During the summer going into my junior year of high school I was fortunate enough to be selected to be a research intern in Nationwide Children’s Hospital Bakaletz lab. During this internship, I collaborated with my mentor and lab group to invent a vaccine to disrupt Non-typeable Haemophilus Influenzae’s biofilm formation, making ear infections easier to treat and prevent in children. During this internship, I was pleasantly surprised by the freedom I was given. Instead of being given a sheet with steps on it, I had to create those steps and document them in my lab journal so my experiments can be replicated. For this reason, a skill that I improved during this experience was my ability to trust the process. Since this project was my responsibility, I had to put all of my trust and faith into myself, and accept mistakes that I may make. There was no time for second guessing. I learned to think quickly, and double check even quicker. Working in a lab is unique and gratifying, not only did I make advances in the world of research, but I also made advances in my character. At the end of my internship I presented a poster project depicting my research to hospital staff. The research paper depicting my findings was published in October of 2019 to major biomedical databases such as PubMed. At this time, I was unaware of my love for neuroscience and psychology, so in the future, I plan to expand my research to these areas as well.

I have attempted to expand my global awareness by being on the executive board of Mindversity. This student organization is a peer network dedicated to bringing awareness to and supporting BIPOC mental health. We strive to bridge the gaps between access to mental health resources and students of color on college campuses through peer support networks, education to reduce cultural stigma, and providing a platform with diverse resources. I was drawn to this position because I really want to work to bridge the gap between minority groups and mental health service seeking behaviors. The first step to ending this divide is by encouraging cultural competence, and the best way for this to be accomplished is through education. For this reason, I am also a speaker for YODJ (Youth Online Discussing Justice). In this position I facilitate and speak during events hosted by EYEJ. My position in the program is to empower and amplify the voices of teens and pre-teens, specifically those coming from a diverse cultural background or low income as well as educate youth about making good decisions, to invest positively into their future. Pre-pandemic, I also was a volunteer at Nationwide Children’s hospital. During my four years of volunteering here, I have worked with people from various ethnic backgrounds, immigrants who know very little English, people with disabilities, as well as people from various religions and ways of life.