Just Don’t Tell Me

 – Staff – 

Don’t tell me I am not good enough. Because I believe I can be.

Don’t tell me I do not have the background. Because it is something I can learn.

Don’t tell me that I am going through this alone. Because we are in this together.

Don’t tell me that science is only for boys. Because it belongs to all of us. 

Don’t tell me not to ask questions. Because I won’t shut up.

Don’t tell me not to try. Because I will.

Don’t tell me to avoid taking math courses. Because I will take all of them.

Don’t tell me not to apply for that summer science internship.  Because I will apply.

Don’t tell me to take the easy way. Because I won’t.

Don’t tell me I can’t be as good as the other students. Because I aim to improve everyday.  

Don’t tell me there is no place for me here. Because I will make it a place for me.  

Don’t tell me I can’t make it to the top. Just watch me.

Don’t tell me my questions are stupid. Because your questions were once stupid too.

Don’t tell me to be quiet. Because I definitely won’t shut up.

Don’t tell me to stop studying so hard. You do you and let me do me.

Don’t tell me that diversity doesn’t matter. Look around. Diversity is life.

Don’t tell me I am an impostor. It’s mostly in your head.

Don’t tell me that the only goal of training in science is to become a scientist. No way.

Don’t tell me that I have less value because I do not have a PhD. What on earth?

Don’t tell me to take education for granted. Too many of us do.

Don’t tell me that I can’t spend time sharing my passion for science with the youth. Because we must.

Don’t tell me that I shouldn’t seek help. Because I will do just that. 

Don’t tell me that I can’t make a difference in the world. Because I must try.

Don’t tell me that you don’t care about investing in education and science. Because you better.

Don’t tell me not to be concerned about the future of science education. Because I worry about it.

Don’t tell me not to worry about the young people that lack access to science facilities and teachers. Because this really really matters. 

And don’t you dare tell me not to share my story in science. That really matters too. 

Perhaps it’s just your negative committee? 

Photo by World Bank Photo Collection | Photo ID: SW-1BD12016 | Some rights reserved

CS Media Lab

The CS Media Lab is a Boston-anchored civic science news collective with local, national and global coverage on TV, digital print, and radio through CivicSciTV, CivicSciTimes, and CivicSciRadio. Programs include Questions of the Day, Changemakers, QuickTake, Consider This Next, Stories in Science, Sai Resident Collective and more.

• CS Media Lab

  https://civicsciencemedia.org/author/mlab/

  James Riley and Will Mason-Wilkes: Dark Citizen Science
• CS Media Lab

  https://civicsciencemedia.org/author/mlab/

  Combining university public relations and science communication: Tensions and Opportunities
• CS Media Lab

  https://civicsciencemedia.org/author/mlab/

  Mass Audubon is looking for community science data volunteers