To begin, I would like to thank Dr. Katsanis, and my secondary mentor, Kavita, and the rest of the members of the Center for Human Disease modeling for the tremendous opportunity to learn and work with them. And, their patience, which I’m sure I benefited greatly from in the past eight weeks.
Well, I can’t say that I have any concrete plans for the future based on what I’ve learned over these two months. I am better e set on a major, which is good, but all I can say for certain is that I like research. There was not a day that went by in which that I was not excited to go into the lab, and hear others talk about (or sometimes, moan about) their own research. Even when my sequencing failed, or my digests did not come out as expected, I continued to enjoy what I was doing. Even if it was mostly pipetting.
I’ve listened to many great Duke faculty talk about their own research and their paths of getting there, and if I wasn’t already impressed by their research, then I was charmed by their stories and soothed by the reminder that, despite the fact that making plans is wise, not being able to follow that plan does not mean the end of my career or that I am doomed to failure.
And for that reason, I find myself oddly content with the fact that I still don’t know what path I wish to follow in the long-term. I think that I like a bit of the uncertainty—or, rather, I am seeing a greater value in trying things that are out of my comfort zone. Research, previous to Howard Hughes, had only been something I’d been curious about. Now, I believe, it is a definite possibility for me in the future.
But, I need to do more. I need to become involved in another lab, where I can learn a new set of skills. While I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Center for Human Disease Modeling, I acknowledge that it was my very first research experience—and I cannot make a sound decision of my future from just that experience. There are many different types of research and skill sets that I need to understand. I need to take more classes so that I have a deeper understanding of the research I’m doing, and I also need to read more research papers.
I am extremely grateful for the chance to be a part of this magnificent program. When I started, I’d anticipated that the program would either open, or close one or a few doors for me, and my path would be narrowed, so that I could focus on a major goal.
Well, no doors were closed. Not a single one. But many, many more were opened. My path is broader than it has ever been.
I’m content with that.
Goodbye everyone, and I hope you’ve gained as much from this program as I did!
