As I write this statement, I am beginning my last quarter at the University of Washington. I have watched the UW community display its graceful resilience as we all do our best to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. For the last year, my academic and research experiences transitioned online. When thinking back to the last classes I attended in person, I become nostalgic. I miss the rush of trying to book a table in the Allen Research commons so that my study group (who quickly became some of my best friends) could meet up to study biological pathways and chemical reactions, and at some point late into the evening grabbing a hot chocolate from the nearby Starbucks. While I am saddened some of my junior year and my entire senior year have been at home, I have been grateful for the deeper connections I have made with my close friends, family, and myself. This time at home has provided me the time and space to learn more about myself. The pandemic has helped me realize what is important in my life, what hobbies are able to brighten my day. I was also introduced to the beauty of baking with my sisters over FaceTime, an activity that we will be sure to continue even after the pandemic calms down.
Research and Interdisciplinary Education
I have had the amazing privilege to be participating in undergraduate research, for almost all of my time here at the UW. Talking with graduate students who completed their undergraduate education elsewhere, I learned how rare and precious an opportunity to participate in undergraduate research is. For this, I am eternally grateful for the focus that the UW community places on undergraduate research. Through undergraduate research, I have added a depth to my education that has cemented my understanding of biology, the scientific community, and the research process. I have been taught to be cognizant of the ethics behind my and other's research decisions, a lesson I intend to pass on to those who I have the opportunity to teach. My research has given me a platform to launch my bioinformatics and computational biology career, an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of computer science and biology!
Through my participation in the Honors program, I continued to developed my love for interdisciplinary learning. I have learned how to think about questions from different perspectives and disciplines. Classes I took in the Humanities from Honors have added richness to my STEM education. Not only did these classes fulfill my desire to expand my education beyond STEM, but what I learned in those classes directly informed my understanding of topics like biases in AI and machine learning.
Post-Graduate plans
These last several weeks have had me looking towards the future. I have been thinking a lot about the next steps to take in my professional and academic career, and what *hopefully* the end of the pandemic will bring. I am eager to begin my post graduation employment and am excited by all the opportunity to dive deeper into computation biology in a professional context. I know that this next chapter in my life will welcome growth and I will create new relationships with people. However, this time is bittersweet. Many of my friends will be moving across the country, pursuing their exciting new epochs in life. While I had hoped to be able to spend more time with them in our last year as undergraduates, I am optimistic that the online activities we have established in this pandemic will continue to ensure we stay connected!
Mentorship
Another thing that has become increasingly apparent as I think ahead to my future, is how incredibly impactful my undergraduate experiences have been. I will miss the professors that have guided me through undergrad and who continue to support my future endeavors. I am incredibly thankful for the connections I have made and for all my professors who have communicated their knowledge and experience to inspire us. I hold so much gratitude to those who have donated their time to help sculpt me in to the scholar and researcher that I am. I have gained a greater appreciation for mentors and the impact they can have on their mentee's lives; It has inspired me strive to be that mentor for someone in the future.
This portfolio has been a cathartic way to reflect and look forward and will serve as a testament to all the people who have helped me through my undergraduate journey. This portfolio is intended to be looked back on by my older self, my family, and friends. It is a statement of appreciation for those who have helped shape my undergraduate experiences. I intend to use this portfolio as a space to reflect on my past experiences and to think optimistically about my future.