Rooted in Curiosity: Taylor Yonemura’s Journey through Growth, Grit and Fungi at UNC Charlotte
Like with a flower, growth can come slowly for people. For Taylor Yonemura, the journey has taken time, but UNC Charlotte has given her a calling.
“UNC Charlotte offers opportunities for many things, but if you want something, you must put in the effort,” she said. “A lot of success in college is about trying and then learning.”
Yonemura, a Klein College of Science student, will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. At UNC Charlotte, she learned perseverance, a trait she feels will propel her forward.
“Many people don’t emphasize that failing is okay,” said Yonemura. “You’ll make many mistakes as an adult, and you must be okay with admitting and forgiving yourself. That is such a valuable skill UNC Charlotte helped me develop.”
Finding Yourself
Yonemura moved around while growing up, stopping in Arizona and Utah before attending Mooresville Senior High School in North Carolina. A passion for art and science emerged during high school.
“I love understanding how things work, why they work and the steps in which they work. Science, for me, was always enjoyable. It’s a thought process, the same as art,” said Yonemura.
Her dad, Casey, was her biggest supporter along the way. Yonemura credits him for pushing her to be her true self.
“My dad is the one to whom I’ll give the biggest props. He always pushed for college, which was expected of me, just because he knew I could do it. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Yonemura.
Accessing Academia
Yonemura started college at UNC Asheville in 2020 and focused on art. Then, while taking some time off, she developed a love for biology through gardening.
“I had to reevaluate many of the important things to me,” she said. “I picked up gardening, and growing vegetables led me to biology. I immediately changed my major and never returned.”
Yonemura returned to Mitchell Community College, earning an associate of arts degree in 2023. After a trip to the McMillan Greenhouse at UNC Charlotte’s Botanical Gardens, the next step in her academic journey became clear.
“A lot of my friends went to Charlotte as did my boyfriend, who wanted to show me the greenhouse,” Yonemura explained. “So we went one day, and when I came out, I said, ‘I’ve got to go here.’”
Making an Impact
Yonemura’s connection to the Botanical Gardens at UNC Charlotte started while volunteering for a creek cleanup. From there, she made good use of connecting science with art by developing its website.
“I love the Botanical Gardens and the people there, mainly because many are passionate about their work. Working among them has been such a great way to learn,” said Yonemura.
Her role helped Yonemura craft an undergraduate research project on the connection between bees and fungal spore dispersal. On April 17, she presented her project at the Undergraduate Research Conference at UNC Charlotte.
“Seeing those results was amazing because this was a research project that I built with my bare hands and got to apply the scientific process. I wanted to have my TED talk moment,” she said.
Yonemura, who continued to add to her résumé, gained valuable experience working with Morgan Carter in her fungal bacteria lab last summer.
“I went through the OUR program and did microbiology work that semester studying storage processes,” said Yonemura. “Dr. Carter is a wonderful person and a lab manager. She understands all her students and attempts to care about them in their best interests.”
All these experiences helped her start the Mycology Club, which brings students together to learn about fungi. Yonemura feels UNC Charlotte has allowed her to prepare for next steps.
“The most important thing is how much I’ve advanced. UNC Charlotte is a place to grow, and it fosters adult thinking.”
–Taylor Yonemura
Post-grad life
Yonemura is deciding between graphic design and continuing to work with fungus. She hopes to find a way to combine art and science productively.
“I want to explore the world and identify new fungi,” she said. “I know there’s something out there calling my name.”
Yonemura said she wants to be remembered as someone who pushed through no matter what.
“College is not just about the clubs you attend or the classes you take; it is about pushing yourself,” she said.“There were times I worried about failing a class, but I got through it — and without a solid support system and forgiving myself sometimes, that would have been impossible.”
Story by Bryson Foster. Photos by Amy Hart, creative photographic director.
Bryson Foster ’23 will complete a Master of Arts in Communication Studies in May 2025; he is an intern for the Office of University Communications.