The Star Spangled Banger: Day 25 @ SSP 

I also recently gave a participant speech at College and Career day to reflect on my SSP experience:

“Hi everyone, my name is Pragathi Kasani-Akula, I am a rising junior at South Forsyth High school in Cumming, Georgia and a member of the Summer Science Program Biochemistry cohort 1 here at Purdue. I applied to SSP thinking that it would be rigorous and challenging. That I would be exposed to complex new concepts everyday and that I would spend hours everyday in the lab and lectures. 4 weeks into the program, I can safely say that I was right. 

My first week here at SSP, I already felt like I was behind. Unlike many of my peers, I hadn’t taken an AP or IB level biology course and all the content was fresh to me. I thought I was alone, but I found a group of students, who were in the same boat as me. 

The course load here at SSP is extremely rigorous. We’ve designed our own RNA primers, we have copied our protein thousands of times using bacteria, we have performed an inhibitor docking study, and we have even learned about the difference between a machine and an instrument – trust me, there is a difference, right Dr. Fantin? And sometimes, when the work gets too challenging, it leads us all to come together to fill in the gaps in our knowledge and solve the difficult problems ahead of us. Together, my roommate Caroline and I spent many late nights, reviewing lecture slides and grinding our way through Khan Academy libraries, trying to gain a deeper understanding of the content we covered. This shows that learning at SSP is endless, occurring both inside and outside the lab. Along the way, I was shocked by the amount of support and lack of judgment I received. I never felt like anyone was judging me for asking “silly” questions during lecture. In fact, the Academic Directors and my fellow SSPers always met my curiosity with enthusiasm and helpful explanations. This supportive environment has allowed all of us, regardless of our starting point, to progress rapidly and experience tremendous personal growth. 

SSP has been the smartest room I’ve been in, and the people here are the most impressive I have ever met. For instance, Paul and Nassar (point with a hand) can name every country on demand during intense games of Heads Up. It is astonishing how many people here are polyglots, like how Peyton and Rohan can speak fluent Chinese. And you can’t imagine how many times I have stumbled in on a philosophical conversation about human nature, career goals, and what motivates people with Arnav, Sophia, and Ulee. However, the students at SSP definitely know when and how to have fun. A week ago, almost the entirety of SSP, including the TAs and Site director, were in a common area doing each other’s makeup. The girls did the guys makeup which also means the guys did the girls makeup – which they actually did surprisingly well. Even the TAs joined in and got their makeup done too. As funny as it was, it was a bonding experience overall for all of us. This captures the essence of SSP, a vibrant, unique, and endearing community. 

Now, we have less than two weeks left of our program. Needless to say, it is very bittersweet. Even though this is only a six-week program, it has felt like much longer. I feel like I have truly gotten to know these 35 amazing people so well and I can’t wait to see what they will do in the future! But, as Dr. Das always puts it, ‘No pressure’.”