In this episode, Lisa, Dr. Corbin, and Catie discuss:

• Mentorship as a driver of growth and opportunity
• The mutual responsibilities within mentor–mentee relationships
• Early guidance shaping confidence and career direction
• Paying forward lessons learned through mentoring others

Key Takeaways: 

• Mentorship offers students personalized support, creating opportunities that money alone cannot provide.
• Advocating for oneself and asking for help early—whether in high school classrooms or college —can build the confidence needed to persist in challenging subjects.
• Successful mentorship is not about rigid schedules but about mentees taking initiative, showing preparedness, and seeking guidance when it’s most needed.
• Recognition can follow when students demonstrate leadership by mentoring younger peers, developing rigorous learning systems, and fostering strong academic communities.

“If you're a scientist in the STEM field, and you've never mentored anybody… I promise that any effort and time you spend mentoring will be rewarding, both for your mentee and for you.” – Dr. Karen Corbin
“Mentorship has always been a really important aspect of my life, and I do think something I'm very good at is advocating for myself and asking for help.” – Catie Kean

About Dr. Karen Corbin and Catie Kean:
Dr. Karen Corbin is an Associate Investigator at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute. Since August 2024, she has mentored Catie Kean through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, supporting her academic journey and professional development.

Catie Kean is a 2024 Astronaut Scholar with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biotechnology. She earned an Honorable Mention for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and will begin her PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder in August 2025.

Episode References:

• Explore more resources to support students’ growth and clarity by visiting the free tools 
• Join ASF’s Mentorship Program to support the newly announced 2025 Astronaut Scholars and help shape the future of science

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

Connect with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astronaut-scholarship-foundat

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