This summer I was able to have an outstanding research experience. From the beginning I was unsure of how it would turn out. I didn’t know if the work would be to drab for my tastes or not. Apparently, it was not because my mind was always preoccupied in the lab constantly trying to remember what my mentors just told me and trying to answer the questions that come up in my research. This summer has truly changed my opinion on possible career choices.
For a very long time I thought the only career people who liked science could have was that of a doctor. However, scientists are real people too. For researchers, in addition to learning about different things within science, one may create new knowledge and discoveries that may lead to outstanding innovations. There are many fields in research where this is applicable from studying diseases to improving crop yields in farms.
After this summer I have a greater appreciation for researchers and research in general. In the future I plan to continue conducting research. There is also a good possibility that I may follow a researchers path to graduate school. I am glad I was able to be a part of the Howard Hughes Fellowship program and work in the Benfey lab this summer because I was able to find a career that I could actually enjoy participating in.
