If bioinformatics did not exist, I probably wouldn't have gone to college. Actually, I probably would have gone to college, but been miserable studying something mundane that did not interest me. Before I discovered bioinformatics, I planned on majoring in computer science and accepted my fate of pursuing a career in insurance analytics. I only found bioinformatics once I began researching computer science more, only because of the doubts in my head asking if this was the right path for me. The only thing I could think of when I discovered bioinformatics was "yes". Bioinformatics was immediately appealing to me. I was searching for a major that was an applied subject, a gateway into a strong job, something that was already specialized. Bioinformatics is all that for me and more. Using technology that not even my parents grew up with, I can create my own databases to observe, record, and analyze biological data. The combination of multiple academic areas, specifically math, biology, and computer science, is exhilarating to me. Strongly unique and intriguing, bioinformatics combines the best of these subjects to become its own field. Its interdisciplinarity attracts me in that I know I will continue to gain knowledge in my favorite subjects. Even though I had no previous computer science experience before, I was right when I knew this was what I wanted to study. Only a week away from completing my first semester of college at Baylor University, I have loved learning to program. CSI 1401 has taught me how to code in Python and is the foundational class all bioinformatics majors must take to graduate. Through this introduction to programming, I have learned how a computer functions, built-in functions and methods, variable assignment, containers, expressions, loops, user-defined functions, list comprehensions, string splicing, and so much more. I understand that I am considered a beginner in the coding world, but learning Python is one of my proudest accomplishments. Having no prior coding experience, this is a class I work tirelessly in to ensure my programming base is a strong one. Currently, I have held an A all semester. Additionally, I have begun to make connections with the bioinformatics professors at my university. I have a close relationship with my CSI 1401 professor, Professor McCreary. Every time I walk into his office, I am guaranteed to laugh. If I express concern for the content covered in class or if I have questions, Professor McCreary offers his help in a way that forces me to find the right answer. I have also been attending Dr. Benton's lab meeting every Friday afternoon. Dr. Benton is an assistant professor at Baylor University and has a research lab that focuses on gene regulation. Attending her meetings has inspired me to pursue a spot in her lab as an undergraduate researcher and has opened my eyes to the true application of bioinformatics. Making these connections at my university affirms my choice of study and has fortified my achievements. These professors are extremely supportive; they want me to succeed. Even though I am a freshman, I am currently looking to start graduate school after obtaining my Bachelor of Science. I may not be completely sure what career I want to pursue at this moment, but I am sure I want to obtain my Master's. I am highly interested in entering cancer research or combatting antibiotic resistance as a career. My journey to bioinformatics has only just begun, but it already feels that I have learned so much. I know I couldn't possibly learn all of it, but I can't wait to continue.

Not being sorted into Gryffindor when I was eight years old broke my heart. I desperately did not want to be a part of the mysterious Ravenclaws. They barely got any attention in the books or movies! Who was even in there, anyway? Now as I have gotten older, I am a proud Ravenclaw. I believe that I have grown into the intelligent, creative, and intuitive personality of a Ravenclaw. There are pictures of me in old family photo albums capturing the countless moments I do homework at the dinner table. It was a normal thing for me to do homework as we would wait for the food to be ready, both at home and at the occasional restaurant. My parents always pushed me to be dedicated in school. It was not until the coronavirus pandemic that I realized nourishing this good habit helped me stay focused while attending class over Zoom. Now at Baylor University, I confidently know that I am intelligent. I strive to pay attention in class, study efficiently, and perform well on exams. Currently holding all A's, I know Hermione Granger would be proud of me, although she is a Gryffindor. Ravenclaws are known for being the nerds of Hogwarts, and I know I would fit in perfectly, studying the late hours of the night away in their common room. A characteristic of Ravenclaw that cannot be ignored is the member's creativity. Luna Lovegood inspires me to let go of my rigidity at times and to enjoy the moment. I find myself attempting to find a deeper connection to the things around me. While I was working with horses back home, I reminded myself to stop, and instead of focusing on lunging the horse for a warm-up, to emotionally connect with the animal. Having established a connection with an animal I am trusting my life with, I found that we had stronger communication and a better ride. It is so much more fulfilling to have my own thestral genuinely care about me than to have a horse take me for a pony ride. Luna's creativity and individuality translate to me in this way. If we were at Hogwarts together, I know we would be best friends. Lastly, a lesser-known quality of Ravenclaws is that they are very intuitive. Since a young age, I have learned to greatly rely on my gut feeling. I have avoided risky situations by trusting my judgment, knowing the limits of my own body when I ran cross country, and doing the right thing when posed with a moral decision. For example, I left a friend's house after dark in my old truck. It broke down when I was about ten minutes away from my house. I called my parents, but they did not initially answer. I stayed in the truck, not taking a step outside until my dad arrived to pick me up. This instinct kept me safe in a potentially dangerous situation. Just like Professor Trelawney, I knew I was going to be okay in the future, and so I stayed calm while waiting for help. I am extremely proud to be a Ravenclaw. Although this house is not in the spotlight throughout the Harry Potter series, I feel that it is an amazing house to be a part of. I know I would make many smart, creative, and intuitive friends. I hold to the high standard Ravenclaw has. I cannot believe I didn't want to be in this house a few years ago.

