Marissa Nichole Rylander

I attribute my success to determination and passion. When you really want something, being passionate and determined about it and putting your best toward it is key. I was actually born legally blind with a lot of visual disabilities, and my mom was definitely my biggest champion, always there pushing me along. When I see a challenge, I find that exciting - if you're going to tell me no, I can't do it, then I'll find a way to do it. It's just kind of my personality to rise above things. From the very beginning, I had challenges, but I overcame them, and I think that's what I want other people to realize - no matter what your barriers are, with hard work and passion and support from your family, you can accomplish those things.

The best advice I ever received was just not to give up, no matter what. From an early age, there were people along the way who didn't say 'oh, you're too young, you don't know what you want.' Instead, they gave me opportunities - like when I was in fifth grade spending time in the hematologist's office with my sister who had a rare blood condition, people gave me amazing books to read about the immune system. They gave me opportunities to volunteer at the hospital, at the doctor's office where they gave free care to people who couldn't afford it, and at a school for the handicapped. All along the way, they fed my interest, and I'm grateful to people that gave them to me and for my mom helping me find them.

Hold on to your dreams and prepare the best you can, but ultimately do think about what you want out of life. Do you want to have a family? Because that might affect your choices in the future of your career path. But you also can't think about it too soon because you might miss opportunities. The thing is just grab onto all the opportunities that come toward you. Don't think that I'm not good enough - rise to the occasion and take every opportunity while you're young to travel and to do exciting things that challenge you. The things that scare you are the things that grow you. Looking back when I was younger, I think oh, I should have tried this study abroad, I should have done this or that, I wish I had even had more confidence. But doing the things that scare you are the most important.

A big challenge for young women is having an identity and seeing other women that are doing it. Sometimes that's difficult because there's not enough people to identify with, so they don't always even think about these kinds of careers. The challenges are, one, being prepared - it's a really highly competitive environment now with a lot of people that have great grades. Students have to really be able to get different experiences that show they're committed, and kids really have to start at an early age figuring out what they want to do and setting themselves for that path. There's been a lot of studies that say in middle school, girls start to falter and lose their confidence. It's important for them to see role models and to have the support and to realize that they can do anything they want to do. It's definitely hard balancing family and different levels of challenges. I love my job because I have a lot of flexibility as a professor to be able to be there for my kids but also do exciting work. Finding role models and people that can support them and guide them through this process is crucial. We as women just have to give back to those that are after us because of the people that came before us - that mentoring process is really, really important.

Having strong character is very important, and ultimately kindness. When we think about cancer and all these things that we're trying to solve, it's to make other people's lives better, and hopefully they'll survive it and also do great things. Character is very important, along with passion and service - giving back. Our motto at Virginia Tech was Ut Prosim, which means 'how may I serve?' I think that's a big part of what we do, to help others and inspire others that life is beautiful, it's challenging, but it's beautiful. Every moment that you have is a gift - you don't know how much you have. I'm religious, so prayer is a very big thing for me to overcome things. Having that faith is a big part of my life as you go through challenges as well.