Hi everyone! My name is Anika Gupta and I am a junior at Spring-Ford Area High School. I am so excited to start my TRIP journey! I applied to TRIP because I am a huge science nerd and love learning about biology and chemistry. I was immediately drawn in by the idea of conducting research on fruit flies (despite my irrational fear of bugs) because I have always been deeply curious about why different phenomena occur within the biological world and conducting research is the key to answering such questions.
![]() I love being actively involved both within school and outside of school. Currently, I am the Spring Ford Student Board representative, Vice President of Interact Club and Student Council, and an executive officer of my school’s Future Medical Leaders of America Club. These activities are extremely meaningful to me because I am passionate about bettering the community around me and using my voice to make a difference. Outside of school, I volunteer at my local hospital in the Emergency Department. I normally assist in triage by taking vitals and communicating with patients. Additionally, I am the Vice President of the marketing department for the Junior Achievement Company Program at Pfizer. In the program, a group of highschoolers and myself create a company to sell a product that we hope will make a positive impact on the community. This year we are creating and selling a card game designed to promote creativity and critical skills in young kids! Finally, I co-founded an initiative called STEMscouts, where I host classes at my local library to help kids explore science through hands-on experiments and engaging lectures. Simplifying complex science concepts into something digestible can be challenging, but it’s so rewarding to see the spark of curiosity light up on their faces as they learn through these classes.
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![]() In addition to science, I love art, music, swimming, and writing. I work with any and all 3D mediums, like clay, wire, and yarn. My favorite craft is crocheting; I’ve made sweaters, stuffed animals, shirts, and tote bags. You may spot me wearing one of my sweaters in a future blog! While crocheting, I like to listen to music, especially Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, and Phoebe Bridgers. I got my dream pet last September and named her Kyoto, after my favorite Phoebe Bridgers song. She’s a gray corn snake that has the vibes of the song and the Japanese city that inspired it.
After school, I swim. I’ve swam for my high school’s varsity swim team for four years, and I’ve been on my local summer swim team since I was eleven. This year, I was honored to become a school team captain. It has been my pleasure to welcome our new members and share my love for the sport. My first day of TRIP taught me how to properly use a micropipette, showed me the process of making a diluted solution, and helped me get to know all my fellow TRIP students. We made fly food for our first experiments, and we were all given a vial of flies to observe at home. Already, the program goes above and beyond my expectations of hands-on education. I’m very eager to continue learning and experimenting; I can’t wait for next week!
![]() At school, I’m involved in a mix of activities. As a Mini-THON captain, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of a team dedicated to raising money for pediatric cancer. It’s all about bringing people together for a great cause, and I get to oversee everything from helping organize events to rallying the school to participate. We raised a quarter million dollars this last Mini-THON season alone, which still feels so surreal! Volunteering has always been something close to my heart. In my role as treasurer of my school’s Interact Club, I’ve worked to organize service projects like food drives, the Out of the Darkness Walk, and so much more. Outside of school, working with organizations like the Sunshine Foundation has been incredibly rewarding. Along with that, I’m a member of my school’s wind ensemble, where I play the alto and baritone saxophone, and I’ve had the opportunity to participate in my school’s jazz band as well. I’ve always loved music. That’s why I co-founded my school’s Guitar Club. I wanted to create a space where students could bond over music. It’s been an amazing way to share something I love with others. ![]() Today was the first day of TRIP. I got to meet the TRIP team: Dr. Purdy, Dr. Austria, Dr. Valdes, Mr. Cozzone, Phoebe, Amritha, and Martie. They were all so welcoming and supportive! We started with an icebreaker game that actually was fun (a rare occurrence, considering most icebreakers are just awkward silences disguised as “fun” activities). We got to talk to each other, match up fun facts, and guess who they belonged to. We were all motivated to win and get that Wawa gift card. Then, we did a quick scavenger hunt activity to review lab safety. In the lab, we learned how to use pipettes and micropipettes. We also learned about solutions, including the math needed to calculate the varying concentrations and amounts required. Using these skills, we prepared fly food for our kickoff experiment. For my kickoff experiment, I’ll be testing how Rhodiola and head trauma affect anxiety. Overall, my first day of TRIP was a great experience. I enjoyed getting to know everyone and feel excited for what lies ahead. I’m looking forward to sharing more updates on my progress, and I can’t wait to see what we all accomplish! I love that science can spark curiosity and lead to new discoveries, even in the most unexpected places. |
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