We often don’t find our passions until the right person comes along and sparks that excitement to learn. My high school biotechnology program teacher, Mrs. McKinney, was this person for me. She taught the concepts of biotechnology as if it was basic math like 2+2=4. She made it so simple yet complex at the same time. She really drew me into the biotechnology field and how it can be used in many different aspects of life and a multitude of fields. The basic lab techniques I learned and the knowledge I gained really set my mind into what I wanted my future career to be. I have all my thanks to Mrs. McKinney on my interest in pursuing a major in biotechnology. As a biotechnology major in university now, I know my most favorite place to be, besides my bed, is in a lab conducting research and experiments. The way experiments can go right and go wrong excites me because the outcome is never expected. Countless people focus on the superficial things and always want things to go right. However, I believe as a scientist, a learner and pursuer, things can always go wrong. From the many experiments I have completed, most have always gone right, or the expected result came out. Nevertheless, when the experiments failed, I was just as excited as I was when experiments succeeded. The eagerness of whether an experiment will give the expected results or not thrills me beyond comprehension. Instead of expecting the best or the worst, I only look forward to what I can learn and take away from what happened. The ups and downs of experimentation allows me to acknowledge my fears of failure but enables me to persevere not just in a laboratory setting, but also in other aspects of my life. The never-ending learning experience of being in a STEM field undoubtedly appeals and fuels my interests to pursue a degree and career in STEM. As I take higher-level college courses, I begin to pin-point what type of research I want to pursue as I finish my degree and start my biotechnology career. As of right now, with the pandemic being a huge push to my goals, I aim to work in the field of creating vaccines to better the health of millions. The importance of vaccines and educating people about them empowers me to continuously pursue biotechnology. I aspire to learn every day, and I am allowed to do that with being able to attend university. Being able to attend insightful lectures and take lab heavy courses permits me to improve my laboratory skills and knowledge, which will allow me to be prepared in my future career. Even with my laboratory skills now, I strive to continuously improve these skills without being the best because if being the best means I can’t improve, then I won’t be able to accomplish growth in my career or life. Regardless of which field I end up in, I know I will learn from my success and failures to be better beyond my career and I believe that would be the most significant accomplishment I will ever make.

This is Scooby, my 12-year old Chiweenie. I've had him since I was 5 -years old and the absolute light of my life. Recently, I've moved to attend college, and while I was gone, the time away from Scooby has taught me a lesson I won't ever forget. He reminded me that life is short, especially for our fur friends, and although unintentionally, we often don't appreciate the days we have with our pets until their last moments. Scooby has allowed me to become more appreciative of the little moments I share with him and everyone around me. @uhh.jai