Ruston’s Melissa Le balances normal teen life with ‘STEM to Bloom’

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on Ruston High student Melissa Le and her “STEM to Bloom” project.

Melissa Le is having a Hannah Montana moment.

The Ruston High School junior and reigning Miss Louisiana’s Teen finds herself balancing dual roles.

Just as the character Miley Stewart lived a double life in the television series, transforming herself into a famous pop singer Hannah Montana at night, Le finds herself showcasing two distinctly parallel parts of herself.

“My peers think it’s kinda funny because they see me show up at school completely normal and looking like a rat but then that afternoon they go home and there I am online all dolled up and they wonder what happened,” Le said with a laugh. “But they also think it’s pretty cool.”

Le is referring to the weekly series of videos she produces for her “ STEM to Bloom” project. Each video features Le in her pageant sash and crown, introducing a young leader in STEM. It’s an idea that started when she entered the pageantry world.

“All the pageant systems really highlighted platform-based service,” Le said. “I began this with a ‘Girls in STEM’ emphasis but after working in a summer STEM camp, I really felt a need to broaden it. That’s when this new platform was born.”

According to Le, “ STEM to Bloom: Investing in STEM Education for All” encapsulates that you can be any type of person just like you can be any type of plant. However, if you’re watered in the same way, you’ll bloom. It’s this belief that informs the video series she hopes will inspire others to bloom themselves.

“I thought it would be cool to have “STEM to Bloom” as a video series that highlights young leaders that have made great contributions within the STEM field,” Le continued. “My hope is that everyone can become inspired and find someone they can connect with.”

While her passion for STEM began when she was very young, Le said as she grew and began winning pageants, the desire for a product to be produced within her platform took root. The idea for a video series originated because of her interest in favorite influencers on social media. Watching these individuals present weekly videos highlighting a specific area of focus, she saw her own path unfold.

“I thought it would be a good idea to have a routine where people could come back once a week with an opportunity to look at where we’ve been,” Le said. “I love looking at different things and watching people’s lives on YouTube. And I thought I could use that to seek out the next generation of inventors.”

Le admits targeting a younger generation of leaders. She therefore avoids highlighting STEM leaders from a century ago and instead finds younger people making their own mark in STEM today. Her goal is for youth to connect with her subjects while becoming both inspired and curious on their own. For that reason she is intentional and strategic in presenting a diverse array of STEM personalities in the video series.

“Everyone highlighted as a very different background,” Le added. “I try to be really inclusive so there is a diverse array of individuals highlighted and therefore representative of all types of people. For example, I included a young person with autism and extreme ADHD who has her own magazine that highlights women in STEM. I’ve had an international athlete that also works in a hospital. I believe if we are sharing diverse stories then diverse people can connect.”

Le has poured an inordinate amount of time and energy into the process. Along the way, she has discovered she is much more disciplined than she ever realized. She’s even invested in equipment to help make the highest quality of videos possible. And while some weeks have been harder than others, she’s remained inspired.

“I’ve learned there are so many people that think their whole world is what they see,” Le said. “I feel like I’m very present and aware there are so many opportunities out there.”