The SSP…What a place, what an atmosphere, what a group of students. I can’t speak to other programs, but what I love about the Summer Science Program is the strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. Research teams are organized in groups of three, and students are encouraged to cooperate with other participants through research and weekly bonding activities. Sometimes, I tend to want to solve problems alone; many of us do. The SSP helps us see the efficacy of camaraderie.
The laboratory atmosphere here is anything but solitary. Groups work together and assist other groups. During challenging moments, the community at SSP really shines. We worked for 5 hours (!) to develop a standard curve for sodium phosphate. After many unsuccessful attempts, groups troubleshot together, asking each other what worked and didn’t and sharing materials and findings. While no groups obtained ideal results, that day exemplified the lab atmosphere at SSP: collaborative and unifying.
On day 22, Advanced Placement scores were released, a moment most of us eagerly awaited. Students across the U.S. enroll in AP classes and study one to two semesters for an exam, with the possibility of earning college credit. While this day usually involves great individual joy (or the opposite), at SSP, we celebrated with and for each other. Students acknowledged one another’s hard work and dedication and reassured disappointed faces that one’s scores are only a snapshot of a day and no reflection of what was learned.
At Lindley Hall, we receive lectures and engage in class activities. While typical classroom assignments are completed individually, students are encouraged to work together. The program introduces students to many new bioinformatic tools and assignments involving complex biochemistry topics; we all ask each other for assistance and guidance, which I didn’t really experience in high school. Learning to trust peers is a valuable skill that SSP fosters. Asking for help isn’t stigmatized; it’s encouraged and often necessary to succeed at assigned tasks and projects.
At SSP, students learn from the faculty and each other, ensuring that participants leave with greater trust in their peers and mentors and valuable teamwork skills. I plan to bring these skills back to my school and integrate them into my workflow. Moreover, my thinking and mindset have changed. As many here have, I’ve learned to embrace, live, and love the camaraderie of collaboration.
