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Sasha's Pathfinding Passion Project

Sasha's Pathfinding Passion Project

Science, Engineering & Technology

Medicine / Health

Start Date

May 2025

End Date

Ongoing

Sessions Completed

12 sessions

Assets

<div class="assets-links"><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/f86ad360-6078-4591-8965-3cfdf0ba3e6a/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Sasha's Literature Review Article Summary</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/ca1c8842-44d3-4836-b03a-47990b4c9151/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Sasha's Blog Literature Review</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/c612e4df-e049-43dd-b397-82b8da41d4db/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Sasha's Research Paper</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/cdbabe7f-f1cb-4123-b46f-fcc7e62cffe9/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Sasha's Pitch Presentation</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://thesashadispatch.weebly.com/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">The Sasha Dispatch</div></a></div>

Gallery

Student & Mentor

Student

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Sasha</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">8th grade</div></div>

Personality
Interests
Mentor

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Ashley Seong</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Brown University</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Neuroscience</div></div>

Personality

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Creative</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Supportive</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Organized</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Empathetic</p></div></div>

Interests

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Neuroscience</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Public Health</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Research Methodology</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Educational Outreach</p></div></div>

What They Set Out To Do

Sasha, an 8th grader from Palo Alto, was eager to explore her interests in biology and medicine but felt uncertain about her future path. She sought a mentor who could inspire her and help her identify a passion project that aligned with her academic goals. With a disciplined nature and a desire for deeper understanding, Sasha needed guidance to build her confidence and agency as a learner.

The Perfect Match

<div class="case-study-match-wrapper"><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Creative Guidance</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Ashley's creative approach inspired Sasha to explore her interests in science and medicine, leading to a deeper understanding of her passions.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Empathetic Listening</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Ashley's ability to listen and understand Sasha's unique needs helped her build confidence and agency in her learning journey.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Structured Exploration</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">With Ashley's organized mentorship, Sasha successfully navigated complex topics in health equity, culminating in her impactful research project.</div></div></div>

Project Milestones

Literature Review Framework Established
May 2025
Created a structured literature review format with sections for article goals, criticism, and application to research, providing a systematic approach for analyzing healthcare inequity sources.
Healthcare Resources Section Developed
May 2025
Completed the website's Resources section with detailed information about the California Healthcare Foundation and RotaCare Bay Area, including appropriate links to support healthcare inequity research.
Website: Resource and About
May 2025
We successfully completed the pages for resources and about in Sasha's blog. We will focus on the research paper and completing the rest of the pages for Sasha's blog.
Research Paper Structure Formalized
June 2025
Developed a comprehensive structure for the healthcare inequities research paper with thematic body sections focused on Bay Area policy frameworks, healthcare costs, and neighborhood-level inequities.
Website Resources Section Expansion
June 2025
Added two new organizations (Home Rise and San Francisco Community Health Center) to the resources section of the website, complete with descriptive paragraphs, links, and images.
Experiences Section Creation
July 2025
Developed a new 'Experiences' section for the blog showcasing real stories of people facing public health and social justice challenges in the Bay Area, including a completed introduction paragraph.
Experience Paragraphs Implementation
July 2025
Successfully added and edited the first and second experience paragraphs to the website, incorporating personal stories with proper citations from the previously selected articles.

Skills Developed

  • Research and writing skills
  • Critical thinking in health topics
  • Effective communication techniques
  • Project management for blog development

Challenged Overcomed

  • Transitioning from uncertainty to focused research
  • Building confidence in academic abilities
  • Navigating complex health equity concepts

What’s Next

Now, Sasha is actively engaged in her research project on healthcare inequities, showcasing her growth and newfound confidence. She aims to complete her blog and research paper while continuing to explore her interests in medicine and public health. With Ashley's ongoing support, Sasha is excited to further develop her skills and potentially pursue internships in the healthcare field.

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