Road King

I am fortunate to have grown up in a place rich in both natural beauty and incredible academic resources. This has fueled my love of the outdoors combined with a passion for music and science. At every opportunity I try to take advantage of my surroundings to support my interests. I enjoy taking my telescope up to a local mountain top to go stargazing with friends. I find it exciting to search for something hundreds of light years away with others who share my interests. When I rendezvous with friends to study, we often choose to do it while running on a wooded trail to the beach.

I have always been inquisitive. One of my earliest memories of biology was when my father brought home a fish he had caught, and rather than help him clean it, I dissected the eye. Since then, it could be said that I have moved on to “smaller” things - genetics and molecular biology. My high school has an outstanding science department with a phenomenal array of offerings. The quality of the courses combined with exceptional, accessible teachers have equipped me with valuable skills and knowledge. I am also very fortunate to have UCSF, a world-class institution, very close to where I live. Thanks to the strong science foundation acquired at school, I was able to get an internship at UCSF’s Multiple Sclerosis Lab. This is an excellent opportunity to experience what it is like to work in the field of genetics and neurobiology.

Every day I go into the lab, I am given the unique opportunity to work alongside some of the greatest minds in the scientific community. My boss assigns me tasks that push me to think beyond what my skills are scientifically or mathematically. One of the projects I work on involves Dr. Yamanaka’s research on stem cells. I was amazed when two months into my interactions with his research, he received the Nobel prize. To have interacted with research that great prior to its recognition was extremely humbling. I came to realize that as a researcher, you have the potential to help millions of people. My experience at UCSF has solidified my decision to enter into the field of medical research.

From the day I took my first piano lesson, music has been a major part of my life. I am blessed to be surrounded by a core of fabulous musicians and mentors who have fostered my passion for a wide range of musical genres. A unique aspect to my musical development, beyond my piano and trumpet, is an immense interest in arranging and composing. I am lucky to have peers who support and encourage my work, and it brings me great joy to have a piece that I've composed or arranged come to life. Music provides a unifying means to communicate with some peers better than a conversation ever could.

Being surrounded by a richness of science and music has enabled me to develop into the person I am. I have seized every opportunity to expand my abilities in both areas along the way. Each require focus, discipline and devotion to improve. My dad’s death which can say fueled  my compassionate side to care for people which is vitally important for medical. It clears my head, allowing me to approach problems logically. I feel fortunate that my two main passions are not mutually exclusive, and that I will be able to continue to develop in both.