My first goal in my internship is to learn how to effectively use tools provided to me to create significant data that can be used in accomplishing lab objectives. The first step to doing so is to identify any questions which need to be answered in order to begin utilizing said tools. Then, generating a hypothesis regarding said questions would be necessary in order to find which tests and procedures would be appropriate. Finally, upon obtaining said data from the appropriate tests, I would learn to utilize appropriate statistical tests to determine whether the null hypothesis was rejected or not. Achieving this goal is fundamental to my ability to adapt and learn at a workplace, since most if not all careers require some ability to create connections and to support a claim, or to oppose another. This is a slight deviation from when I started the internship. Although it is a necessity to learn about the scientific method well before joining this internship, the specifics of it were never something that caught my attention until I joined this lab. I never knew how long or how much effort each step could take, or how many steps can be involved in just the first part of a procedure. Being in this lab sparked my desire to learn more about the many different moving parts of an experiment and how the experiment can support or reject a hypothesis.
My second goal at my internship would be to learn how to effectively collaborate with my lab coworkers. One of the most important aspects of achieving this goal is to understand specifically what the supervisor of the experiment expects of you with regards to a specific research question. For example, when I am asked to identify base pairs which are affected by bisulfite conversion, it is my responsibility to learn said base pairs, which parts of the experiment impact that, and how that relates to the overall goal of the experiment at hand. The second method of meeting this goal is to learn how to properly design experiments which help achieve the ultimate goal which the supervisor has set out to achieve. If my supervisor asks me to find the difference in genetic methylation in two different samples from two different mice, I must learn which specific experiments are used to find methylation and how to measure that feasibly. Finally, discussion with other members of the lab to screen for potential errors and to compare results is an imperative task in order to learn how to effectively collaborate with my team. Collaboration is perhaps one of the most, if not the most, essential skill to take into any job. Inability to collaborate with coworkers, patients, or other crucial members of a workspace could be a detriment to everyone involved, especially those in need of the service which the workplace is providing. This is a skill which I have looked forward to honing even before I applied to this internship.
As the year progressed, I have been able to learn more about myself and my peers. I have collaborated and conversed with my fellow interns at my lab several times in classes beyond the internship and even for recreational events. Additionally, I have learned how to communicate with my superiors in the work place, how to effectively formulate a question and how to communicate an answer to a question if I am asked. If there is one thing I could take away from LHSI all together, it would without a doubt be the experience I have gained in communication within the workplace. Considering how this is one of my first experiences in a lab and a work setting entirely, I am eternally grateful for this lab being my first to learn these intricacies within, and its heartwarming to see how far I've come in achieving this goal since I started at my internship.
My third and final goal for my internship is to learn how to explain to my peers and general audiences what research skills I learned and what tasks I completed during my time in the lab. In order to do this, I must learn the ability to create good scientific presentations which display the information gathered whilst also explaining its significance to both a general and scientific audience. This leads to the second part of how to learn this skill, which involves being able to explain my findings and their significance in a way that can be understood by a person who isn't involved in the scientific field. Learning this ability is invaluable in any field, as it shows just how much you truly understand for a person. The final objective to this goal is to be able to answer any questions which may arise during a presentation. Being able to read your own results off a screen is one thing, but answering in depth questions about said results and their significance is an entirely different matter which also requires mastery.
Before submitting my application, I wanted to be able to explain the procedures and their results to other people and teach them it. However, as my time in the internship progressed, I realized that there is more to this skill than just showing off what I learned. I realized that I also need to be able to answer questions regarding the topic which I am studying, as well as being able to explain in depth what I have learned both in experience and in the classroom. This includes being able to admit when I have a shortcoming in my knowledge and going back and researching further until I truly earn the right to say that I am well versed in what I am discussing. Although my goal to gain a deeper understanding of the sciences which I study and partake in as well as being able to present my findings never changed, the way I perceive this goal definitely has in that I want to go beyond a superficial threshold of explanation, and I will continue to work every day towards that goal.
