When I first went over to the labs, I was worried about how I was going to fit in, if I could help, or if I was even going to understand anything they were doing.

On my first few days, there were precautionary measures I had to go through in all the labs. That had me even more nervous because of all of the chemicals I would be using every day. But after the first week, I started to settle in and become more confident.

Once we started mixing reagents and using more chemicals in the lab, I felt comfortable and relaxed. At first I was so nervous I would make a mistake that I would engage in conversation with (Senior Research Scientist Cindy Heil) because I needed to focus on what I was doing so nothing would go wrong. After a week or two, I could talk to her and be relaxed, not worried about putting too much or too little in the reagent.

Cindy also taught me that most of their data is stored on Excel. She walked me through the process of making graphs, sorting data and analyzing the information. On days that she was absent from the lab, I would finish the graphs and sort the data. Once that was done, I composed two different PowerPoint presentations: Karenia Species Data and Non-Karenia Data.

In some instances, I had already done some of the lab work and used similar machines to the ones we use in school. I already knew how to do chloroplast readings because I did some on a smaller scale in College Prep Biology with Mrs. Hersom. Because of this, Cindy trusted me to continue collecting the data in her absence.

It gave me more confidence that Cindy knew she could leave me in the lab or with the computer, without supervision, and complete any of the tasks she assigned me. Even if she gave me a project that didn't consume the entire period, I could find something else to do to help in the lab — even if the help was as little as doing dishes.

Through this experience I have learned that I can be of help in a lab known around the world. I also have to have more confidence in myself and learn that I can do more than I think. I didn't think I would be of any help at first, but now I know I am helping and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has to offer.