@ indigo — Yes, that's correct. I could already see math being useful in chemistry, which was my initial motivation. Reading a non-technical book about mathematical research like
Fermat's Enigma or
The Music of the Primes could also help.
@ HowlerKarma — Glad to help

. You speak in past tense in writing "I so wish that she'd had the experience of a similarly able peer to work with," — it's not too late! She's younger than I was when I got seriously interested in math. What math is she currently studying? What science?