On May 23rd, 1998, I lost my playmate, friend, and supporter. My father, who had been battling cancer all of my life, passed away. He was always strong in front of me – determined to leave me with positive memories of him. Even during his most intensive sessions of chemotherapy, he sat in the audience of my recitals to give me a reassuring smile before I played the first note. Only after his passing did I realize the significance of the sutures...

Inspired to pursue cancer research at a young age by my father’s courageous battle to cancer, I quickly developed a passion for science. From watching my mother and sister pursue careers in science and medicine, I have been exposed to the world of science early. From listening to practice lectures and presentations, I knew the components and concentrations of blood by the age of 12 and could quickly explain blood groups when I was 13. However, my interest for science is...