Portfolio Statement
I came to the University of Washington to become a scientist. So as any good scientist would, I'll cite you some evidence:
But that is not a complete picture of who I am. I am a scientist, but I am also a musician, a teacher, and a leader both here at the University of Washington and in my community.
Over the course of my college career, I have often felt as though I live two different lives. There is the me that obsesses over how the molecules in the body interact, and the me that recharges 4 days a week at band rehearsal. The me that spent every spare moment of my week working on an organic chemistry take-home final, and the me that drove 30 hours with my instrument to cheer on the football team in Berkeley. Twice. The me that shows dedication in the laboratory, and the me that shows dedication on the football field.
The summer before my senior year I was burnt out and couldn't find a paying research job, so I left for camp. In order to explain to my family and friends why I was going back to my old summer camp instead of advancing my future career, I made a list of all of the skills I was gaining and why it mattered. Some of the buzz words on that list were responsibility, communication, preparation, teacher, teamwork, and leadership. It has taken me a long time to recognize that I shouldn't have to feel pressured to justify each side of me to the other. The world needs professionals who are willing to commit time and energy to finish projects, who can communicate effectively in many forms, and can work with and lead a team.What I have learned in my so-called "extracurricular activities" have fundamentally shaped who I have grown into as a scholar and as a human being. I came to this university to become a scientist. I accomplished that, but I will also leave as a leader who cares about building a community and is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, in all its many forms.
- The college admissions essay that I am most proud of was an essay for the UW Honors Program that I wrote about exploring tide pools for hours on a Biology class field trip.
- I landed an interview for a research position before I had even set foot in a college classroom.
- I picked Biochemistry as my major, and I never wavered.
But that is not a complete picture of who I am. I am a scientist, but I am also a musician, a teacher, and a leader both here at the University of Washington and in my community.
Over the course of my college career, I have often felt as though I live two different lives. There is the me that obsesses over how the molecules in the body interact, and the me that recharges 4 days a week at band rehearsal. The me that spent every spare moment of my week working on an organic chemistry take-home final, and the me that drove 30 hours with my instrument to cheer on the football team in Berkeley. Twice. The me that shows dedication in the laboratory, and the me that shows dedication on the football field.
The summer before my senior year I was burnt out and couldn't find a paying research job, so I left for camp. In order to explain to my family and friends why I was going back to my old summer camp instead of advancing my future career, I made a list of all of the skills I was gaining and why it mattered. Some of the buzz words on that list were responsibility, communication, preparation, teacher, teamwork, and leadership. It has taken me a long time to recognize that I shouldn't have to feel pressured to justify each side of me to the other. The world needs professionals who are willing to commit time and energy to finish projects, who can communicate effectively in many forms, and can work with and lead a team.What I have learned in my so-called "extracurricular activities" have fundamentally shaped who I have grown into as a scholar and as a human being. I came to this university to become a scientist. I accomplished that, but I will also leave as a leader who cares about building a community and is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, in all its many forms.
I am more than the sum of my parts. To reflect this, my portfolio explores the many different aspects of my college career that are interwoven to make me the person I am today. I believe that each of my experiences informs the others, and that together I am a more capable scientist and well-rounded human being.
|