-: Don't be afraid to reach out.
I think sometimes even in my own journey
there were folks that I thought were rock stars
that would never reply to my note.
They did, and then I got to work with them,
and then they were the research person
I got to do research with,
and then the folks that I've published with.
And that's - so I think that, you know, for me,
it is, you know, it's the imposter syndrome thing
of like am I good enough.
Even though I know I've done all this work,
am I good enough to talk to them?
Don't be afraid to do it.
And if they don't respond, well, then that's okay.
Let's find somebody else.
But I think when I have been able
to at least put myself out there,
and it's not really like throwing myself out there,
it's a note.
I'm really interested in your work.
Why are you interested in this person?
Tell them that.
And I think that's been an amazing experience
of watching them bring me into the conversation.
Not all of them have been successful,
but the ones that have, have really propelled me
in my educational and professional experiences.