My First Day at TRIP! by Sharizoda Farmonova

Hello! My name is Sharizoda Farmonova and I'm currently a junior at William Tennent High School. I like to get very involved in academics, but outside of school, I typically babysit my cousins or work. In my free time, my hobbies include reading, art, and playing games; admittedly, I sometimes watch horror gameplay because I paralyze in front of the screen if I try it myself. The kind of art I do includes painting and crafting, as well as embroidery, if you count that. I also love spicy food and bears. I mean, who doesn't love the sensation of all their taste buds on fire, and who wouldn't love a huge cute animal that could deliver a force impact of over half a ton to your face? 

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All right, pivoting away from that, I first heard of TRIP through my peers and teachers, and made sure to make a mental note that this could be a fun science program to get into. I really wanted to be in a professional lab environment, working to develop experience and insight on the field of research, as well as meet peers that have similar interests and prospects. I'm really glad I applied, and wasn't discouraged by the super small acceptance rate, because it turned out to be way better than I thought.

The first day of TRIP involved introductions to peers, TAs (Sabina and Hannah), and instructors (Dr. Austria, Dr. Nick, and Dr. Valdez). I was in Session A and really liked meeting everyone since they were so nice and open! Although it was probably a little awkward at first, everyone put in effort that made communicating much easier and flow well. The TAs and instructors also were a big help when starting the work in the packets and lab, especially since they tried to ensure everyone was on the same pace. Reflecting on some of their guidance, I definitely need to step up my game in conversions in solutions and dilutions! The best part was when we actually started using the micropipettes and other laboratory equipment to make the food for the fruit flies. I was worried that I would not have enough time to finish, but thankfully received some help from Dr. Nick to get the fly food. Honestly, around the end, it felt like MasterChef, a cooking show, and I could practically hear the countdown in my head (and I was only making fly food!).

​Overall, the first day of TRIP was great and I can't wait to be there next week! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