The Rhythmic Drum Of My Heart

As a child, I was given set standards by my community which were to survive and to conquer any challenges that may come my way. South Central Los Angeles has been stigmatized by other communities to be the face of violence, poor health and underperforming students, which placed a barrier between me and reaching my fullest potential. As a young teen, I began to believe in the stereotypes and allowed it to define who I was and who I will become in the future. However, with the guidance of high school mentors, I was able to gain the strength to tear down those barriers while also uncovering my hidden talents. As a high school student, I had the opportunity to take several interesting science courses and become one of the first admitted class to my high school’s new STEM magnet program. My amazing teachers loved science, and with the limited amount of resources provided, they gave all their students the opportunity to seek their true passion in science through hands-on classroom activities.

Growing up, most kids in my generation had Disney Channel or Barbie Dolls. As I was raised with 6 siblings and cousins and having just emigrated from England, my family did not have ample money to expend on cable or fancy toys; subsequently, I resorted to books. As I read more and more, my interests began to broaden, and my keen admiration and curiosity for how and why things work in certain ways progressed. As I grew older, I realized that science could be used to answer many of life’s most complex questions. Once I was accepted early into The University of Georgia, I declared my major as Biology with a pre-medical intent, deciding to further pursue my curiosity about living organisms. I soon realized that I needed to achieve more, and decided

The transition from Grady High School had become a starting point of a new life. Slowly but surely, it found its way into adulthood. Where I embraced a new sense of responsibility and maturity. At this given time and day, I was responsible for following the rules and regulations. These set of rules was being enforced by the principal named Dr.Bockman. Students did not appreciate her position as being principal, yet her job was to support the Grady community. She had a very strict job and she took it very seriously. Nevertheless, I made my first entrance into the steps of being in high school. I walked into Grady High School with an overwhelming fear of anxiety and depression. I had no idea what the expectations was gonna be. So, I knew that

As I sat at the long table in a classroom with over a thousand kids, I was ready to start the state science test that I had worked so hard to study for. As I nervously sat there waiting, it dawned on me that this, science and chemistry, is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I don’t know where to start. I’ve been at St. Rita School for a whole decade and it felt like way longer. I know all the friends have today because of this school. The teachers have been such an impact n my life since I was three years old. I could never find words to thank them for all that they have done for me. Each and every teacher has made a different impact on my life, such as helping me with my faith to teaching me how to solve for x. It’s amazing to think of how many memories I’ve made here. Ever since I came to St. Rita School I’ve grown in my faith abundantly. All of my teachers have helped me with my faith. I know I will have support going through my high school transitions but it will never be the same

My personal quest for knowledge has been ongoing since the first day I picked up a science book. I have never been more interested in any subject. It truly spoke to me. At a college level, there is a magnitude of opportunities. I had the opportunity to participate in the Student Dissector program on campus in the Spring of 2015, I visited the Stanford Cadaver Lab with Biology Club this semester, and I traveled to see a talk by the world renowned American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Learning is by far the most valuable tool today. Knowledge is the stepping stone that allows people to excel beyond their previous circumstances and aim for greatness. As President of my school’s Science National Honor Society, I helped start a local outreach to an elementary school called Innovation Charter two years ago; this year, we received a grant from the American Chemical Society to fund our project, allowing us to impact the school even more than last year. Innovation Charter is full of students with low socioeconomic statuses, so our goal is to bring quality education to children who aren’t afforded those benefits. While at the school, we perform a myriad of fun and interactive science experiments and explain the scientific principle

Since receiving my first home science kit at the age of five, the study of the natural and

As school begins at a new institution, exuberance flows through your veins, and you skip towards a sea of new faces. Stares of disgust penetrate through you as if you have wronged these individuals by being in their presence. Far from the expected, you brush the feeling of anguish off and decide to walk up to a group of friendly looking individuals. You manage to put your left foot in front of your right just three times before the group recognizes the attempt of involvement, and opts to disperse as if being pulled away from you by a riptide. Surrounded my hundreds of new faces, never have you felt so lonely. Knowing none of this is because of your personal actions, but those of your parents, you feel drowned in a sea of grief.

Over the summer of 2016, I moved away from my lifelong hometown where all my friends lived, to Shelton where I ambled into school September 6th knowing nobody. On one hand, I could have receded into a shell and stayed indifferent to those around me. On the other hand, however, I could stay positive and acquaint myself with people I would have never met had I stayed in my hometown. Frankl’s sentiments about the purpose of life resonated with me and gave me perspective into the fragility and value of life. Grieving would hold me back from personal growth. Because my surroundings changed, I had a fresh opportunity to reinvent myself—someone more involved with the community and less serious. As I stood at a crossroads, Frankl’s wisdom guided me like signposts to the direction that promised a happier tail-end of my high school career. Had I not thought optimistically, I doubt I would be where I am now—befriending others and joining DECA, Spanish Club, National Honors Society, the tennis team, and other organizations. Now, I live my life with integrity and honesty so that I can better relate to my peers. Although I miss my friends and the familiarity of my old town, I keep my eyes focused ahead of me, not clinging to foregone

Science has always been a big part of my life. My dad was a biology major in college, I have an aunt who is a biologist, and an uncle who’s an astronomer. It’s always been a factor in my life, and something that has helped to shape my interests and who I

The first year, the time to prove myself had arrived. Classes, rooms, teachers, and some students were unfamiliar. Eventually, minutes melted into hours, hours to days, and days to weeks. It didn’t take long before my schedule was routine, something of second nature. Humor and happiness were found in the form of my advisory family, where school was transformed into something more than going through the same motions of day to day activity. By the closing point of sixth grade, I was having a hard time letting go of what I’d adapted to. “What’s wrong?” my dad asked when I was getting into the car after being picked up early on the last day. I explained how distressed I was that my first year of middle school exceeded my expectations, and that it had to come to an end. Although his outlook viewed my reason for sorrow as trivial, I didn’t.

In fifth grade, my classmates voted me most likely to cure cancer. As a typical ten-year-old, I remember feeling disappointed that I was not selectedvoted most likely to become a rockstar or an actress. However, looking back, I realize that my passion for science and math was significant and recognized even at a young age. My eagerness to learnThis recognition asfrom an budding studentearly age drove me to crave knowledge aboutlearning about chemistry, biology, and physics. Likewise, my curiosity about how and why things work is the reason I chose to major in chemical engineering at Bucknell University.

Only one of my teachers believed in me and gave me the talk that I needed to hear. Mr. Henderson, my english 10 teacher was a rapper, which made him the best. At times he would rap in front of the class and would let us freestyle just for fun or for extra credit. He would always tell me that he believe in me but I needed to stop being a jackass and get my stuff together. Junior year came around and many of my friends were lost to the streets, others were getting arrested. I was much more mature at this point in time after everything I had gone through. Where I used to live you would either end up dead or in jail and I decided that was not the life I wanted to live. I never wanted to attend Elkhart Memorial but I was not able to drive at the time so there was no other way for me to get around to any other school. Halfway through my junior year we got a new house in TIV and I had to leave my friends and old life behind, but it was for the better. FInaly, a new start. I never really had the motivation for school but moving to Jimtown was perhaps the best decision I have ever

Science has a big influence on me in emplyment and in leisure and I have been involved in the science field since finishing my degree in 2006 in industry and been committed to science in education for seven years, as a science technician, currently tutor, a volunteer for the NWT and member of an education discussion group for the microbiology society’s online content for schools.