Hey guys my name is Cecilia, and I am a TA for the inaugural SWOSU synthetic chemistry program. I was also a participant in 2019 for the biochemistry program at Purdue. Ever since I graduated from SSP, I knew I wanted to return. As someone who had no idea what research even was, the opportunity to work on a research project and hone my lab and biochemistry skills was life-changing for me. I knew the lab was where I wanted to be in undergrad and beyond, and I wanted the chance to help students who were once in my shoes feel the same way. Even though I completed the biochemistry program and studied biochemistry in undergrad, I decided to join the synthetic chemistry project because I was amazed at how much SSP has grown since I graduated, and I thought it would be a cool opportunity to help pilot a program. I also liked that the pilot program would only have 12 participants, which would allow me to get close with each and every participant.
In many ways, my experience as a TA has paralleled my experience as a participant. I am right there with them during the 8 am lab days, and I am often coming back with them right before quiet time at 11 pm. I remember spending nights stretching my brain to complete a problem set, and now I am the one that can help with problem sets. Many of the lessons that I learned in SSP such as being a good labmate, learning how to ask questions, and being comfortable with being uncomfortable, are now ones that I get to help teach. Maybe it is just because I see a lot of my high school self in these participants, but I feel incredibly proud whenever I notice someone asking their peers a question, helping others with a problem set, or just hanging out and laughing together.
Being a TA is far from easy, and sometimes I worry that I may not be doing a good job, but if SSP has taught me anything, it’s okay to not always have all the answers. Unlike high school, which is often highly planned out and structured, research is usually messy. Things don’t always go how we expect, and there often isn’t a good explanation why. What I hope the participants take away from their experience is that studying in a STEM field requires lots of persistence and resilience. There will be failure and moments of wanting to give up, but how we respond to these moments is what makes us great students and researchers. SSP gave me the confidence to overcome these moments, and I hope I can do the same for these 12 amazing participants
-Cecilia
