During my time as an explorer in the Fred Hutch Pathways Research Explorers Program I was able to take in quite an abundance of information about science - in just 2 weeks. We touched upon topics that my biology class has simply grazed on or had not even looked at. So, due to the learning and the people I have met, my time here has definitely been something that I can look back at, remember, and smile.
One event that I would say to be memorable is the first time we entered the lab and got to do an experiment. They called it the HeLa splat. I believe it was my realization while slipping on the gloves that got to me. I was at a cancer research facility. I was in a place where people were in the process of finding the treatments for cancer (treatments not treatment because there are multiple types of cancer, therefore, it is not possible for there to be one single cure for cancer. Before the program, I was not able to make that distinction). It was that realization and the fact that we were using actual HeLa cells. Cells whom we learned about prior and after the experiment - information involving their immortality aspect and their bioethical too.
Moving on to a moment during Fred Hutch that, I, will dare call precious. This moment took place on Wednesday. The speaker walked in, introduced herself as Ida Hidalgo, sat the individuals she was going to talk to and started on her student-university-life-story. She talked to us about her accomplishments, her challenges, her home countries impacts on her, her tears, the long nights studying at the library, and even a tinge of her love story, but most importantly, she told us about her courage. Her ambition to keep on going even with all the barriers and the difficulties. She said that her efforts were worth it. That she couldn’t leave everything behind because it was what she enjoyed and loved to do. Her story was not only beautiful, but inspiring as well. Henceforth, I think I can say that this internship was insightful, inspirational, intriguing, and overall a great way to end my summer of 2019.
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