Jenni Tamlin has some of the most contagious energy you’ll ever encounter.

Her smile, enthusiasm for Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, and excitement for her interview got us excited about sharing her story with the world.

She’s also hilarious, and her sense of humor really came through when we asked her fun questions about everything from her favorite superheroes (Batman and Poison Ivy) to explaining some of the mainstream lingo that teen girls her age are using nowadays.

But life for Jenni wasn’t always playful and fun.

“I lived in my grandparents’ basement with my mom for most of my life,” she shared with us. “My mom struggled a lot as a teacher, was living paycheck to paycheck, endured a few fatal car crashes, and divorced my dad when I was growing up.”

While her journey as a young girl included many challenges, Jenni’s role model has always been her mom, someone who has served as an inspiration to her given all she’s gone through.

And Jenni would soon discover how to cultivate a sense of resilience of her own, especially when her mom showed her an email promoting Girls Inc. of Metro Denver programming in middle school. She was reluctant to go at first, especially because she didn’t know what to expect and considered herself on the shy side in front of others.

But her nerves immediately dissolved once she noticed how happy, welcoming, and kind everyone was on her first day at the center. For Jenni, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver has quickly become more than just a place to build a better future. It’s become a space for her to understand the meaning of friendship.

Since then, Jenni has embraced her participation in Girls Inc. of Metro Denver’s Eureka! program and has enjoyed Teen Saturdays, which supports teen girls with skill building, development, and networking opportunities.

“So far my favorite part about Girls Inc. has been the opportunity to network and learn more about the career options available to me,” she told us. “As a kid, I wanted to dance and act – but as I got older, I began developing a passion for math. I remember my uncle signed me up for a flight program, where I got to fly in a plane and learn how it works. It made me fall in love with being in the air and STEM.”

That passion began to lay the groundwork for Jenni’s professional aspirations, where she hopes to someday become a pilot. And through her participation in the Eureka! program, Jenni got to attend a trip to United Airlines, where she explored planes, asked flight attendants and pilots questions, and learned about scholarships.

“We need more women in the field of STEM,” she stated. “There aren’t nearly as many female pilots as there are men. STEM jobs should include more women. That should be the norm.”

Girls like Jenni are changing the way we talk about and integrate female leadership in industries where women are largely underrepresented. Through Girls Inc. of Metro Denver programming, Jenni’s developed more confidence and appreciation for her journey than ever before.

And even though we’ll never fully understand how words like ‘skibidi’ and ‘sigma’ are used in a sentence, one thing’s for sure: thanks to her amazing support system and Girls Inc. of Metro Denver family, her future has never looked brighter.