Looking Through the Lens into the Future: My journey to Microbiology by Nick

Looking Through the Lens into the Future: My journey to Microbiology by Nick - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

I’ve always been curious about the natural world, the things that can and cannot be seen. Since the study of biology has had its hooks in me, I’ve shaped my life to align with my scientific interests and ambitions, both inside and outside of the classroom.

I was amazed when on the first day of Biology class my teacher focused a light microscope at 100X magnification on a slide containing a sample of lake water and let me take a look. I saw a whole new world! A tiny ciliate caught my attention, and it reminded me of the tireless hours I used to spend catching bugs and reptiles in my backyard. But these organisms were different, they were tiny, and I knew nearly nothing about them. Unexpectedly, as I had grown taller and older, my curiosity had shifted to smaller and smaller organisms.

Wanting to know more, I enrolled in AP Biology and BioMedical Science courses. I discovered many molecular substances that previously had not existed to me. From colonies of semi-aquatic diatoms to the complex compartmentalization of a cell, every new experience left me hypnotized. My thirst for knowledge had led me to this place, and I wanted to learn all there was to know about these miniscule creatures. Through the beckoning call of the microscope’s lenses, I discovered microbiology and instantly knew that it was right for me.

Curious to see the ways in which microbiologists can positively influence the world, I became a volunteer at my local Kaiser Permanente medical facility. Finally, I can see myself inside of a living biological environment of fellow scientists, a community that inspires me. I am excited to have the opportunity to experience firsthand the more human side of Biology.

Over time, I also began to understand the true impact that scientists have and how I could turn my passion into a career. There are so many problems in the world that need people like me to help solve, such as the changing climate, poverty, and deadly diseases. It is answers to these problems for which I hope to find solutions in college that lead to the development of treatments such as stem cell and phage therapies that will someday help people with chronic or progressive diseases live longer and better lives. I know that these answers will not come easy but will require me to think outside of the box.

Now as I fix my eyes on college and the future, I hope to propel my interest in microbiology to the next level. I'm thrilled that my first encounter with that microscope has led me from catching lizards as a boy to the cutting edge of biological science.