Volunteering at Compadres Therapy at the age of 12 didn't begin on the best note. Some directors thought I was too young to volunteer, even though I had previous years of horse experience. Joy, on the other hand, bent the rules for me. She allowed me to feed, water, groom, tack, and work directly with the horses. Most importantly, she gave me the opportunity to learn an extremely important lesson. Working with these beautiful animals taught me life isn't a set of rules to follow. As I had mentioned before, my volunteering experience began slowly and I felt confined. Punished. It felt like the barn was the place with the most regulations and safety procedures. Although significant, my service allowed me to look away from those rules for a breath of fresh air. I tend to formulate a plan when completing tasks in my life. When I cannot follow it perfectly, I easily become discouraged and unproductive. I learned to fly while plummeting toward the ground. Becoming adaptable as I continued volunteering, and can now say my "plans" are broader, allowing myself room for change. I do not become disoriented when I am presented with a surprise. I keep my composure if a deadline was moved up, or if an unexpected event takes away from study time. Allowing myself to step away from what I had considered necessary granted me the power to regain focus on my goals and complete them to a higher standard. Horses, and all their chaos, gave me freedom. I’ve known for a while that I never wanted to be a doctor. Or a lawyer. Architecture was interesting for a bit, but I ended up ditching that, too. Hopping between majors and degree plans, I finally found bioinformatics. The combination of the academic areas of math, biology, and computer science is exhilarating to me. Bioinformatics combines the best of these subjects into a strongly unique and intriguing field. Its interdisciplinarity attracts me in that I know I will continue to gain knowledge in my favorite subjects. Bioinformatics is what I am most looking forward to in college, and I cannot wait to get started. Not only is my degree of choice fascinating, but it’s also the secret weapon for countless industries that involve biology and DNA. Analyzing the human genome is its most famous function, but bioinformatics has incredible potential to be used in more ways than this. Creating more personalized prescriptions, understanding evolution, and improving forensic science are all less-known applications of bioinformatics. To participate in a field that helps so many industries function and forwards technology, all while making me feel a true love towards my education, is why I chose bioinformatics. I may not be completely sure what specific job I will seek in a little over four years, but I know that this field will not be shy of completing goals to better society. I am thrilled to witness the future growth of bioinformatics, but most importantly, to be a part of it. I chose to study bioinformatics because it is so new and so small. It is a field that is not very well known by those outside of it, yet it is rapidly growing and very necessary. I hope to be a bioinformatician that paves the way for this field to expand. As a female and a Mexican, I know I can be highly influential in teaching others, especially other young girls, about an unpopular career. Combined with my professional potential, my future in bioinformatics will be innovative, exciting, and powerful.

I’ve known for a while that I never wanted to be a doctor. Or a lawyer. Architecture was interesting for a bit, but I ended up ditching that, too. Hopping between majors and degree plans, I finally found bioinformatics. The combination of the academic areas of math, biology, and computer science is exhilarating to me. Bioinformatics combines the best of these subjects into a strongly unique and intriguing field. Its interdisciplinarity attracts me in that I know I will continue to gain knowledge in my favorite subjects. Bioinformatics is what I am most looking forward to in college, and I cannot wait to get started. Not only is my degree of choice fascinating, but it’s also the secret weapon for countless industries that involve biology and DNA. Analyzing the human genome is its most famous function, but bioinformatics has incredible potential to be used in more ways than this. Creating more personalized prescriptions, understanding evolution, and improving forensic science are all less-known applications of bioinformatics. To participate in a field that helps so many industries function and forwards technology, all while making me feel a true love towards my education, is why I chose bioinformatics. I may not be completely sure what specific job I will seek in a little over four years, but I know that this field will not be shy of completing goals to better society. I am thrilled to witness the future growth of bioinformatics, but most importantly, to be a part of it. I chose to study bioinformatics because it is so new and so small. It is a field that is not very well known by those outside of it, yet it is rapidly growing and very necessary. I hope to be a bioinformatician that paves the way for this field to expand. As a female and a Mexican, I know I can be highly influential in teaching others, especially other young girls, about an unpopular career. Combined with my professional potential, my future in bioinformatics will be innovative, exciting, and powerful.

