Starting out this summer, I had no idea what to expect with research. I never had done research in the past, so I was worried about the problems I potentially could have faced. Most of my concerns about not knowing enough among other things were for naught because my mentor was very encouraging of me asking questions and leading me thorough my project. I had a wonderful time in lab this summer and am excited that I get to continue in the fall.
This summer, I faced many challenges with my project, but these challenges just encouraged me to work harder. There were times that I was discouraged because I ran my program time and time again with errors messages popping up on my screen each time, but I trucked through. In the end it was all worth the effort. The feeling of finally finishing the project that you worked on for weeks on end is priceless. When I finished my project, the feelings of relief and satisfaction flooded me along with pride. It is just so exciting when you can tell your mentor that you finished the project they told you to do, and they are truly impressed by the work that was done. I will never forget the time I spent in lab this summer and look forward to the future.
The Howard Hughes program and working in the lab shaped my future plans by reaffirming that I really want to go into BME. I am fascinated by everything that is done in the lab and would enjoy doing it the rest of my life. Additionally, the path I am going to take to make my dream come true has become illuminated a bit more throughout the summer. I believe I will get a Phd in BME after my undergraduate career which I figured out after talking to my mentor and listening to all of the faculty talks.
I want to thank the program and my lab for all the support that went into hosting me this summer.
