I Think This is Going to Be a TRIP by Sachin Chhaya

​Hi everyone! I am Sachin Chhaya and currently, I am a junior at Great Valley High School. From day one, I am so thrilled to start my TRIP journey.

Since I was little, I have always marveled at the impact of science and medicine on our lives. I amused myself with random encyclopedias along with the basic science classes taught in elementary and middle school. Moving into high school, AP Chemistry and biology piqued my interest in biochemistry and molecular biology, and I hope to study them in college and pursue a career in life sciences. 

Within and out of the school, I participate in many activities that nurture my interests in STEM. I am the president and founder of our medical club named MedEx, where I get to share my passion with many other students! Through this club, I run our school’s HOSA chapter and help my members prepare for the upcoming competition at the state conference in March. With the support of my team and the school administration, we were successful in showcasing our school’s interest in medicine, which has resulted in the official incorporation of an Anatomy class in our school curriculum this year. I am also part of GVTutors, Science Olympiad, and Chem Olympiad. I volunteer my time at the UPenn Radnor Hospital Program, by shadowing activities in different medical departments, such as radiology and dermatology. I also enjoy working with friends and classmates in the gardening club, of which I am an officer. Our club grows plants such as sunflowers, peppers, and tulips in a garden allocated by the school. I feel that every moment I spend interacting with others develops me further as a human being. I enjoy meeting new people. I also like traveling to locations that reflect people’s dedication to what they love. One such trip was to the Bayern Munich stadium in Germany which was built as a home to one of the most successful “football” teams in the world.

TRIP can teach us a unique skill that no traditional school can: how to run research. The hands-on experience at TRIP will not just improve my knowledge but also develop my skills in the process of scientific discovery. This program particularly stands out for me because it will give me the opportunity to explore research possibilities in pharmaceuticals. The first day in the lab went by too fast! Everyone here is so cool, and the instructors are so supportive!  I am starting my research on the effect of Vitamin D3 and head trauma on fruit fly motility. My chemistry experience proved useful in calculating dilutions to get the proper concentration of Vitamin D3. Micropipetting made me feel like a professional, and I can’t wait to continue experiments next week!