College Entry Essay

740 Words3 Pages

A hackneyed joke states that two certainties in life for most humans are death and taxes. I would be so bold as to add curiosity to this list, and with curiosity comes a compelling urge to learn and to peer deeper into the truths of nature. This curiosity has enveloped every facet of my life, and has led to my passion for science.
From a tender age, I have exhibited an interest in better understanding the fascinating universe that surrounds us. Through upbringing as well as through example, my parents have instilled in me the importance of being and remaining inquisitive throughout the journey of life. When I was a young girl, my parents and teachers were privy to an interminable stream of questions about my surroundings, and in the event that …show more content…

This truly left me in a conundrum; I was unsure as to which field of science enamoured me the most and like several of my peers, I was anxious about making a decision which would have tangible consequences for the rest of my life. I thus wanted to expose myself as much as possible to a range of varying fields in order to be better informed. In the summer of 2014, I completed the Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes at Stanford University in ‘The Frontiers of Physics’, during which I studied about the several significant breakthroughs of the early 20th century, which led to the formulation of modern physics. More specifically, I learnt about Einstein’s special and general theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and particle physics. In short, it was a rather intensive and rigorous course and it allowed me to attain a better conceptual and mathematical understanding of the theories in physics that changed the way we view the …show more content…

To fulfil this aim, I decided to intern at the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore. As a premier research institute which deals with frontier areas of biology, NCBS seemed like the perfect place to seek such an exposure. I was assigned to Lab 3, which works on Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, under the able guidance of Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan.
On my very first day, I remember feeling overwhelmingly jittery and exhilarated. I was thrilled at the prospect of working in a lab for the very first time. Upon arriving, I was informed that I would be assisting Jyothi, a PhD student, with her research.
One of the most rewarding experiences for me was that of meeting an array of intensely passionate people. This helped me learn what I think is an extremely essential life-lesson: It all begins and ends with passion. Almost everyone who I met on a daily basis was incredible stoked about their work and when you talk to people who are impassioned like that, you can’t help but get fired up yourself. The atmosphere of vitality and enthusiasm acts as rocket fuel for aspirations and motivations. It makes you want to go out and do something