I aspire to enter into a career as a research scientist in a health-related field, with a specific interest in the biology and chemistry of cancer. This career path was inspired collectively from my early interest in helping and mentoring others as well as my life experiences growing up in rural Louisiana (LA). This love of "helping others in need" was instilled into me early in my life as I learned the virtues of applying my efforts in elevating the wellbeing of people in need. I often volunteered my services at homeless shelters, food drives, and at American Cancer Society and American Chemical Society outreach events. In addition, in school, I often helped tutor my peers in STEM subjects and received words of thanks and notes of appreciation …show more content…
Growing up in rural LA, I have experienced the unfortunate outcomes of flood damage by hurricanes. Thus, the goal of my project was to find an alternative material to sand, that would better absorb water and can be used as an enhanced preventative method against flood damage. I studied and selected the following substances (coal (variable 1), sawdust (variable 2), sand (positive control), and salt (negative control)) out of scientific curiosity and accessibility. As a result of testing them, I was able to a determine that sawdust was the most water absorbent and had ~ 0 degree of solvation of the material. I was them able to present my findings via poster to my peers at a public young scientist exposition event that encouraged minority student involvement within the sciences. I was pleased to know that many people were impressed with the results of my work and were encouraged to use sawdust bags for flood prevention. This experience gave me fulfillment to know that the motive for doing this project actually made an impact on the people of which my research set out to help. It also gave me a greater appreciation for scientific research that seeks to benefit wellbeing of humanity. The overall experience positively influenced my career goal of becoming a research