Looking Back

Looking back at what, I am really surprised to see how much I have grown as a scientist. Even before I first walked into RPI, I had great expectations. Because I wanted to pursue a carrer in the sciences, I was eager to get a first taste of what it would be like working in a white lab coat and preparing samples. In addition, because I was in AP Biology, I eager to put my new-found knowledge and vocabulary to use.

To my great delight, my internship proved to be just the thing I was looking for and starting with learning the chemistry of preparing solutes and substrates to preparing buffers and samples to learning about the workings of the machine to  learning how to interpret the final graph, I truly learned and attained a great deal about capillary electrophoresis as well as many useful lab skills. In particular, I still remember the feeling of contentment the day when I prepared buffers and DNA samples all by myself after receiving the desired measurements. Like that of a real scientist, I calculated and converted the required amounts and then assembled each respective solute via pipettes, scales, pH meters, etc... This said, weeks prior to that very day, I remember the great challenge of recalling my chemistry skills. Because of the fact that preparing samples and buffers all begin with the first step of figuring out how much of each substance to combine with another, I needed to have a solid understanding of chemistry before I started mixing and combining. Chemistry and math is not my strongest subject and because this was chemistry and math put together, I was all the more daunted. However, through this experience, I learned that the field of science is not just simply geared towards subjects like biology or chemistry or neuroscience, but that it is in more cases than not, a combination of them all.

For the incoming year, I would suggest having several more group meetings as I really liked hearing other interns talk about their experiences and the work they are involved with. Adding on to this, for the incoming new interns, I would like to advise that they should take the time to research more about their internship. (It might be helpful if they are told to do some research about their internship topics prior to their first meeting) Despite the fact that mentors explain in great depth the workings of the field, interns will come across times when even the explanations are too confusing to understand. In cases like this, I advise doing further research after at home, Emma, etc... In addition, I would like to tell future interns to never fear of asking their mentors too many questions--even the ones they think should be common sense! All in all, I find myself lucky to have been given this opportunity to further develop my interest and hone the particular type of career I want to pursue in the field of science and to have met such a great mentor.

My final poster summing up my vast knowledge about capillary electrophoresis ;)