With a chemical engineering degree from Yale University in her future aspirations, Francesca Rodriguez reflected on how hands-on learning made all the difference at Palm Beach Central High School.
Her Cambridge courses, particularly the science disciplines where lab components are integrated into both the classes and assessments, not only gave her the technical and relevant preparation she desired but shaped her career trajectory in the process.
“I just found myself really immersed into the whole lab experience, and it made me want to delve into research because I really liked that kind of hands-on experience that I was able to do,” Rodriguez said. Learning through tinkering and experimenting gave her a deeper connection to the material because she was able to apply and test her knowledge authentically in real time.
Labs aligned closely with Rodriguez’s extracurricular passion for science fairs. Her senior year project on preventing water eutrophication took her to international competition, a stage she said Cambridge’s rigorous, internationally focused curriculum helped prepare her for. By emphasizing global perspectives and interconnected issues, the program gave her the confidence to engage with peers and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.
The strong writing skills required throughout the courses has also bolstered her readiness. What the Class of 2026 graduate once considered a weakness has become an invaluable strength.
“I had to get out of my comfort zone to write and really articulate my words, and I think just being able to articulate my thoughts better helped in my STEM classes,” she said. “It's one thing to learn hard subjects in STEM, but another to communicate it with others, because fundamentally STEM is something that you communicate.”
Back to Graduate Voices