The Beginning of My Journey with TRIP by Nuha Maryam

Hi everyone! I’m Nuha Maryam and I’m a sophomore at Conestoga High School.

​Ever since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. I love hiking, climbing trees, and basically anything that gets my hands dirty. My family and I love taking care of plants, so our house is filled with greenery. I’m also passionate about drawing. Although I’m not the most talented, sketching and doodling have always been something to do in my free time.

​When it comes to academics, I have a passion for science and math. In AP Biology, I explored many fundamental concepts that have shaped the world we live in. I became fascinated by how simple experiments can make revolutionary breakthroughs that changed the world, like the Hershey-Chase experiment, which discovered that instead of proteins, it is DNA that stores the genetic material.

In addition to academics, I engage myself in many extracurriculars to serve the community and develop communication and leadership skills. I’m a member of Peer Mediation at my school, where I support peers and new students, contributing to a positive environment. Peer Mediation has given me the chance to guide others through an experience that I have been through myself of moving to a new school (6 times so far!). As a member of Key Club, I contribute to local service projects such as tutoring and taking part in community cleanups. These experiences have strengthened my ability to communicate and work collaboratively. I have a passion for animals, so I love volunteering at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Sebastian Riding Association (SRA).

​Today marked the beginning of my immersive research experience with TRIP. We began with an icebreaker to get to know each other. We learned about how to use micropipettes and started setting up our kickoff experiments. My research focus will be to study whether or not a high sugar diet affects female fertility. It was really fun to apply concepts that I’ve learned in AP Chemistry to today’s lesson, such as the concentration of solutions and basic equipment and procedures in the lab. I can’t wait to see what else TRIP has in store!