Taking a TRIP Down a New Path by Michael Liu

Hello, my name is Michael Liu! I’m a 16 year-old high school junior coming to TRIP from Tower Hill School. While I find describing myself fully to be quite the task to undertake, one word that encapsulates much of who I am is that I am passionate. Passionate about what? Well, anything, really! I’m passionate about the people I hold close, I’m passionate about playing the flute, and I’m passionate about my taste in music. But just as importantly, I am passionate about learning more about the world; I’ve been walking (and crawling) this earth for a good while now, so I’d best explore as much as I can. But of course, passion is nothing without action. And I, for one, aim to act on my passions every day. ​

---

So how do I do that? Well, I certainly don’t do it alone! Truly, defining myself is as much a consideration of who I am as it is a consideration of the people that have shaped me throughout over time. For as long as I remember, I’ve been enjoying my passions surrounded by friends and family– from when I was a little kid, I recall sitting on the bed with my brother, taking turns watching each other play games on my dad’s tablet. Nowadays, I enjoy talking with friends after a busy day of classes, discussing whatever is on our minds. Whether it’s cooking, baking, gaming, or going on a stroll, all things are best enjoyed with others– precisely why I look forward to working alongside peers at TRIP who are just as passionate as I am. ​

---

I am also passionate about being myself, while simultaneously exploring and sharpening what that means. In only the first day at TRIP alone, I was able to broaden my horizons in terms of laboratory technique, as well as meeting like-minded peers. While I have always been a bit tentative around people I don’t know, I shocked myself with how quickly I warmed up to the others. While school labs could only take me so far, the practices and resources at TRIP let me see beyond what I could dream of in my high school laboratory. It was a nice introduction to preparing food for the fruit flies, and I even have a vial of flies in my room right now (I confess that they do make me feel weird)! Although this first day was only a glimpse of what is to come, I cannot wait to see what I can discover about flies and myself over the course of these weeks.

---

At the end of the day, I am Michael Liu, but I wouldn’t mind all that much if you don’t remember my name; I’ve met at least three other Michael Lius, after all. My hope is that what people remember is my passion for all that I love– from art to science to flies.