Work Experience

Loyola Summer Science Internship

During the post Sophomore year summer, I worked at a 6 week Science Internship in Loyola University. To even take part of this opportunity in the first place, I had to have been selected after writing an essay describing my interest in science and why I'd be an ideal candidate. My writing managed to be persuasive enough, and so mid June unfolded one of the most memorable chapters in my life.

Before the internship officially begun, me and the 7 other candidates attended a one week orientation. We started an example research project on circadian rhythms in fruit flies. By Friday, each participant was required to deliver a solo presentation of their findings. My presentation at that time had several flaws, including frequent reliance on my screen and unsteady speaking tempos. Overall, I wasn't proud of my presentation, but I wasn't about to accept to defeat. On that same day, we were informed that we'd have another presentation on the last day of the internship, based on our own individual research labs. I swore to myself that by then, I'd develop the skills and knowledge to deliver a presentation to be proud of.

After orientation week, the Internship officially begun. Everyone was assigned a unique lab dedicated to a specific area of science. As for me, I was allocated to a biology lab studying plant evolution. On my first day, I was introduced to my lab mates, one of them being a grad student from Loyola. His guidance was of great use to me, as he helped familiarize me with the research and my new surrounding. (I won't go too in dept on my study here, though you may refer to my completed presentation slides linked in the Projects page.) It's essential to note that this research didn't just start once I joined, people had already been working in the lab for months. That being said, I believe the first week truly highlighted my ability to adjust to new settings quickly. I was stationed in a legitimate science lab, with equipment I had never seen before, hearing my lab mates using large terms I had never heard of. Sure, it felt quite overwhelming, but my obligation to learn had overridden all feelings of doubt completely. By week two, my acquaintance to the general environment had grown considerably.

Wasting no time, I made sure I got to work on my slideshow presentation with the limited knowledge I had. Along side this, there were many responsibilities to do around the lab, ranging from simple tasks like nicking seeds to more complex ones, like extracting DNA from bacteria. For the time being, I only did the later while supervised, though I made sure to be very attentive and mindful while doing so, because I knew eventually it would be my duty to perform these solo. By week three, I had developed a consistent routine in plant care, watering the plants in the greenhouse without being ordered. I had a strong work ethic, continuously motivated to make myself useful around the lab. I demonstrated this very clearly too, because during the 2nd half of the internship, I was entrusted to take on more arduous and demanding tasks, like handling the autoclave machine, and transporting materials between labs. At this point, I was even authorized to perform takes that once required supervision, completely independently.

A view of my laboratory

These developments were a significant turning point for me. I was proud of my dedication towards the work and its acknowledgement. I viewed this a huge milestone of my progress, and it fueled my motivation to be the best intern I possibly could even higher. I reflected my passion while making the finishing touches on my slideshow presentation, which I had been progressively recording all my procedures and findings in. During week 5, my lab mates and I had reached the conclusion of our research question, and soon after, my slides were complete.

At this point, I remembered the promise I made to myself 6 weeks ago during orientation. I swore that I'd overcome my ineptitude in delivering solo presentations. With the slideshow done, I had 1 week to prepare. I knew that reviewing the words repeatedly wouldn't suffice, if I wanted truly deliver effective presentation, I had to be fully engaged with both myself and the audience. I reflected on presentations I had in the past, like the one at The 6x3 Project. I had an advantage there, since I wasn't alone, but then I remembered how each of us were able to memorize our lines without referring to a screen: we actively practiced with each other, standing up and consistently relying solely on memory, while only glancing at the screen for a few seconds. Furthermore, since we were heavily enthusiastic about our topic, we could elaborate to a much greater extent of what's shown on screen. For several days I applied these methods while practicing in front of my parents and lab mates. I was mindful of my speaking duration for each slide, considering the required 10 minute minimum imposed. I purposely reduced the amount of text on screen, as it not only made it clearer for the audience, but also gave me an incentive to articulate thoughtful, engaging explanations. I figured it would keep the presentation animated, as opposed to sounding like a text to speech robot.

On the final day, I was called upon first among my peers to deliver my presentation, the culmination of the 6 weeks spent as an intern. There was an abundance of professors, grad students and others present in the audience. As I began my introduction, I felt a wave of anxiety. I acknowledged this quickly, so I started slowing the paste of my speaking moderately. I focused my vision towards the audience, but just slightly above their heads to maintain their attention. My initial apprehension diminished as I steadily spoke more and more vigorously as I explained my slides, I knew what I saying, and I genuinely cared about the heart of the matter. All the information was ingrained in my brain from my commitment towards this internship, and the only times I'd look at the screen was when I needed to change slides, or point out a detail in an image. Nearing the end I felt completely comfortable speaking in front of that crowd, and before I knew it, I had reached the final slide containing my concluding statement. I answered all questions from the audience, and at last, my presentation was over.

It's difficult to put in words how thankful I am to have taken part of the Loyola Science Internship. It's truly a marvel, to put in perspective how much I've grown in the span of 6 weeks. My confidence and articulation skills had skyrocketed immensely. Furthermore, my preexisting strengths like determination and commitment were exercised profusely, all the while guiding me towards a brighter, scientifically inclined future. Overall, the entire experience was unforgettable, and I strive to apply all the skills it bestowed me with towards all my endeavors.