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Regular updates from students in TRIP

The TRIP of My Life by Shakira Ali

3/15/2022

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Hi everyone! My name is Shakira Ali and I'm a rising junior at Council Rock High School South. I've pretty much lived in PA for my entire life but I love traveling to different countries and seeing a blend of different cultures and food. At my school, I’m involved in a lot of nerdy activities and clubs and even started some of my own! I actively participate in our computer science club, women in STEM, Muslim Student Association, and much more. I’ve been playing violin for about 10 years and balancing my rehearsals with my academic life has been quite challenging, but it helped improve my time management skills. Outside of school, I tutor elementary school students and volunteer at local nature centers and summer camps. I haven’t worked with kids that often so when I assisted them in their homework and looked after them at the camps, I’ve learned a lot about the significance of responsibility and most importantly communication. I watch a lot of anime in my free time (probably a little too much) but I also like visiting local parks and landmarks around my house. I spend most of my free time baking with a touch of food science and my curiosity drives me to experiment with new flavor combinations to try and achieve the perfect texture and balance of flavors. Baking helps me express my creative side and sometimes my bakes don’t always end up perfectly, but I view my failures as the perfect opportunity to improve and make my desserts better! ​
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Chocolate Drip Cake
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Baklava
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Salted Caramel Cupcakes


​As a hobby baker, I’ve always wondered what the scientific aspect behind baking is and how that is similar to working with chemicals in a laboratory. I’ve always been in love with science since elementary school and would be excited to participate in science challenges and fairs. Since the beginning of the pandemic, my school has limited the number of labs we were able to do but with TRIP initiative, it has introduced the importance of scientific research and experimental design to me. I’ve always been very intrigued by the biological anatomy of various organisms and although I have no clear view of my future, ever since joining TRIP, I have been more inclined to venture into a branch of science like pathology and genetics!
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In my first week at TRIP, we’ve dug right into the science world by learning how to use and hold a pipette and micropipette. These small instruments have proved to be useful in the laboratory setting and with this technology, moving small amounts of liquids has greatly assisted the making of my fruit fly food! Along with practicing how to dilute solutions, the idea that the impacts of certain drugs and stressors on a fly’s life can correspond to how we can improve a human’s life and make discoveries is so fascinating to me. I am really looking forward to the upcoming weeks of project designs, data analysis, and solidifying my relationships with the other kids at TRIP! :)
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A Quick TRIP Through My Life! by Saanvi Gupta

3/14/2022

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Hello! My name is Saanvi Gupta, and I am a junior at Downingtown East High School. My parents immigrated from India to the United States in 2004. A year after, I was born in New Jersey, after which we moved to Connecticut and then here, in Pennsylvania. I currently live in Chester Springs, a small suburb just outside of Philadelphia, with my parents and puppy Chikoo.
I applied to TRIP to further my interests in medical research and gain exposure to laboratory work while also meeting students that would willingly give up 12 Saturdays to do the same. With a large fascination with women’s health and previous research experiences in breast cancer diagnostics and global views on menopause, I am excited to see where TRIP takes me next. So far, I have learned how to use pipets, pipettes, and micropipettes (yes, they are all different), made fruit fly food, performed dilution problems, and now have fruit flies living in my bedroom! For my upcoming project, I am going to study how fenugreek (a plant that I have eaten growing up) and a high sugar diet will impact female fruit fly fertility. As someone who wishes to build a career around women’s health research and medicine, I am ecstatic about my upcoming journey in TRIP and will most definitely cherish this amazing experience. 
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At school, I am heavily invested in anything and everything science and math-related. I currently serve as the President-in-Training for my school’s TSA (Technology Student Association) chapter and compete as part of my school’s Academic/Quizbowl Team and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). I also created a Math Tutoring program for my school district which enables high school students to tutor other students across the 16 schools in Downingtown Area School District. Additionally, I am a Charity Chair of the Student Council; my main job is to organize Mr. East, an annual senior boy’s beauty pageant that raises money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (this year, we raised over $4000). Outside of school, I used to compete and now mentor in VEX Robotics and volunteer as part of the Shakti Foundation, a local volunteering group that promotes Indian heritage and culture. I also love dancing and choreographing in Hip-Hop and Bollywood styles and playing Just Dance - it’s a great stress relief!
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Fly Through a TRIP of My Life by Niki Wang

