"Do you want to be great or do you want to be comfortable?" Advocate for your needs. Be proactive. Build a support system. Take risks. Push yourself to do great things. In today's interview, Shanise Walker, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, shares inspiring and practical advice for math students about how to advocate for themselves and set themselves up for success in math. Shanise is a first-generation college student, who earned B.S. in Mathematics from UGA and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Iowa State University.  Her research interests lie in extremal combinatorics and graph theory and she is active in service to the mathematical profession related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).  Allison and Shanise discuss: How Shanise fell in love with Math [3.15] Being proactive and having a plan [5.54] Shanise talks about her blog in the American Mathematical Society [10.18] Having a spectrum of support system [16.20] If you are doing Math Majors, take up English courses[21.55]   Check out Shanise’s blog: https://blogs.ams.org/livingproof/2021/09/14/how-challenging-experiences-led-me-to-pursue-a-phd-in-mathematics-by-shanise-walker/ Connect with Shanise: walkersg@uwec.edu   Connect with Allison Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath  Allison’s Books Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues.  Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies. Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math