Academics
Through these experiences, I have learned to always go beyond the surface level and search for deeper meanings and connections while continuing to collaborate and learn from those around me.
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Ethics in International Relations
Through the Sacred Heart Global Academy, I was able to take the Ethics in International Relations course in the summer of 2021.
In this course, I not only learned about various concepts relating to global affairs such as Just War Theory, the consequences of exporting democracy, and human rights violations, but also look at the ethical considerations surrounding policies and practices. While the readings often required me looking up many terms seperately to find what the overall meaning of the reading was, this was, at the same time, an experience I will never forget as my knowledge of the world (and more specifically global affairs) deepened. Before, I simply just saw the surface level of topics such as stateless nations, residential schools in Canada, globalization, and child labor. However, throughout the course, I developed an understanding that encapsulates ideas I had never even thought of before.
When thinking about food insecurities, there seems to be an infinite amount of approaches an individual could take, and, at first, this seemed overwhelming. However, through remembering what I learned with Dr. Del Villar, I made it a priority to not only look at food insecurities but examine what are the root causes, where is it most prevalent, and what policies could be modified to help those who are food insecure. Using this as a jumping off point, I was able to frame what I wanted to do to address this global problem.
Pioneer Academics
I completed the Pioneer Academics program in the Summer of 2022.
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Pioneer Academics allows high school students to complete a research paper with the guidance of a professor. Furthermore, each week you meet with your cohort (a group of students doing research with the same professor) and the professor discusses various concepts relating to the topic that is being focused on. During my time at Pioneer, I was in a cohort that focused on neuroscience, with the exact course name being “Modern Topics on Sensory Neurobiology.”
The course section primarily focused on the structure and function of the auditory sensory system and how it transforms external stimuli into neuronal information. After gaining a deeper understanding of this, I was able to research what interested me in this field while being guided by an expert that could answer any questions. I eventually settled on the topic of how inner hair cells could be protected from aminoglycosides, the most commonly used antibiotics worldwide.
While I definitely learned more than I ever thought I could in one summer, I also met people from all across the world. As there were still some travel constraints in the summer of 2022, it was great to connect with individuals from various backgrounds and places. Towards the end of the program, we were partnered up to peer review eachother’s paper. Since my partner was from Hong Kong, it was really interesting to just talk about the different writing styles, daily routines, and what school looks like.
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After Pioneer, there is an active alumni group where I have been able to keep the friendships formed during the program and continue to build new ones. This has been an amazing experience as I get to learn so much through what other students are researching while enhancing my knowledge of various places across the globe.
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