I’m not usually too sentimental, but I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences and memories I’ve made at this year’s BSURF summer program. I’m thankful to Dr. Grunwald and Dr. Harrell for organizing the program and Grace Hooks and Kehali Woldemichael for putting together everything from puzzle competitions to lemur center trips.
Even with incredible faculty talks and adventures around Durham, I am most grateful to the BSURF program for providing me with the opportunity to work at the Kiehart Lab this summer. I’m particularly thankful to Dr. Kiehart, Dr. Crawford, Melissa Sican, and Mina Moghaddam for their support and patience throughout. Seeing what “research” means helped me decide that this is a career I could see myself pursuing. I was scared that a career in research would mean some Wellsian experience worthy of Dr. Moreau, but I’ve grown to appreciate how important collaboration and communication are to research. I’m genuinely grateful to my lab mentors and members for their guidance and support, and I know this experience is one that will shape the rest of my career–during and after Duke.
Beyond the academic experience, the program’s extracurricular activities have made this summer one that I will surely remember. I loved canoeing on the Eno River, volunteering at the Urban Ministries of Durham, and exploring the Durham farmers market. These experiences helped me become more familiar with Durham and know the area beyond the college. I’ve made friendships that I’ll treasure through the rest of my time at Duke, and I’m immensely appreciative of the chance to build relationships with people with similar career aspirations.
It would take far better writing skills than my own to fully express my gratitude to the program organizers, lab members, and friends who made my experience with BSURF so incredibly wonderful. Still, I wanted to thank them again because I couldn’t imagine a better summer experience. This summer has been an extraordinary blend of serious research and fun, and I look forward to the many adventures ahead!
