Hey freshman!
Deciding on a research stream as a freshman was hard. Only one semester into college, and I was stressed about choosing a topic that both interested me and challenged me. I wanted a stream that was actively trying to make a difference and had a strong real-world application. After going to the DIY Diagnostics open house, I knew it was for me. Firstly, I immediately clicked with the students there and I could tell they were being honest when they said they enjoy their research. I loved the concept of finding practical and affordable ways to assess a person’s symptoms. I was drawn in by the way the pregnancy test revolutionized the field and wanted to do something similar. Though I understood the extremely long path it takes for a diagnostic tool like that to be on the market, I just wanted to be involved and help any way I could on a project that could eventually make a patient’s path easier.
Getting into the stream was so exciting! Though I felt lost and out of place, I was soon comforted by the mentors and Dr. Riedel who said it was normal and to embrace that feeling. The skill developments through our first semester were challenging, but it brought us all closer because the only way to get through was with teamwork. Through coding assignments and sampling from Waller Creek (seen in the photo below), we all built off of each other’s skills and questions in every assignment. I’ve learned the balance between asking for help from others and being independent in my work. It was always important to think creatively to answer questions, but the team was ultimately our biggest strength.
Being involved in research as a freshman was very insightful to the way I view science as a field. Though I plan to pursue medicine, this stream helped me develop many skills I’ll be able to apply in the future. I learned about how to read and analyze scientific papers, as well as the basic chemistry and biology skills I can use in any other lab. I encourage you all to browse the stream and find the perfect one for you!!