Five years ago, I had walked through the HTHS hallways as a scrawny eighth-grader, totally stunned by the research on display at the STEM Showcase. Back then, I could have never imagined that I could become like my upperclassmen, who were expert programmers, engineers, and, of course, researchers. Through ReconX’s incredible mentorship and HTHS’s robust research program, I have become everything I dreamed I could be. I am a scientist, working passionately in the lab; I am a writer, drafting creative pieces for the ReconX STEM Journal. And, most of all, I am a mentor to tens of underclassmen not so different from myself five years ago. I am so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful community that has shown me the beauty of persistence, curiosity, and collaboration. I’d especially like to thank Mr. Queenan and Dr. Ellsworth, our wonderful research advisors, who lead our students every year to success. I cannot wait to see where research will take me next at Smith College, where I will be pursuing neuroscience as a Zollman/STRIDE Scholar.

I’m very grateful for both the opportunities and the community that High Tech and ReconX have given me over these past four years. For me, research was both an activity and a place for me to grow. Four years ago, I was a quiet freshman who was terrified of speaking in front of a large crowd, but I learned that when you truly love what you’re doing, you want to tell other people about it. I’ve received numerous opportunities to speak to many people through research competitions, conferences, and workshops, which pushed me to grow out of my shell and become more confident in what I do. I’d like to thank Dr. Ellsworth and Mr. Queenan for all their guidance and support for not only ReconX and all my research endeavors, but also for the whole High Tech community. I’m very grateful to everyone I have become friends with and supported me, and I’m excited to continue pursuing all my future interests and dreams at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I will be studying Mechanical Engineering this fall. I wish all the best for ReconX and the future!

I came into High Tech with zero research experience and honestly no interest beyond doing what I had to for class. I was also pretty shy and not big on putting myself out there. That changed sophomore year when I got my first real taste of research. I found it to be more of a creative outlet than a chore, so I decided, fully on my own, to join ReconX and stick with the Piwi Project through junior and senior year. Research pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me become more confident in myself and my work. I have gained hands-on skills, contributed to the team, and feel like I know what I am doing…most of the time. The best part, though, is watching my friends and family look at me like I have ten heads when I try to explain my research. That said, I have to give credit to my mentors, Mr. Queenan and Dr. Ellsworth, and the ReconX team for making the HTHS research program top-tier. They are not only incredibly smart but also genuinely down to earth and supportive. As I head to Rutgers to study biomedical engineering, I am excited to keep building on this experience and keep growing as a researcher :).