“I’m sorry, Anne. Your DNA cannot be recovered.” Mind racing, heart pounding, blood draining from my face, I bolt up from my chair and run to the lab station. My mentor holds an ultraviolet (UV) illuminator in her hand, offering it to me. I accept the device and click it on, but when the light radiates from the wand, all I do is stare. I stare at the gel sample that lies before me, taunting me. “It’s okay....

As the sun's glowing rays dance upon my skin, the erratic rhythm of my heartbeat resonates within me. From a distance I can hear the thunderous roar of encouragement, and instantly, my adrenaline begins to run in overdrive. However, despite the internal chaos, my mind remains calm and focused. I prepare to serve the match point but take a moment to acknowledge the fatigue plaguing my body, and I contemplate between two choices: give in to the fatigue to gain...

People are more than meets the eye. They are not just individuals that inhabit Earth. They are atoms and molecules. They are chemical reactions and biochemical pathways. They are carbon-based lifeforms housing distinct microbiomes. In short, people are majestic, complex organisms. I am applying to the Wiess School of Natural Sciences because I’m interested in studying biochemistry and learning about what makes people so unique. With courses like Monster (BIOC 368) and Experimental Physiology (BIOC 415), I'm confident that Wiess will...

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills…I am delighted that [Rice] is playing a part in putting a man on the moon.” I was in my 8th grade history class, listening to President Kennedy’s “We Choose to Go to the Moon” speech, when I first...

“ANNE! WATCH OUT FOR TH-“ But it was too late. There I was: my 7-year-old-self gravitating towards the ground, inwardly cursing my inherent clumsiness. The tennis ball that had snuck its way past my peripherals and into my blind spot completed its mission. Before I could heed my father’s warning, a “pop” pierced through the air, and suddenly, I found myself face down on the rough concrete court. At this point in my life, my comprehension of the human...