My Journey of Experiments: From "Perfume-making" to Immunological Research by Haley

My Journey of Experiments: From "Perfume-making" to Immunological Research by Haley - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

The snack bag crinkled as I pressed it open, revealing a jumble of carnation petals, daisies, and buttercups I had collected during recess. I set the bag beside me on the wooden bench and spread out my tools: a flimsy plastic spork, a Barbie hair clip, a rock the size of my eight-year-old fist, and the empty Cheez-It bag that served as my mixing bowl. Scooping up the flowers, I held them under the drinking fountain, letting the water splash in. With determined precision, I mashed, kneaded, and squeezed the soggy mixture, convinced I was creating my next floral “perfume.”
Eight years later, I found myself leaning over a sticky library table, cutting contact paper into circles and sorting glitter into plastic cups. Around me, kids shouted excitedly as they pieced together tissue paper scraps into colorful suncatchers. "Can I add more glitter?" one of them asked, holding up a half-finished design. I nodded, smiling at their eagerness. Supplies were tight, but I had scrounged up just enough to keep the project going—a roll of red yarn, leftover tissue paper, contact paper, and a handful of sequins from last year’s crafts. Late nights spent scrolling through Pinterest and brainstorming new STEAM kits for the library had become my routine. I wanted these kids, most of them under ten, to feel the same spark of excitement I felt as a child in crafting their own projects.
That same enthusiasm for hands-on exploration carried over into my chemistry class, where the lab became my new creative space. I relished learning how substances interact and tweaking ingredients to manipulate outcomes. During one experiment, I carefully measured solutions, watching the liquid turn a deep, vivid blue before the next step transformed it back to clear. My eyes widened seeing the experiment unfold, giving breath to lessons and theories as they materialized through tangible results.
Eager to explore chemistry in a professional setting, I shadowed neurobiologist Dr. Aponte-Santiago at UCSF. On my first day walking through the lab, I watched in awe at the rows of ingredients and supplies, the intricate machinery, and the mere setup of the meticulous lab benches. Everything was prepared and lined for experimentation. Dr. Aponte-Santiago’s research on zebrafish neurodevelopment fascinated me, and her passion was contagious. As she walked me through the Southern blotting technique, I leaned in close, holding my breath as the distinct bands emerged, the gel separated, and the DNA fluoresced. Hoping to follow my fascination, I sought out similar research opportunities.
The summer after my junior year, I participated in the Stanford Institute of Medical Research program. I assisted PhD candidate, Alea Delmastro, in characterizing neutrophil responses to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)--the malaria parasite. Learning FlowJo software to analyze Pf-infected red blood cells was initially daunting. I sat for hours, staring at incomprehensible data, frustration building as I tried and failed to make sense of it. With a tinge of embarrassment, I worked up the courage to ask my mentor for help. She walked me through it step by step, and slowly, the pieces came together. Through her patience and explanation, I grew comfortable with asking more questions to fill in my knowledge gaps. This newfound clarity built momentum for deeper discussions, and I was excited to articulate my ideas with ease.
The experimentation I reveled in mashing flowers to create “perfumes” evolved into a passion for research. Whether I’m piecing together STEAM kits or working through complex research hurdles, that familiar spark of eagerness and devotion lights my drive to create and explore. The journey is by no means smooth, as I faced the perpetual challenge of grappling with unfamiliar concepts and its accompanying vulnerability. But those moments, when I push through uncertainty and my thoughts finally click, are rewarding beyond measure. The experiences that transformed my love for experimentation instilled a resilience that I will carry as I follow my interest in biological research.