Hood is a full-time bioengineering PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology. Apart from her love for science and curiosity to learn, the shockingly less number of hijab-wearing faces in Indian academia has further pushed her to continue in this field. Among the many personal and social goals she expects to achieve at the end of this journey are to (1) develop her critical thinking skills and help others in developing their own – something she feels is essential for the growth and empowerment of our community in India, and (2) contribute to the improvement of healthcare and bridge the gap between science and society.