Now that BSURF is coming to an end, it’s time to reflect on these past 8 weeks. This experience has been an incredible one. I expected to learn a lot, but ended up learning much more than I could have ever imagined. The funny thing though, is that the more I learn, the less I feel I know. That’s the beauty of science: there’s always so much you don’t know. Once you answer a question, 10 more arise.
I came into the lab very nervous and afraid to mess things up. I came in afraid to ask questions and not confident in my abilities at all. Now, I ask tons of questions on the daily. Now, I am confident in my knowledge of the assays I have learned to run. Now, I know that mess-ups are expected, and even encouraged – how else are we going to learn what works and what doesn’t?
Being in my lab this summer has definitely solidified my interest in research. I always knew I wanted to try research, and now that I have, I definitely see my future self doing research I wasn’t sure if graduate school was something I wanted to do, but this experience has definitely changed my mind.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed research at the Hargrove lab this summer, and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I feel sad to leave the lab, but I feel better knowing that is only a temporary end. I’m excited to continue research here in the fall!