From the moment I first toured UCSB at 12 year old, I knew my aptitude for science would eventually bring me to Santa Barbara. Although biochemistry seems to a niche area of study, I firmly believe that the subject is crucial to a broad spectrum of STEM related fields. Thus, my passion to understand the intricate and dynamic fabric of interdisciplinary research grows with every new piece of information I learn. Although my attendance at UCSB was destined, my opportunity for higher education began at Moorpark College, a small community college in SoCal. It was here that I fell in love with organic and biological chemistry since I was exposed to the idea of hands-on laboratory work in a research-focused environment. Despite the inconvenient educational complications that arose with the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many students to be less engaged with the course material, I found myself tutoring many of my classmates utilizing a common communication program called "Discord". From topics such as chemical kinetics and mechanistic analysis, to organic and/or inorganic chemistry, classmates would set up specific times to ask me questions and go over any problem sets that they needed help with. I transferred to USCB after 3 years, ambitious to take on the challenge of attending a school that ranked as the #12 public university in the Nation in 2023. Despite only having 2 years in Santa Barbara, I was fortunate enough to get the full college experience since I would study all night whilst my roommates partied. From my perspective, this "full college experience" also encompasses my development of crucial biochemical knowledge, critical thinking, communication skills, and a searing desire to make a difference in the world with innovative and novel science. I was on the Dean's List at Moorpark for the Fall and Spring semesters of 2020, allowing me to transfer to UCSB with an overall GPA of 3.83. On the same note, I graduated from UCSB with an overall GPA of 3.73, putting me on the Dean's List for the Fall quarter of 2023 and Winter quarter of 2024. Exposure to this academia environment has allowed me to become an attentive biochemistry research assistant with experience in challenging and chaotic laboratory environments. Specifically, my work with radical redox chemistry in the Greene Lab at UCSB has bolstered my overwhelming dedication to science whilst reinforcing my strong work ethic. With this in mind, I wish to gain more laboratory experience to ensure that I can attend Northwestern University for materials science.
