I first met Dr Carika Weldon at The Bermuda College, while looking for the North Hall, because neither of us knew where we were going!

After listening to her speak on gene splicing and her work in it, I knew that science was the path I wanted to choose. It was no surprise to me because I already knew that I wanted to be a virologist. My mom, Angela Young, and my great-aunt Joan Dillas-Wright later convinced me to introduce myself. That night was when it all began.

After a few e-mail exchanges, Dr Weldon and I secured a time that I could interview her over Skype, which proved to be a bit tricky given the time zone differences between London and Bermuda.

Dr Weldon was very accommodating even though it ended being a very late night for her. Finally, the date was set for 18 October, and I was nervous and excited at the same time. Throughout the interview, Dr Weldon’s answers were captivating and empowering.

Her transparency was encouraging and honest as she candidly shared her experiences — the highs and the lows. Dr Weldon spoke of her time at Warwick Academy and how she became a biomedical scientist. Even after being rejected for medical school, she still preserved and began school at the University of Leicester.

It was there that she realised she did not want to be a medical doctor and tried her hand at biomedical science. This inspired me to believe that no matter what happens the first time, there is always a second chance; you just need to believe in yourself. Talking to Dr Weldon taught me many things during our time together but, I will only mention a few highlights.

The first being that if at first you don’t succeed, trying again is the only answer.

You should not limit your dreams, if anything, failure should motivate you to try harder and achieve better things. I enjoyed my time with Dr Weldon and cannot wait to do more with her and hear more about her exciting work. You can watch my Skype calls with her on the BHS Facebook page.