About Me

I am originally from Saint Louis, but I moved here to Indy to pursue a degree in neuroscience. I am currently a sophomore at IUPUI. I chose a neuroscience major because I have always been fascinated by science, specifically the brain. I took a neuroscience course through Duke University when I was 15, and this solidified my interest in pursuing this degree. In the future, I want to do neurological research on neurological disorders. My passion for neurological research stems from my fascination for science and the brain, as well as being a neurological patient myself.

Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP)

In seventh grade, I was introduced to the Duke Talent Identification Program through my middle school. This program allowed me to take the ACT in seventh grade and it also gave me access to an abundance of courses I could take through middle school and high school. I had the opportunity to take a class during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, and I decided to take a neuroscience course because it sounded interesting and I had never really learned about the brain before. Through this course, I learned about the brain, how it works, a little bit of neuroanatomy, and applied these concepts to different projects that we completed. I found this experience very beneficial because at this time I had never heard of neuroscience. This program introduced me to a new field that I am now fascinated by, and will continue to dedicate my time to throughout my career.

Teamwork

Being able to work on a team is an extremely important skill that will be utilized throughout one's entire lifetime. Knowing how to work with a diverse group of people takes practice, which I have experienced on various sports, employment, and creative teams. Throughout high school I worked in a variety of jobs, all of which included a team aspect within the working environment. I also played soccer for most of my life, and learned the importance of being supportive and trusting your teammates. My time playing soccer taught me that it is essential to always show up and do your best even when it's hard and you might not want to. I have always loved being a part of a team, and I definitely want to incorporate this style of work in my future. I love how the combination of different ideas and perspectives within a team allow everyone to learn from each other. I believe I am a great team member because I excel at communicating, compromising, and fulfilling the needs of the team.

My Experiences

Past Work Experience

My first work experience was as a summer camp counselor. I worked with kids over the summer to ensure they had a fun and active time during the day. We did crafts, went on field trips, and played many games. During this job I also specialized in coaching a soccer camp and working as a one-on-one with kids with special needs. This was a great first job, and I enjoyed my time here. After this job, I spent most of my time throughout high school working at a gym, where I would keep up with everyday duties in the gym, set up rentals, and be a customer service representative. I liked this job because it was flexible with my busy schedule, and I was able to interact with people. After high school, I had a seasonal job in my hometown that I worked while I was home from college. This job was at a dog daycare, which was my favorite job at the time. I love dogs, so being able to spend all day with them was a great experience. Though it was stressful at times, I learned a lot about dog behavior, training, grooming, and general caretaking. All of these experiences taught me a lot about working as a team, having patience, and creative problem solving.

Volunteer Experience

My past volunteer experience have come from National Honors Society in high school, where I volunteered at a variety of events. Through these volunteer opportunities I learned how much I love helping people, and that has led me to pursue a career that allows me to do just that. My favorite volunteer event was helping teach kids about soccer, which we did through a soccer camp over the summer. I was (and still am) very passionate about soccer, so I loved sharing my passion with children who would grow up to also love the sport.

I currently volunteer at Indy Humane, where I help take care of the dogs before they are ready to be adopted. We make sure they are happy and healthy, take them for walks, and play with them. I love volunteering here because I get to help them to feel more comfortable around people and to prepare them for adoption. This has been a great experience for me, and I am so happy to help these animals become confident and happy as they should be. Rescuing animals from a shelter is so important in order to get these great pets the wonderful families they deserve, and while I am not able to adopt a dog yet, I love that I can help prepare them for their forever homes. You can click on the Indy Human icon on the left to visit their website!

Involvement

I am on the executive board for the Undergraduate Women In Science club, which advocates for getting women involved in the sciences and creating a healthy environment for those who are already involved. We plan events, coordinate volunteer activities, and we just started a mentoring program! I also make a newsletter every month to inform our members of events and other opportunities on campus. I love being part of this club because it includes diverse and passionate women who care for one another and want to help women feel included and supported in science.

Skills and Strengths

Through years of experience in work, school, and volunteer opportunities, I have developed a variety of skills and strengths that will help me in my future career. As mentioned before, working on a team is a strength on mine, and this requires great communication, compromise, and responsibility. My position in the Undergraduate Women in Science club has taught me what it takes to be a leader, as well as how to effectively organize events and take initiative. I also have experience working in labs in both high school and college, using things like spectrophotometry, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and other lab skills. These experiences have helped me to do well in college labs, and feel comfortable using lab equipment. These skills that I have developed have prepared me to pursue a career in research.

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