In freshman year, research was just a class for me, something I had to do to get a good grade. Seeing the complex projects that the upperclassmen did, sparked fear and doubt in my mind. Could I do it? Come senior year, research has allowed me to explore my interests deeper, apply a variety of skills, network with many new people, and travel to places I haven’t been to before. ReconX, combined with the HTHS research curriculum, has allowed me to interact with student and teacher mentors who have guided me throughout my entire research journey. With their help, research became something that instead of intimidating me, was something I found comfort in. Through my journey, I have found some of my closest friends, formed deeper connections with the faculty at HTHS, and built interest in something I will pursue for years to come. I hope to continue performing impactful research as I study electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. 

As someone who was always creative as a child but was unsure of what careers would allow me to explore my passion for design, I’m beyond grateful for the research opportunities provided at High Tech. Beginning to engage in research as a sophomore led me to find the intersection between engineering and medicine, and for the first time, I understood the value of creativity and thinking outside of the box in these fields. I’ve been able to dive deep into how I can use my love for science and engineering to tangibly transform lives through inquiry and innovation. I’m excited to explore the field of biomedical engineering in the near future. 

When I was introduced to research in freshman year, I was initially overwhelmed by the process, convinced that I had to accomplish something groundbreaking for my research to be considered worthwhile. However, the integrated research curriculum at High Tech as well as ReconX helped me establish a strong foundation in research and taught me that research is always significant when you pursue something that you are passionate about. Conducting research isn’t a daunting task like I once believed, but a chance to grow as an intellectual and expand your horizons. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the knowledge and experiences I gained through creating a novel research project and competing with my project in various science competitions. I am also incredibly grateful to my teachers and peers who helped me accomplish what I have today. I will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall studying Mechanical Engineering. 

Four years ago, if you asked me what my high school life would be like, I would’ve never even considered research. I was always more of a “humanities” person in middle school, but I’m beyond blessed that I was given the opportunity to pursue research in high school– even though it wasn’t a path I would’ve chosen on my own. Through my research, I have learned to always question what I know to be conveniently true. At both High Tech and the research conferences I’ve attended, I’ve gotten to talk with people who view the problems in our world in different ways. This is the diversity of thought we need if we are to tackle the looming issues our generation faces. For example, at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, I was able to discuss my research with others who worked with Alzheimer’s in fruit flies. I was even able to plan collaborations with others on science education initiatives in underserved communities! I’ve never regretted joining a community that unites to reach these goals together. I hope to continue my research on alternative pathways to target Alzheimer’s Disease at Cornell University, where I will be majoring in Biology.

As a middle schooler, I always found myself intimidated by the idea of research. It wasn’t until I started my own research at High Tech that I could see the people and passions that went into the pages-long papers filled with technical jargon that I had once been so convinced I couldn’t write. This wasn’t to say, of course, that my path with research was filled with successes. My sophomore year, the only data I had was a table full of zeros because of failed genetic transformations. My junior and senior year, though, with the support that Dr. Ellsworth and Mr. Queenan gave me, I was able to not only pursue the same project to finally receive the results I was hoping for, but also propose a new research direction tying it to my interest in aerospace. I’m so excited to continue pursuing research as an aerospace major at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.