I was asked to return to BCM for a second year to use the awarded $5000 funding. The purpose of returning was to develop my project further and test my hypothesis.Testing my hypothesis involved designing and planning a series of my own experiments. I had to set realistic and achievable goals because I had a limited budget, timeframe, and experience. This task required an in-depth and methodical approach that allowed me to use all my previous scientific knowledge and learn new skills to complete this task.This had a multitude of challenges to overcome which required creative solutions to overcome. One such challenge was how to recreate a similar environment to the human body in vitro. I overcame this by lining a plastic flask with human cells so then I could try infecting them with the same bacteria that causes a urinary tract infection.I learned how to be forward thinking, how to see challenges ahead and overcome them before they happened. But I also realised that sometimes things can’t be avoided and you cannot predict some obstacles which forced me to become more adaptable.

In my first year of university I had to opportunity to apply for a summer internship at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). The application involved writing a scientific CV and a cover letter, I was one of ten selected. My time at BCM was spent working on multiple projects. One group project with the objective to create a solution for pressure sores. My team’s idea was a wound healing biological scaffold that could be inserted into a pressure ulcer to help the wounds heal faster.I also conducted an individual project which was to develop a preventative treatment for urinary tract infections in women. The process was competitive and involved presenting my projects to multiple experts including scientists, surgeons and the vice president of Johnson and Johnson. For my individual project I was awarded $5000 dollars in funding to continue with my research the following year.

At quantum I was a special effects technician, and my role was to maintain, setup, manufacture and operate special effects and special effects equipment. Here I set up and build effects for events with one highlight was building and installing the special effects used in the opening ceremony of London 2012 Olympic games. Some effects included flames effects, flashing effects around the top of the stadium and the building the Olympic rings featured in the opening ceremony. I gained a lot experience in how to deal with and overcome setbacks, including having to come up with and implement wiring solutions to a last minute change. It also taught me how to take pride in a job well done. Seeing something you have been working on, on the front page of every newspaper in the U.K. still brings me a huge sense of achievement.