November 2019

3. Brain Storm

“I want to inspire young girls like myself.”—Amara Ifeji

By Rebecca Garibaldi

Amara Ifeji, 17, has shown through consistent hard work and passion you can accomplish quite a bit. From her victory at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to multiple awards for her research projects on methods of water purification in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) 4-year academy program at Bangor High School, to starting a diversity union within her school, Amara is just beginning to make the world a better place.

What sparked this motivation at such a young age? Her family. In 1996 her grandparents immigrated from Nigeria to Maryland. Her grandfather worked as a security guard and her grandmother as a CNA. “They held these minimum-paying jobs for over 20 years while trying to support their household, which consisted of nearly fifteen people at one point. They took care of my cousins and me while our parents went to school. I want to show my grandparents that everything they went through was not in vain. I want to make them proud.”

Amara is paying it forward to those most in need. “Diversification and tackling current environmental issues are important to me. I want to inspire young girls like myself to make a difference by educating and motivating them.” Upon moving to Bangor in 2011 for her mother’s pharmaceutical career, Amara began to realize the limited diversity in both the town and schools. “I started a minority student union at Bangor High School. This is not just a safe haven for minorities but also for Caucasians. I created this union for all to become more educated on racial diversity. I want to create a safer space.”

Her award-winning project in the category of plant sciences at the 2019 ISEF is on water purification through the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. “[According to the World Health Organization] there are 785 million people worldwide who don’t have access to clean drinking water, and that’s not just third-world countries. Bangor High School had three water fountains shut down while I was attending because of contaminated drinking water.” Amara’s goal is for all to have access to clean and safe drinking water. “I hope for the preservation of the environment so future generations can enjoy and experience the same things I did growing up, such as seeing Cadillac Mountain for the first time.”

So what’s next? “I’m currently in the process of applying to colleges.” At the top of her list is Brown University. “I plan on majoring in chemical or environmental engineering with a minor or double major in environmental sustainability or equity. I want to include social justice, racial groups, and different ethnicities in my education as well.”