WHAT ARE THE METRICS OF HATCH?

"What are the metrics of HATCH?" someone once asked me. After some careful thought, and a lot of counting, I came up with the answer. One.

The impact on one can have an impact on hundreds of millions of people. The impact of a Da Vinci, Edison, Madame Curie, Rosa Parks, John Lennon, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs... One person. Imagine if they hadn't received the nudge, inspiration, or mentorship needed to put them in such a position. That's why HATCH exists.

One single email that explains why 1000's of volunteer hours are poured into making HATCH a reality. I received this email last night from Hannah Herbst, a HATCH NextGen high school student who was selected last year. Hannah was named America's Top Young Scientist, for her invention that pulls power from the ocean. She has been the only girl in her classes interested in science and engineering for a couple years and sometimes it can feel like you're all alone - that there are not others like you, dreaming big. But there are.

"HATCH changed my life. I came to HATCH as a sophomore in high school. My school is unique - I was really starting out as a full time college freshman, with the age and social skills of a high school student. For the first time in my life, I was afraid to speak out in classes, ask questions, or contribute to discussion. Even though I knew I had earned the right to be in college, no matter my age, I felt like I didn't belong. A month into the year, however, I came to HATCH. A week in Big Sky that changed my life.

At HATCH, I met people in all different fields, gaining new appreciation for how the arts interact with science. I met fellow students who have become close friends. Throughout the week, we merged between groups, learning about music and speaking, writing and engineering, how to look through the lens of someone else's eyes to understand their perspective. I learned from a scientist from Germany. I learned from an activist changing the way others see disability. I learned from kids my age, tackling big problems with simple solutions, sharing their experiences with a confidence that was inspiring. I learned from every speaker and every person I came across, because not only was I learning from them, they were learning from me, too.

HATCH made me realize that it doesn't matter that I'm young. It doesn't matter that as an engineering student I may be the only girl in the room. What matters is that I have ideas, and a voice to share them. That I have questions that need to be asked. The HATCH experience was life-changing for me. I have made connections with others that will last a lifetime. Now, 365 days later, I've shared my experiences at HATCH with many others, inspiring them too to take on the world with new perspective.

Thank you, Yarrow, for the opportunity... I want to inspire others to HATCH a better world too!"

~ Hannah

Because of the efforts of dozens of volunteers, and generous believers, we've helped give wings to a young girl who is most certainly going to move forward in the world and make her mark. And when she does, the world will know - and be better for it. Thank you. Hannah, you are inspiring to us all - a bright light, showing that a brighter future is indeed possible. Learn more about Hannah here - www.hannahherbst.com and more about HATCH at www.HATCHexperience.org