3/13/2022

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​Hi everyone! My name is Niki Wang and I’m currently a freshman at William Tennent. Throughout my childhood, I’ve moved to numerous places before settling in Warminster, Pennsylvania. I’ve lived in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and a year or so in China. I don’t have many memories of when I lived in China since I was only two, but the lingering memories still draw me to my parents’ home country.
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In school, I am the president of the 9th Grade Class in Student Government, a member of Key Club, Athletic Council, and the Spanish Club (also known as Aqui Para Ti Club). In the Student Government and Athletic Council, other members and I are able to identify problems in our school and seek reforms, allowing students to make an impact. In Key Club, we organize events and hold fundraisers for school events or even for a blood drive. Now, with the Spanish Club, even though I don’t speak Spanish and am not of hispanic descent, I chose to join this out of my curiosity of the hispanic culture. This club is specifically made for hispanic students who struggle with English, but it welcomes many others to make a diverse community. As you can see, all of these extracurricular activities connect me with others, either in school or outside, and really allow me to influence many individuals - either a student, an athlete, or a patient.
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Outside of school, I mostly work, work, and work. My parents own a Chinese and Japanese restaurant called Stone Wok, and I work part-time there every day except Tuesdays (our only day off of the week). There, I’m qualified for many roles. I’m the assistant manager, but when needed, I also do waitressing, cashiering, packing, or hosting. I got this position not just because I was the daughter of the owners, but because I’ve seen how a restaurant operates ever since I was 4 and have 3 years of experience. Now you might be wondering, “How the heck did she observe a restaurant for over 10 years?”. Well, it’s actually not uncommon for many 1st generation children of Chinese immigrants to experience something like this. When our parents immigrated to the United States, they often opened up a restaurant if they had the money, and put a lot - and I mean a lot - of time and energy into the restaurant. This leaves very little time for them to take care of their children, so we either get taken care of by our grandparents, or stay at the restaurant with our parents. In my case, I stayed with my grandparents in China for around a year, and moved back to the U.S. when I was almost 4. It was only a matter of time I did because I had to learn English and get prepared for school in the U.S. As a result, I also got to observe the operation of a restaurant and learn all the responsibilities of each restaurant position.

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Years went on and I started to get increasingly bored since I was very limited to what I could do in elementary school (they barely had any clubs) and parts of middle school because of the pandemic. Once I reached high school though, I was exposed to so many opportunities and activities. I wanted to join all of them and experience the most I could during my high school years (hence, the reason why I have joined 4 clubs). I also fell in love with the STEM field, especially the science aspect of it. My English teacher probably saw my potential and interest, so he introduced me to this amazing program called TRIP. Later that day, I read through the information and realized this program really aligned with my interests. I applied, made it, and am incredibly happy to have made this decision. Yesterday was my only first day of TRIP but I’ve already learned so much. From diluting solutions and micropipetting to making fly food, I loved it all. What I hope to build and learn from TRIP is my knowledge and skill. What I hope to narrow down and identify from TRIP is my career interest. I believe TRIP will help me hugely in those ways and continue to impact me even after this experience is over. Right now I’m itching to go back next week and start hands-on work with fruit flies. In the meantime, I’ll continue observing the fruit flies in the vial I received on the first day of TRIP and complete any assigned work in Schoology!
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TRIP Into My Life by Sameeksha Panda

