pretty fearless and love a challenge.

On Bravery: I tried out for the lead role in a play in sixth grade. I was very nervous--mostly because I would have to write an original song about something we learned in history and then sing it in front of the entire sixth grade! Some of my friends thought it was crazy for me to try out, but I really wanted the part, and I got it! One of my favorite moments from elementary school was taking the stage in front of all of my friends!

 Favorite thing about me: My determination! When I start something, I almost always finish it. I also think I'm a really loyal, kind, caring person. I treasure my family and friends.

My Inspiration:  My grandma inspires me because she has accomplished so much in life. She graduated college, became a nurse, married my grandfather, and raised three amazing children. She is married happily to this day. She's generous, supportive, and loves me unconditionally. She's still traveling the world, loves to swim and play golf, and spoils me every chance she gets. She inspires me to work hard at school, be proud of myself, and be the best version of myself every day. I love her so very much.