Everything I've learned about science... except the science part.

I entered SUU with little knowledge about the biological or physical sciences. I was terrified that my lack of retaining knowledge from high school would be an immediate detriment to my schooling as a freshman. Surprisingly I completed the first semester of my freshman year without much effort, but at the same time I also realized that I still didn’t really feel like I learned that much. This inspired me to begin working on research project with one of my professors the next semester. Although I frequently felt like I had no idea what I was doing, I was amazed at how I was able to learn so much more by actually applying what I was learning in my classes to what I was doing in my research. I also think this helped me understand how to actually learn what I was studying in my classes rather than just memorizing the material.

I was never really interested in science growing up. I think this is mainly due to how general everything is explained, and it never made sense to me. I think this is what initially sparked my love for chemistry. I have worked in the SUU Water Lab now for three years, and I have learned how to perform numerous chemical tests and how to follow the standard operating procedures required by the state. I initially loved being in the lab learning about how each water test can be used in different situations, however after a while everything became very repetitive and I realized that I wasn’t using any creativity in my work or in this research. I loved learning about different reactions and mechanisms that show how life works, and about what we still don’t know today. This motivated me to apply to summer research programs, so I spent a few months at Utah State University in a biochemistry lab studying a Gram-negative pathogen with graduate students.

Because I had never taken biochemistry or microbiology, I spent the first couple of weeks learning the basic knowledge and skills I needed to be able to work with bacterial cultures. I learned a lot about how to create different mutations to study the functions of different proteins, how to analyze sequencing data, and how to use multiple chemical instruments I would have never been able to at SUU. I learned how to extensively document everything I was doing, and found how crucial it was to write down every little detail even if it was monotonous, because I frequently had to refer to different strains that I hadn’t touched in months. I learned how to figure out new ways of experimentation when I wasn’t getting the results that I wanted.

I found that even though my knowledge of these subjects were slim, when I got to take biochemistry the following fall I was surprised at how much of the material I had learned without realizing it. I think this especially will contribute to my future career as a physician, because during clinical rotations a lot of our training will come from learning by experience and not directly through textbook material. This research taught me a lot about the different ways of learning, and I’m grateful to have had an experience that helped me learn the application first so I was able to learn more efficiently in my classes.  

I think my favorite part about this capstone class was the opportunity for us to finally be able to ask our own questions. In our undergrad studies, we are frequently asked to review journal articles and write summaries or answer specific questions about them. I remember being asked in labs my sophomore and junior years to come up with our own semester project, and I had no idea how to even begin. However, after taking multiple upper division courses and being involved in research, I have found it easier to be able to read multiple articles, find the gaps in the research, and to be able ask my own questions about how these different research studies could benefit us and they could be used in the future. I think this is probably the most pertinent thing I have learned at SUU because, as a physician, I will constantly be faced with patients and cases where I will have to listen to questions, and be able to ask my own to be able to come up with an accurate diagnoses.

Overall, I think I’ve learned more about how to learn by asking questions and by observing than about specific topics in science. I have also learned what I need in a career for me to continue to be motivated and excited about the scientific and healthcare field. This class reminded me of how much I like researching different topics that I’m interested about and how much I love being immersed in places that I can creatively think and analyze the different aspects of science. I’m confident that these skills will benefit me in medical school and in my career, so thank you!