“I had never fully understood the importance of diversity in academic and social contexts, nor had I ever experienced it in its true form prior to my time in the YYGS program. I’d had classes with students from different counties, different states, and different ethnic backgrounds before, and that I considered to be diversity. My peers brought their own, truly unique experiences into the discussion, bringing us ideas and insights that would have never seen the light of day in their absence. It was both humbling and enlightening.”
Since my time at YYGS, I’ve enrolled into my school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and I’ve continued my internship as an MD shadow when I have the opportunity. As part of the IB program’s required extended essay, I’ve been pursuing research into the use of plant-pulp waste products as an alternative to single use plastics. In addition, my experience at Yale this past summer has motivated me to apply for lab positions and research internships to addend this upcoming summer. I do this in hope that I’ll be able to get into a proper laboratory setting and get some hands-on research before I enter university.