Summer Enrichment
2024
Smithsonian Student Travel Program
We started our journey inland in the small town of Escazú and then traveled by bus and boat to the Caribbean town of Tortuguero.
Large tree with a perspective of the tree canopy above
Monkey in Tree
River disappearing into the horizon with the greenery on both sides of the river.
Here I am releasing a bird back into the wild after measuring the bird’s wingspan, body size, body weight, and status of feathers.
I discovered sea turtle bones in the jungle, most likely left behind after a jaguar consumed the turtle for food. We know that it was likely a jaguar and not a poacher, because a poacher would not have left the bones behind it would provide evidence of their illegal activity to the authorities. Since the sea turtles are protected in Costa Rica, it is absolutely illegal for poachers to hunt and kill them.
2024
Working as an Assistant Pet Groomer
My job as Assistant Pet Groomer taught me more about working with animals, dogs in particular. I also learned about the psychological relationships between dogs and their owners, which might be useful in my future research. This job showed me how much I enjoy working with dogs, even those that are more aggressive, and I definitely see myself working with dogs while I’m in college!
Working as a Dental Assistant
at Magic Touch Dental in New York
Over the summers, I work in a dental office where I assist in many ways, helping with X-rays, patients, insurance paperwork, setting up, breaking down, and cleaning. I’ve even installed some of my artwork for conversation starters to make the patients feel more comfortable.
2023
Shoals Marine Laboratory
During this program, we stayed on Appledore Island, which is home to the University of New Hampshire Shoals Marine Laboratory. Since the island is quite remote, there are more animals than humans there! We studied seagulls, whales, skates, sharks, flowers, seals, and many species of birds!
In a small research group of only 15 students, we tested skates that had just hatched in tanks, looking for insight into their awareness of predators. It turned out that the newly-hatched skates were unable to tell that predators were in the proximity. The highlights of the trip were our boating trips to find elusive species such as sharks and sea lions.
2023
Ocean Career Exploration & Nautical Sciences (O.C.E.A.N.S.)
This was an exploratory program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington that taught us the roles of different career pathways for Marine Biologists through hands-on experiences. In the classroom, we studied live animals such as Larry the Lobster and a hungry puffer fish who tried to bite our fingers!
We practiced using research aquatic drones, learning how to navigate them through currents. We also built robots that were buoyant for research purposes, as well as solder wires onto a motherboard to create a remote for the robot, which I very much enjoyed!
We made biofuel using olive oil and studied how it burned. We learned how to make fuel that is more sustainable than fossil fuels using the algae that was abundant in the region. I believe that finding ways to make the most sustainable energy possible is an important goal for us as scientists.
Out of the small group of 20 students, I made some new friends, and we had a lot of fun swimming together in the waves and enjoying our time together.
2023
Brown University Pre-College Program
In June/July of the summer before my senior year, I completed an online course: ‘Marine Ecology: Studying and Safeguarding our Most Valuable Ecosystems.’ I was excited to learn more about the important methods of sustainability to preserve our oceanic ecosystems for all future generations.
Working as a Seamstress & Tailor
At Tznius Princess Inc in New York
I was able to learn sewing and fitting techniques as well as how to design the store display windows! I also learned more about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in a demanding industry like custom formalwear.
Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth
2020 sumer Coursework
I took two interesting courses over the summer, the first was “Game of LIfe: The Theory of Strategic Behavior. The second course was “Game Design.” These courses allowed me to see how these theories can be applied everywhere in my life.