3/12/2022

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Salutations to whoever may be reading this! My name is Sameeksha Panda, and as one of the newest members of TRIP, I can’t wait to tell you all about me. 
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I am a current junior at Methacton High School, where I am vice president of the Science Fair Team and Biology Olympiad, as well as participating in the Medicine & Science Club. I love to be involved in school (known as my favorite place in the world) as a peer tutor, student ambassador, and newspaper writer. Of course, my interests extend out of school, such as my 10-year passion for dance and my obsession for reading, which even led to me creating my own reading program, One Book At A Time. In my free time, I’ll either be singing, dreaming of places to travel (I have a slight goal of seeing every country in the world), or volunteering at the local soup kitchen.
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Science has always been a curiosity to me-how can even the smallest atom have so many different components to it, from protons to neutrons and even electrons? No matter what branch of science it is, the amount of things waiting to be discovered within every field of science has always attracted the naturally inquisitive me to it. It’s the perfect field for me, where I can learn something new every day that may change the world, or even just one atom of it. ​
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At TRIP, I’ve already begun my scientific journey of learning; I’ve learned both the basics of micropipetting and making fly vials, as well as the developmental cycle of the Drosophila melanogaster (more commonly known as the fruit fly).  I decided to join TRIP because of my passion for science research and hands-on lab experience, and so far, it has surpassed all of my expectations. I can’t wait to see where the new few months will take me as I embark on my TRIP journey!
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The Beginning on An Exciting TRIP! by Matthew Uppani

3/11/2022

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Hi! My name is Matthew Uppani, and I am currently in my first week of TRIP. I am a Junior at Methacton High School, and I am involved in various clubs. I am an officer of the school Science Fair club, an active member of the Electric Car Club, an active member of the Medicine and Science Club, an NHS member, and a Student Ambassador. Also, I play tennis for the school team, and I hold Taekwondo Black Belt. My favorite science subjects in school are Chemistry and Biology. Apart from my love of science, I have a passion to serve my community. I volunteer at my church and non-profit organizations such as Mitzvah Circle, and Manna on Main Street on a regular basis. In my free time, I play piano, watch comedy/action/adventure movies, ride my bike, and read mystery books. Furthermore, I enjoy traveling to different places like Europe and Asia. Every year, my family and I travel to India to visit my grandparents. Staying with them opens my eyes to new and memorable experiences, such as traveling through a river on a houseboat watching kingfishers fly about or visiting the vast, scenic tea estates.
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I have always been interested in medicine and science. The thought that I could discover something new through research is amazing.  Since my middle school days, I have frequently involved myself with science fair projects. However, my research exposure was limited to the school lab and online research programs. I wanted to join TRIP because hands-on research provides deeper understanding. I am very excited to be a part of the TRIP program and to learn more about the research design, hands-on experiments including data collection and analysis, presentation of findings, and real-world application of the experiment. The fact that the fruit fly research results can be applied to human research is truly remarkable, and the applications of this research are unlimited. In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field, so being a part of TRIP will give me insight into the research side of medicine and health. I am also excited to create new relationships with people who share similar interests and passions. I am looking forward to the weeks to come as I begin a challenging, but exceptionally promising journey with TRIP.
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In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field, so being a part of TRIP will give me insight into the research side of medicine and health. 
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Beginning my TRIP Career by Naz Atabas

3/10/2022

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Hi Friends! I’m Naz Atabas, and am a sophomore at Abington Friends School. I was born in Langhorne, Pennsylvania but I am a first generation immigrant from Turkey. I love to connect with my culture and visit my family in Turkey over summer. At school, I am a co-clerk of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) affinity group. I play soccer and run track and field for AFS athletics. I also am involved in Community Service Council and Book Club at school. As you can probably tell, I spend a majority of my week on campus. In my freetime I like to bake, read, and hangout with my friends. I am involved in TRIP because I want to learn more about the STEM field as I am very interested in science. At home, I like to conduct small science experiments and analyze the results. I hope to learn a lot more about biology, chemistry, and other sciences here at TRIP. I look forward to meeting you all soon!
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I first started becoming interested in science when I was around ten years old. My parents got my brother and I chickens to take care of. At the time, I did not know this would be the beginning of my science career. I started observing the chickens and learning how they communicate, lay eggs, socialize, eat, etc. I spent a lot of time with my chickens and learned a lot about their egg cycle, fertilization, etc. This “experiment” led me to realize I really did have a liking for science, and therefore started to become more intrigued. When I found out about this program I was beyond excited to join and follow through with my interests.
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A TRIP into my journey! by Nihitha Vallabhaneni

