4 minute read
MAD SCIENCE OF SAN DIEGO by Erika Garcia
Science presents numerous opportunities that can only be seized with the right preparation, determination, and with the utmost respect of its potential.
I come from a humble background I was born in Lima, Peru, to a singleparent home that presented numerous challenges.
Challenges that my mother had to face head-on while my grandmother taught me the way of my ancestors. My mother made a very bold decision when I was five years old; she uprooted me from Peru and transplanted me to where I now call home; San Diego, CA. She moved us here to give me more opportunities to make a difference, make a change, and give my best effort to make this a better planet.
Admittedly, science was not my favorite class due to my schools' limited resources.
I joined the workforce at a young age in customer service at a restaurant. This was my first real exposure to customers' demands; this helped me focus on the details and the customer experience. Shortly after, a great opportunity presented itself at a jewelry store. I was exchanging a piece of jewelry for something else. While in the store, I had the store manager's attention, and inadvertently I was selling his piece of jewelry back to him. The store manager offered me a position (on the spot). He saw something in me that I still had not discovered. He saw what came naturally to me, passion, customer service, and determination (to get my way and exchange the piece).
After a few months in his store, he sent me to get certified as a Diamontologist. Diamontology is a branch of Gemology, which is the Science of studying precious stones. Science was back in my life.
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I continued my journey armed with newly acquired skills into my next role. This time I was going from business to business in downtown San Diego selling multifunction units (fancy word for copiers). I learned to refine my biggest skill during my time here. Determination! I practiced this from sunup to sundown from office to office, receiving No after No and navigating thru the various layers of office hierarchy for the SALE to get to the final approving authority. A game I played to win and I remain undefeated.
When I joined the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce as a Business Development Manager, I capitalized on the most significant opportunity being surrounded by high-profile community and local business leaders and entrepreneurs at various stages of success. It lit a fire in my internal drive. This position was short-lived since I was recently married to a United States Navy Sailor and we received orders to relocate to Virginia Beach, VA. I was just getting a sense of what military life was like.
Once again uprooted, moving across the country, leaving everything and everyone I knew, to support my husband. This time, I was not afraid of starting over; I felt my pedigree was strong and I could take on any challenge. After three years, we were on our way back to San Diego, CA. A place we were intimately familiar with, a place where friends and family were awaiting our return and an opportunity with Mad Science of San Diego presented itself.
Mad Science of San Diego has been providing science enrichment programs to kids for over 20 years. Working closely with the previous owners, I learned the business's intricacies and its impact on the community. The overall concept is to spark the imagination of kids through science to drive a student to STEM careers in the future. It is MIND BLOWING to think we have that much influence; the responsibility is huge and the reward overwhelming.
After a few years in this company, I took ownership of Mad Science of San Diego. My goal is to continue to introduce our future generation to science. Without a doubt, I know I have all the tools in my toolbox to accept the journey head-on. I am determined to impact San Diego, by serving the countless military families that live here and sharing my love of all things science. I like to practice a concept presented by Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit by consistently putting in the work when others may not have wanted to. " I am continuing to build good habits even when no one is watching. I am staying true to my purpose, wanting to make an impact.
This quote alone has allowed Mad Science to pivot, adapt, and remain a constant presence in our community. Due to the unprecedented circumstance of COVID-19, we shifted from an in-person, hands-on, interactive environment to an online platform.
We have managed to stay hands-on and interactive in our approach while adding the additional safety parameters of social distancing without compromising our future scientist experience.
On the path to my current success, I have learned many skills that have allowed me to seize opportunities and capitalize on them. I have come full circle like science; I can help the people I come across to usher our young generation into science careers and assist fellow entrepreneurs in achieving success.
