My Biology Personal Statement

I have spent much of my life considering what my goals are, and how I should set them. My high school “senior project” was centered around goal-setting and how best to go about achieving them. As a high level cross country and track athlete, I set many concrete goals and achieved many of them. This has brought me to the top of many lists, record boards, and to the highest level of the sport. Of course, athletics is only a small part of who I am. As I pursue my degree in Human Biology, I am becoming more passionate towards academia. I have learned through running that following a process is crucial, especially through failure. In high school, I was a talented yet unmotivated student. On the other hand, I was a talented and motivated athlete. …show more content…
I gained great experience under my PI Dr. Jin, and became even more excited about research. Not only did I learn about the implications of research for human and animal disease, but I found the actual bench work in the lab to be entertaining. I had found an academic area where I loved the process. Meanwhile, I took a summer class in Endocrinology, which turned out to be my favorite class yet, and finished with an A. I decided this summer that working as a researcher in a lab would be a fulfilling career for me. Obviously, I have a lot to learn and have only spent two months working in a lab, but this is part of what excites me. There is limitless knowledge to gain when working in a …show more content…
Much like research, there are long periods of training in our sport where we work, often to the point of complete exhaustion, without immediate gratification. In early june, I would wake up to run 10 or more miles before lab, bike to the lab by 9 o’clock, and after lab, I would do another short run. All for a race we would run in late November. Similarly, I know there are years of experience separating me from major contributions to the world of science, but am excited to learn (and often fail) as much as I can to prepare me for that time.
While denial from all the programs to which I applied was tough, this “failure” may have been the best thing for my development. Since the summer, I achieved success in cross country, helping lead a team to our best national finish since 2011. I also enjoyed taking Organic Chemistry I, finishing with an A- and an A+ in lab. In the past year, I have gained a love for the process of science much like in running. My development as a student and researcher gives me confidence in the application process for more involved research positions, like the Mayo Institute summer internship