3/9/2022

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Hello! My name is Nihitha Vallabhaneni, and I am currently a junior at Garnet Valley High school located in Delaware County, PA. I’ll start off by talking a little bit about myself and then go into how I became a TRIP member. In school, my favorite subject has to be biology. I have always liked biology and the study of genetics since a young age and by attending workshops and camps, this interest only continued to grow. Additionally, I am involved in various leadership roles and clubs at school. I hold officer positions in the Global Awareness Club, Youth in Government, and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). Apart from school, I’m the co-coordinator of two nonprofit organizations called TinyHacks and Apps4Education. Two other activities I have been participating in for seven years are Indian Classical dance and playing the piano. Furthermore, I always like to stay involved with my community and contribute wherever I can, so I do a lot of volunteering through Cradles to Crayons as well. 
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​During my leisure time, I love to watch sports, bake, and travel. I used to play basketball when I was younger and got really into watching the NBA nowadays. My favorite team is the Sixers and I would love to see them win a championship in the near future! During quarantine, my sister and I began baking various different goods such as macaroons, scones, and tarts to pass time. Thus, I have gotten really into trying new recipes and perfecting old ones. In addition, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places so much! I went to Europe two summers ago and it was a great experience. I got to visit some beautiful tourist sites and try new customs. 
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​So now the question is “Why TRIP?”
I am involved in TRIP because there are two courses of study that I am exceedingly passionate about, and I am trying to determine which one I want to continue my studies with in college. During my freshman year, I conducted an independent research project. The research question I was experimenting with was “How do warm colors and cool colors cognitively affect memory?” For this project, we had to collect background information, conduct an experiment, and ask for further funding. This assignment was one of the most memorable and intriguing projects I have worked on, which is why this program is so appealing to me. Unfortunately, due to covid, I was able to do all of the background information in order to conduct the research, but I was unable to efficiently gather data for the lab because I had to do everything virtually. Thus, I am excited to be a part of  TRIP as I will be able to conduct research of my interest in a professional laboratory setting.  
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A TRIP Down Mahi’s World by Mahi Patel

3/8/2022

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​Hello fellow scientists! My name is Mahi Patel, and I am a junior at Bensalem High School.​
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I am an incredibly bubbly and energetic person who loves talking.  I love journaling and list-making in my free time.  I am always “busting” a move to my groovy playlists, which feature Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, and Big Time Rush (my guilty pleasure).  I am a cereal enthusiast and prefer to enjoy my cereal as soggy as possible. ​
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At school, I partake in Mathletes and the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS), in which I conduct experiments and present my findings at a science fair-like competition.  I am also on the Reading Olympic team; I love reading realistic fiction, especially novels heavily infused with romance.  My favorite book at the moment is
“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover.  I am a member of my school’s Mock Trial team - Elle Woods is my main source of inspiration in life, thank you Legally Blonde!


