Cells float around below me, moving gently across my field of vision as I attempt to focus my microscope. I’m the only person in the lab, dim lighting coming from above while I insert plasmid DNA into the strain of bacteria in an attempt to understand antibiotic resistance using ampicillin and E. coli. After several hours of preparing the plates of agar, DNA plasmids, and ampicillin for the lab, the only thing left to do was wait for the incubation period to end. This lab was one I completed as a part of the AP Biology course I took online in 11th grade. It was my first exposure to bioengineering beyond abstracts in science publications, and I fell head over heels in love with it. My teacher had offered me a choice between doing the lab or simply having a data set provided to me, and even though the second choice would have been easier, I chose to do the lab. How could I not? Recombinant DNA and bacterial transformation were some of the most fascinating topics I had learned about all year, and I had been excited about this lab since the start of the semester. It was because of this lab that I chose to apply to schools under the major of bioengineering. While I had always known that I wanted to focus on something within the STEM world (be it physics, biology, chemistry, or even, if I was feeling brave, mathematics), up until this point, I hadn't had a clear path. After this lab was over, I dove head first into reading anything I could get my hands on about the subject, and once college decisions came out, I was absolutely thrilled to find out that I was accepted to my number one major choice at every school I was got into. My goals going forward are to graduate from university, engineering degree in tow, and move on to higher education at the graduate level focused on either bioengineering once again or biophysics. Once I complete those programs, I want to go into research. Specifically I want to perform research in areas such as global health crises like antibiotic resistance and research on biotechnology that has the ability to better the lives of those around me. Engineering is renown for having significantly less women than men, so I want to inspire other women to pursue STEM careers without fear and create safe spaces within those areas of study.

Cells float around below me, moving gently across my field of vision as I attempt to focus my microscope. I’m the only person in the lab, dim lighting coming from above while I insert plasmid DNA into the strain of bacteria in an attempt to understand antibiotic resistance using ampicillin and E. coli. After several hours of preparing the plates of agar, DNA plasmids, and ampicillin for the lab, the only thing left to do was wait for the incubation period to end. This lab was one I completed as a part of the AP Biology course I took online in 11th grade. It was my first exposure to bioengineering beyond abstracts in science publications, and I fell head over heels in love with it. My teacher had offered me a choice between doing the lab or simply having a data set provided to me, and even though the second choice would have been easier, I chose to do the lab. How could I not? Recombinant DNA and bacterial transformation were some of the most fascinating topics I had learned about all year, and I had been excited about this lab since the start of the semester. It was because of this lab that I chose to apply to schools under the major of bioengineering. While I had always known that I wanted to focus on something within the STEM world (be it physics, biology, chemistry, or even, if I was feeling brave, mathematics), up until this point, I hadn't had a clear path. After this lab was over, I dove head first into reading anything I could get my hands on about the subject, and once college decisions came out, I was absolutely thrilled to find out that I was accepted to my number one major choice at every school I was got into. Now, I am committed to the University of Washington Engineering Program. My goals going forward are to graduate from the University of Washington, engineering degree in tow, and move on to higher education at the graduate level focused on either bioengineering once again or biophysics. Once I complete those programs, I want to go into research. Specifically I want to perform research in areas such as global health crises like antibiotic resistance and research on biotechnology that has the ability to better the lives of those around me. I have a very deep love for these subjects, and also believe that they're incredibly important for future generations to be involved in, so I can't wait to start my career in these areas.

When I was little, I would trap anyone older than me in endless cycles of “why”. Any response the person gave me was countered with the echoing question, over and over again until they gave up and stopped answering me. The goal of this game wasn’t to annoy people, despite the additional added satisfaction that gave me, but instead it centered around an incessant need to understand. A curiosity driven by a need to not only know how things did what they did, but why they did it. Years later, I’m no different from my child self, but instead of asking “why” to everything anyone says, I’ve focused my interests on the sciences. Instead of asking my mom why my classmates are sick, I ask: why is ampicillin becoming less effective and what is the solution? Instead of asking my dad why an orange is orange, I ask why the genes of an orange specifically code for orange coloring, and I ask if it's possible to manipulate the genes into expressing something different. Instead of asking my teacher why one times two is two, I ask what is the most effective way to conduct statistical analysis on the results of my experiments, and why does that method work? These questions drove me forward into the world of research and discovery, and by finding two fields of study that intersect with my interests, I’ve found answers to the questions that plagued me as a child, which led to the discovery of more questions that need answering. Biochemistry and physics have taught me more about the world that surrounds me than I ever could have imagined. Physics explains to me the rules of our universe, from gravitational fields to atomic structures. Biochemistry teaches me the foundation for all processes of life, illustrating how life exists, and what is required for its existence. My goal is to find a career in research centering around these two fields of study. This will allow me to tackle issues humanity faces on a global scale, such as climate change, increasing resistance to antibiotics, and potential discoveries in outer space, along with satisfying the constant curiosity that fuels me. If I get this scholarship, I plan to use it to fund my education at a university or college with strong programs in physics and biochemistry, getting me one step closer to becoming a researcher. I then hope to move on to graduate work, delving deeper into the topics that fascinate me, feeding further into my inner child’s inquisitiveness.