The Fall into Neuroscience by Emily

The Fall into Neuroscience by Emily - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I spent every summer with my grandparents; it is a positive tradition that I both look forward to and cherish year after year. However, three years ago, my grandmother went on her daily walk and fell face-first on the sidewalk despite not tripping over anything. We brought her to the hospital, and after various tests, the doctors informed us that she had a large tumor in her brain that needed surgical removal. There was a range of emotions going through my head: shock, regret, but also a bit of curiosity. What were the signs of the tumor we could have caught earlier on? How did we miss them?
I began to dive into surface-level research to understand the effect of encephalopathy. Soon, the fascination took hold, and I began to read and listen to podcasts about the physical and psychological functions of the brain. Surprisingly, the effect of diseases on the brain is still widely studied due to the complexity of the brain composition; things like cell vulnerability to brain disease or even the connection between neurons are still unclear. My grandmother ultimately had a strong recovery, and I discovered this newfound passion which I hope to cultivate in college. Perhaps one day, I will transform the understanding in this field.