“She encourages others to not be afraid to challenge themselves, to go above and beyond what is expected, and to find their passion“
Family can lead you to your Passion
Heather Guenther’s Story
Family connections can lead to fulfilling career opportunities in STEM. Heather Guenther is a local San Antonian who graduated from John Jay High School. After graduation she was not sure what she wanted to do. Her grandfather worked at Texas Biomedical Research Institute and suggested she apply. Following his advice, Heather applied and secured an entry level position as an animal caretaker. Through this experience she discovered the vital importance of animals in biomedical research and how well Texas Biomed cares for their animals.
Heather thrived at Texas Biomed, participating in continuing education and completing coursework to obtain her vet tech certification. These trainings helped her to advance in her career. Heather honed her organizational and communication skills, eventually securing a position as a vet tech in the Bio Safety Level 4 lab (BSL4). The BSL4 lab is where scientists research incurable infectious diseases, developing treatments and cures. Heather had to complete specialized training and certifications to work in this highly sophisticated and technical lab. Organizational leadership noticed Heather’s skills and created a new position for her. Heather now works as a liaison between the lab techs, scientists, maintenance personnel, and employees whose work is connected to the BSL4 lab. Heather organizes maintenance schedules, addresses security concerns, and ensures equipment within the lab is working properly.
Heather is motivated to continue learning. She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. She encourages others to not be afraid to challenge themselves, to go above and beyond what is expected, and to find their passion. Heather’s family connection provided an opportunity to start her career. Today, Heather considers her work colleagues to be her extended family who share a passion for animals and are dedicated to finding treatments and cures for some of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
Additional Materials
Discussion Questions
- What type of science skills do you think are important in Heather’s job?
- What steps did Heather take to advance her professional career?
- Is there anyone in your family or neighborhood who works in a career field that you are interested in?
Suggested Activity
Like many people who graduate from high school, Heather did not know what she wanted to do for a career. Identify a local STEM-related organization that you are interested in learning more about. Create a presentation, electronic or hard copy, about the organization. Include their mission statement, describing the main research or function of the organization. Identify types of positions within the organization. Identify one position to research. Expand on any required certifications or education requirements, indicating where the certifications or education levels can be attained in San Antonio or Texas.