ality around like-minded kids. As soon as I was accepted into TKS, I got the opportunity to learn about various scientific fields ranging from quantum computing to nanotechnology! At first, I participated in business consulting challenges for TechStars Boston and Kidogo, a daycare franchise originating from Kenya, where my team has made it into the final pitch competition for both businesses. Learning the soft skills necessary to go deeper in my own research, I doubled down on studies on neuroscience. After looking into so many different industries relating to my passion, metabolomics and the biological mechanisms behind human behavior grabbed my attention and would not let go. As I looked further into neurochemistry, I also continued researching psychology, and began to dive deeper into ACEs and their relation to chronic inflammation. I brought my research to events like MassChallenge and the MIT Neurotech conference to learn from adults with experience in biomedical and scientific research. In developing these new experiences, I began to see the relationship between effort and ability and figured out how to maximize my potential. I studied every day, vowing to read research papers during my one hour commute to school as a way of staying up to date on the latest innovations in the science community. Writing papers and making videos about my work, I soon began to earn different speaking opportunities. Ultimately, I presented my research into ACES and their chemical basis to the Harvard Education Alumni and received an invitation to present further as one of the youngest speakers on the Fantastic Future’s panel at South by Southwest this March. I shared my presentation virtually and spoke about my experience as a 15-year-old developing non-invasive treatment options for neurological conditions, based on my research in mental health issues and brain-computer-interface components. In the coming months, I will continue to develop my abilities in all areas of life, whether as a speaker at this summer’s virtual STEMpowerment conference, or as a leader in a global Bossladies initiative helping girls around the world connect over a love of science and personal growth. Lately, I have even taken advantage of my extra time in quarantine by publishing a short series covering COVID-19, specifically a piece on corruption in clinical drug testing, in addition to a project on the fundamentals of pandemics and US pandemic response. Over the course of the next few years, I will hopefully further my research as a student at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Massachusetts and as an activator at The Knowledge Society. I believe that achievement, whether in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, is a balanced combination of ability and effort. In large part, my ability to excel in school and in the STEM world is due to the great amounts of effort I put into every single thing I do. I am wholeheartedly determined to give my best regardless of the task or the obstacles. Many have said that I am too young to be trying to cure mental health issues, and I respond by explaining how lucky I am to have discovered my passion this early and have had the opportunity to share it with others my age. I hope to leave a legacy of innovation, and promote the idea to other young STEM enthusiasts that you are never too young to make a difference in the world if you love learning and you are consumed by a need to learn more. If you put in the effort, you can unlock abilities within yourself greater than anything one could ever imagine. If you are interested in learning more about Faith’s work, email her at faithinello@gmail.com and check out her portfolio here: https://tks.life/profile/faith.inello Nahant Magazine | 30
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