The standards which I hope to achieve for myself all make the sum of skills that will be indispensable in my future field of study and eventually my career. Within my major, I am required to take several courses that are focused around capstone projects which are centered around being able to interpret or even conduct research of my own to find whether a formulated hypothesis is supported or not. As for my career, I would need to be able to determine based on presented symptoms from a patient what examinations and procedures to conduct in order to diagnose them as efficiently and correctly as possible while also not wasting hospital resources. These directly relate to the first goal I hope to achieve, since knowing what steps to take to advance research on a hypothesis or the differential with a patient will be crucial to both my classes and my career. It also goes without saying that collaboration and communication as mentioned in my second goal in both academic and professional settings is invaluable. As a student, collaboration on projects and studying for exams is crucial to success in any course. As a doctor, being able to discuss findings with others in my field or being able to consult with others who have expertise in areas I would not will be crucial to the care of patients who have more complex cases. Finally, the ability to present as described in my third goal is another necessary quality for my academic and career goals. In many courses, being able to present a project effectively or to answer any questions my peers have for me is imperative to my understanding as well as the understanding of those around me with regards to the content within the class. It is also important as a doctor to be able to discuss the implications a specific disease or diagnosis would carry to the patient or to other doctors. The importance of these goals is highlighted just by this list of examples, and the list can be much longer considering how foundational these skills are. As such, development in these areas from the internship is a necessary aspect of my journey here.
My current academic and career goals begin with my dream of going to medical school. I have my sights set on IU Medical School, however I will still cast a broad net. After medical school, I intend on focusing on neurology or neurosurgery and working locally in Indiana. I love the medical sciences, and I feel like I am a very communicative and social person. Being a doctor isn't just about helping others or making a lot of money. As a religious Muslim, I believe in the power of medicine and healing, with examples such as Jesus and his miracles as well as the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his prescribed medicinal practices in his time. I also want to become a doctor because I hope to eventually open a clinic in my homeland of Palestine, where I can treat patients free of charge and help them in any way I can. In Palestine, health care is severely limited due to several blockades imposed by the Israeli Government. As such, it is my dream to one day make a change in this system, and help those in need in my homeland.
I cannot see myself being anything else but a doctor. From as far as I can remember, I've known that my passion lies in the field of medicine. Seeing my uncle, who is a neurologist, working and helping patients despite the many hours it would take away from his family incited a feeling of devotion and sacrifice which I would like to one day emulate. I am currently planning on shadowing several doctors to confirm and cement my desire to be in this field, and I also try and volunteer as much as I can outside of work and school to keep my resolve in helping others strong. I also make sure to continue to practice my skills in the fields of collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving to keep on developing myself until I can be worthy of becoming a doctor.
In order to achieve these goals, there is an arduous road ahead with many trials and tribulations that I must overcome. I must plan ahead and proactively take steps to surmount these tasks. I started by taking steps in the winter break, where I made sure to plan out all the tasks I needed to accomplish. This mainly ranged from completing the courses associated with the MCAT to making sure my resume and LinkedIn can be updated in the near future. This spring, I plan to further update my skillset with the internship and also start looking for shadowing opportunities in nearby practices. I also plan to start scheduling my MCAT dates and study times. By this time next year, I will have taken the MCAT at least once and have started my medical school application. I will also have a well rounded resume, an updated and visually pleasing LinkedIn, and a good transcript.
Although it feels hard to believe, the closing of this semester and academic year draws nearer by the day, and my time at IUPUI also comes closer to its conclusion with the passing time. As such, there are a few things I would like to take advantage of while I'm still here before the next step in my life. Dr. Singh offered me a position at his lab for the following years in my undergraduate time, and I am gladly taking that offer. This chance could lead to many different opportunities such as my name potentially being on a publication, as well as the opportunities that comes with staying in such a high profile lab including the chance to network with renowned professionals in the field of regenerative medicine. This will be a big part of what I do both this summer and for the rest of my undergraduate career.
This internship has shown me so much as I've progressed in it with regards to how I want to proceed in my career. For starters, it has affirmed my love for the field of science as well as medicine. This lab has shown me first hand how even the smallest deviation from normal function in the human body can lead to catastrophic consequences as a result. This along with a host of other science related reasons have just confirmed to me how much I want to become a doctor. Additionally, many of my coworkers have given me some details and guidelines with regards to how I should go about my career path. They have instructed me on what classes to take and when, as well as what resources helped them on their path to applying for medical school. Each and every one of my coworkers and superiors have all encouraged me to continue on my path, given me sage advice on how to do so, and offered every resource at their disposal to help me if I ever need it.
Considering how much guidance I have received throughout my time at the lab as well as a student in general from supervisors, friends, and family, I feel very confident in making decisions that relate to my career. Though I always seek out knowledge on how to make informed decisions regarding my career, I have a detailed plan for how to proceed with applying and hopefully getting accepted into medical school. One thing I do want to learn more about is merit and financial aid-based scholarships for medical school. Being a medical student is a costly expenditure, and if there is any way for me to reduce or avert those costs entirely, I want to learn all about it and hopefully implement it into my plan.