Ready for Takeoff by Ashli Lao

Hi everyone! My name is Ashli Lao and I’m a rising senior at North Penn High School. A little bit about me: I have two younger brothers, my favorite color is orange, and I love to make playlists and try new foods! ​

At North Penn I’m involved in our EnAct (Environmental Action) club, Mini-THON/High Schools Against Cancer club, class cabinet, and swim team. From planning prom to planting trees to creating fundraisers for childhood cancer, these activities allow me to collaborate with others and create events that give back to the community. Within the EnAct club, we have a monthly newsletter called “The Green Gazette” which discusses environmental news, eco-tips, and local sustainable features.

---

When it comes to school, my favorite classes would have to be chemistry and environmental science. I have always enjoyed my science classes, but these particular courses displayed science in a new way. Not only does science explain the world around us, but it also provides solutions to problems such as pollution and disease. At the end of this school year, I worked in a qualitative analysis lab in chemistry where I separated and identified ions in an unknown mixture. I loved the independence of completing my own experiments with the collaborative nature of troubleshooting with my friends. TRIP combines all these positive aspects of learning into one experience where I can gain research skills, meet new people, and hone in on my interests in the scientific field.

I am beyond excited to take off on this adventure and experience all that TRIP has to offer!