Lynn Davis Scholarship Personal Statement – Aubriana Hytner (Ashe County High School, West Jefferson, NC)
There are two types of people in the world. There are people who view the universe and are taken by its astounding beauty and coincidence. Then, there are people who want to understand the explanation behind the whys and hows of the laws governing the universe—why gravity exists, how the earth can sustain life, and why each human has a different perception and consciousness of the world. The latter is me.
I find it extraordinary how, relative to the vastness of the universe, Earth is the only known planet out of multitudes that is habitable for life. From axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) swimming in Mexico to emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) waddling around Antarctica. Across Earth, countless numbers of walking, flying, swimming, and flora phenomena called life exist, and I have a goal to study and protect said life at a cellular and molecular level.
My thirst for knowledge has led me to embrace labels that reflect my passions. Being called a “nerd” is one of the highest compliments I have received. Each time I watched YouTube documentaries regarding the search for dark matter in our universe, studied biology autodidactically, and read book titles such as “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking and “Cosmic Queries” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson became a form of enjoyment. Concepts like String Theory and the Endosymbiont Theory which I didn’t understand at first glance, intrigued me to pursue a deeper understanding.
In part, my enthusiasm for learning prompted me to secure a summer internship with a local hospital’s laboratory. When I first joined their lab, their primary concern was the validity of the results. It was as if I was a kid in a candy shop. I was allowed to test patient-donor blood types for compatibility using antigen and antibody reagents. I swabbed blood culture bacteria to identify the light-colored and creamy textured-staphylococcus aureus on Petri dishes. Most importantly, I was able to broaden my horizons with real experience in a laboratory filled with chemistry, microbiology, and hematology departments.
Similarly, my ardor for science has opened up selective opportunities for me to be acknowledged. Representing the state of North Carolina, I was invited to be 1 of 300 individuals across the nation to participate in a week-long environmental science program for academically driven peers who are enthusiastic about change. The intensive program, Washington Youth Summit on the Environment, introduced me to attending the National Press Club where we got to hear from National Geographic and visit the US Botanic Garden which ignited my zeal for botany.
In college, I plan to double major in biology and physics, involve myself in undergraduate research, and participate in biology and physics programs. Beyond college, I aspire to give back to the world by becoming a researcher and working with other dedicated peers to advance the knowledge of the world around us. My curiosity in biology and physics, laboratory experience, and participation as a National Youth Delegate for a selective environmental group has solidified my inquisitiveness.