​Outside of school, I am a third degree black belt.  I have done karate
(Tang Soo Do) since I was four years old and have come to think of the art as a lifestyle more than an activity.  I am an instructor at my karate studio and love working with the younger students.  Additionally, I tutor elementary students, and working with  them forces me to think outside the box and use my imagination.  I also spend time volunteering at the hospital, and doing my favorite thing - talking! - with all different types of people. 
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​So, why am I choosing to spend my Saturday mornings scrutinizing fruit flies?  To me, the answer is quite simple: science is exhilarating and rewarding.  The thrill of being able to ask my own questions, answer them, and then talk about my findings sounds like a blast.  As a teenager who is about to enter the college application process, TRIP will either affirm or negate what I believe to be true about my relationship with science.  On the other side of these eleven weeks in the lab, I hope to come out with an even stronger passion for a STEM-based career.  Ultimately, TRIP will be an eye-opening experience, scientifically and socially!  After all, they say that time
flies when you are having fun!
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A TRIP into my life by Erin Suter

3/7/2022

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Welcome readers to a quick TRIP into my life. My name is Erin Suter and I’m a Junior at Central Bucks High School East. While I have a huge passion for science and learning new things, building connections and making discoveries to benefit society is my main reason for joining the TRIP Initiative. I was so excited to find out I was accepted into the program, and I’m thrilled to continue in the following weeks. My short-term goals for the future are to attend college and pursue a STEM major. I hope the TRIP Initiative can give me more insight into what specifically I want to do. 
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In school, I fall under the athletic-nerd category. I spend a majority of my free time after school at swim practice 5 days a week, sometimes practicing in the morning as well. Besides this, I am a member of Class Council, Student Council, Environmental Club, HOSA, and the Orchestra. I’m also an officer of a newly founded club called Generation She. This club motivates young women to pursue their passions in the business world. Outside of school, I volunteer at the Doylestown Hospital, I’m a graduate of the Citizen’s Diplomat Academy and I’m a Certified Conservation Ambassador. Conservation is a topic I feel strongly passionate about and I try to make as much of an impact as possible in my community by encouraging others to reduce their eco-footprint. 
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This Saturday, 2/5/2022, was my first day in the lab. I have never felt more like a scientist. Holding the micropipette in my hand for the first time and measuring amounts of St. John’s Wort and sucrose was an experience I will never forget. My fellow TRIP peers were so kind and motivated. It was cool to see how unique and diverse everyone was. I think it is so essential to hear different perspectives from so many different backgrounds especially when doing research projects like these. I can’t wait to start my research and discover more about the world we live in and myself. I’m excited to take on the TRIP journey and hopefully discover something amazing.
Signing off,
Erin Suter
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Get to Know Me! by Kevin Lobo

3/6/2022

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Hi! I am Kevin Lobo and I am a sophomore at Wissahickon High School. I was born in India and have had to move a bunch throughout my life. I have settled in this area for a few years now, which has helped me be more involved in my community than before. I am a proud member of Miss Daisy, team 341, our high school’s robotics team. I am super excited to be going to my first world championship in April this year! I help to program our robot, and we have the majority of the code for this season already written. (We just have to wait for the mechanical subteam to give us the actual subsystems to test.) I also take part in competitive programming competitions and hackathons. My friend and I placed seventh internationally at UPenn’s PClassic, and we have been training to do even better next time. With MLH hackathons, I have been able to put ideas to life with people all over the world, from Egypt to India, and it has been really fun!
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​I am also an active member of our school’s debate team. I compete in Lincoln Douglas, which is a one-on-one form of debate. This year’s topic dealt with the appropriation of outer space by private entities, which was really unique and interesting. I made it to the regional semifinals this year, which is a good bar to set for myself. I play soccer and tennis, so I naturally love sports and the outdoors. This summer, I helped train a group of younger kids in my neighborhood, as well as volunteered for the Elmwood Zoo. Spending that much time with kids really taught me how to talk to an entirely different audience.
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I have interests that clearly fall all over the place, so it is difficult to decide what I want to do in the future. Through TRIP, I hope to foster the core skills required for each of these activities and apply them to create a really interesting experiment with flies! This experience will be essential to whatever field I go into, whether it be computer science or biochemistry. That said, our first day went really well and I know the TRIP will continue to be great!
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