Spotlight: How BranchOut! Leader Abby Wei Is Using Her Leadership Journey to Power Her Passion for Marine Science

BranchOut! Boston
2 days ago
4 min read

"I used to believe that a leader should be the first to offer an answer, take on the most responsibilities, and ensure that everything went according to plan. BranchOut! completely changed my perspective."

When Abby Wei, a rising 12th grader at Tabor Academy, stepped into her role as a BranchOut! team leader at the Boys & Girls Club this summer, she brought energy, speed, and a strong drive to succeed. Like many high-achieving student leaders, Abby initially thought leadership meant having all the answers and carrying the weight of the project on her own shoulders.

Beyond her work with BranchOut!, Abby harbors a deep passion for marine science and ocean engineering. At Tabor Academy—a school situated right on the coast of Sippican Harbor—she helps lead the Marine Robotics Club, where students design and build underwater vehicles to explore marine environments.

Through designing summer STEM lessons for younger students and guiding her peer mentors, Abby experienced a powerful mindset shift about what it takes to guide a team. Now, she is taking those leadership insights back to her school club and community to make ocean science accessible and exciting for everyone.

1. Embracing Silence: Moving from Answering Quickly to Driving Innovation

Early in her BranchOut! leadership, Abby noticed a personal habit: as a quick thinker, she was always the first to jump into meeting silences with a ready solution. But she soon realized that stepping in too quickly meant her team was agreeing with her rather than thinking independently.

To foster genuine innovation—a critical component when designing complex marine robotics systems—Abby made a deliberate change:

Learning to pause: She intentionally allowed quiet moments during meetings, so teammates had space to process their thoughts.
Guiding over telling: Instead of giving final answers, she began asking targeted prompts ("Where might the students struggle with this step?") to draw out unique ideas.
Building consensus: She introduced a structured approach—framing the problem, gathering team ideas, and synthesizing input before finalizing decisions.

Abby's Takeaway: "Although this process can take longer than immediately providing an answer, it allows team members to participate meaningfully... and often leads to a more thoughtful, comprehensive solution."

2. Unlocking Strengths Through Strategic Delegation

In the past, Abby preferred doing tasks herself to save time and control quality. However, taking on everything meant she didn't have the space to observe her team's unique talents. Through BranchOut!, she shifted from doing to coordinating. She established clear roles—assigning members to presentation design, material prep, lesson delivery, and partner communication based on what each person did best.

By stepping back, Abby was able to see her team clearly:

Who excelled at engaging younger children
Who was meticulously detailed in organizing materials
Who brought creative flair to lesson activities

Delegating didn't just lighten her load—it gave her team members genuine ownership and pride in their work.

3. Bringing the Lessons Home: Bringing "Waves to Watts" to Life

Abby’s new leadership strategy isn't staying inside the classroom. She is directly applying these delegation and engagement techniques to Tabor Academy's Marine Robotics Club and her outreach projects in the local community.

One project she is eager to lead is a hands-on demonstration called "Waves to Watts."

The "Waves to Watts" Concept

How It Works: A floating rig reacts to water motion. As waves move the rig, an internal generator converts that kinetic energy into electricity, instantly lighting up a bulb or powering a small screen.
The Goal: A clear, interactive demonstration that lets audiences see "waves turning into electricity" in real time, bridging the gap between renewable energy concepts and tangible ocean technology.

Instead of building the entire demo herself as she might have in the past, Abby plans to apply her BranchOut! leadership framework to the project:

Assigning specialized roles: Grouping team members based on their strengths—mechanical setup, electrical wiring, visual design, and student presentation.
Interactive teaching: Structuring the outreach so younger students aren't just watching a demo, but predicting energy outputs, asking questions, and discovering scientific principles step-by-step.

4. Growth-Oriented Feedback: Praise First, Reflect Together

How a leader gives feedback shapes team culture. Abby revamped her post-class debriefing style to build confidence while driving continuous improvement—a method she plans to use during marine robotics build sessions and competitions.

Start with recognition: Highlight specific contributions (e.g., "Your patience during the build activity was amazing today").
Anchor in purpose: Remind the team why their work matters—they are opening doors to STEM and ocean science for kids who might not otherwise have access.
Encourage self-reflection: Ask team members what went well and what they would tweak next time before offering her own observations.

Looking Ahead: A Transformed Leader on Land and Sea

Reflecting on her summer experience, Abby sees a clear connection between her personal growth as a mentor and her future goals in marine science:

"BranchOut! was not only an opportunity to teach STEM. It was an experience that helped me grow from someone focused on completing tasks into a leader focused on helping an entire team develop and succeed. A successful team is not one in which everyone simply follows the leader's ideas—it is one in which every member understands their own value and contributes a unique strength toward a shared goal."

We are immensely proud of Abby and the thoughtful, empathetic leadership she brought to BranchOut! this summer. We can't wait to see how she continues to inspire her peers at Tabor Academy, lead the Marine Robotics Club, and power the next generation of ocean innovators!

Interested in joining a community of student leaders making a real impact in STEM? Learn more about BranchOut! programs and mentorship opportunities on our website.