Menstrual cycles. A completely natural bodily function that almost every woman will experience in their lifetime. And somehow, periods are still rarely spoken about in an open context. The subject is “taboo” and should be “kept private”. As a girl that has struggled with her period since the young age of ten, I completely disagree. I hit puberty as a fifth grader. I was the first one of my classmates to hit this milestone. Curled up on the couch with a heating pad, I remember being fatigued during my first period. My mother stuck by my side the entire time, telling me that it was only a matter of time that I would get used to it. The first couple were going to be rough, but soon, this would only be something I’d have to deal with once a month. I wish. Three years later, I find myself having my period twice a month, each time for at least a week. My pediatrician insisted this was considered normal. It took an average of two years for a girl’s menstrual cycle to become completely regular. There was nothing to worry about. What the doctor didn’t recognize was that my cramps wouldn’t go away with a heating pad and Ibuprofen. Irritable, annoyed, and antisocial became my typical mood while I bled. My face was never clear of pimples. Another year passed. My periods were now two weeks in length with one week of beautiful rest in between. Furious, my parents demanded treatment. Denied once again, they took me to my mother’s OBGYN. There, I was prescribed tranexamic acid and birth control. I had just turned thirteen. My suffering did not end just because I was given medicine. Never-ending nausea looms over me whenever I begin a new pack of pills. However, I am thankful my parents acted when they did. We still do not understand why my menstrual cycle refuses to take up a healthy pattern. Hormone tests, family history, and lifestyle factors say that I should not be dealing with this condition. But I am. Treating my health has taught me to always listen to my body, to always advocate for myself. I validate both my pain and my happiness. I stick up for myself, whether it’s to use the bathroom or defend my skills. My period is a part of me, even if it has hurt me before. I don’t let it do that anymore. As for college, bioinformatics calls my name. The combination of the academic areas of math, biology, and computer science is exhilarating to me. Bioinformatics combines the best of these subjects into a strongly unique and intriguing field. Looking further ahead, I daydream about working with pharmacists, analyzing how patients’ DNA can reveal their response to medication. I could also go into genomics, helping those with genetic disorders or with DNA mutations that cause cancer. The doors that bioinformatics will open for me are endless, and I know I will knock on each one to figure out which career path will be mine. Menstrual cycles. We think we know a lot about them, but we don’t. Research is just as important as being able to have a conversation about them. My period affected my life not only in a medical sense, but it inspired me to show it is possible to advance through pain and denial. Maybe as a bioinformatician, I can find the gene responsible for irregularities, paving the way for a cure. Until then, I’ll be sure to share my experience with no embarrassment of the word “period”.

Being raised to never fear reaching for the stars, going to college has always been a goal for me. Hopping between majors and degree plans, I finally found bioinformatics. The combination of the academic areas of math, biology, and computer science is exhilarating to me. Bioinformatics combines the best of these subjects into a strongly unique and intriguing field. Its interdisciplinarity attracts me in that I know I will continue to gain knowledge in my favorite subjects. Bioinformatics is what I am most looking forward to in college, and I cannot wait to get started. Looking further ahead, I daydream about working with pharmacists, analyzing how patients’ DNA can reveal their response to medication. I could also go into genomics, helping those with genetic disorders or with DNA mutations that cause cancer. The doors that bioinformatics will open for me are endless, and I know I will knock on each one to figure out which career path will be mine. I desire to succeed wherever I find myself in the next four years. I may not attend the most prestigious university, but I will hold myself accountable to prioritize my education. I plan to live in a learning community so that I can have friends to learn from as well as help each other with difficult material. Extremely interested to participate in research, and I am excited to learn through the actions of my own hands. Resources to further cultivate my education are plentiful, and although I may not know of them yet, I strive to use them to my advantage. Whether it be through attending professors’ office hours or living in the library, school will never become insignificant to me.

As someone that already had years of previous horse experience, I was taken aback when I was handed a camera and told to "take some pictures of that child's therapy session." The arena the group was working in was large, and I wasn't allowed to go inside for safety reasons. In my opinion, the pictures I took weren't great, but I still did the job as best I could. I volunteered at Compadres Therapy in my home city starting at 12 years old. I worked for four hours every Saturday before I had my own riding lesson at another facility nearby. I knew how to work with horses: lead them on their left, do not make sudden movements, never panic if something goes wrong. Yet I felt limited in the help I could provide to the organization. Due to my age, I wasn't allowed to help in therapy sessions, and some directors did not like me interacting with the animals. Joy, on the other hand, was different. She would push for me to become more involved. She'd ask me to bring in horses from their stalls and brush them, even if they weren't to be used. Under her command, I would feed and water horses, learning every individual ones' needs, likes, and schedule. And during it all, she'd allow me to prepare participants for their sessions, assisting them in getting a correctly fitting helmet and belt. I specifically remember when a retired horse that was boarded at the barn was experiencing muscle soreness. The veterinarian arrived and began performing stretches on the animal. Joy stopped me and took up what I had been doing, and ordered me to watch the vet at work. "I want you to learn what she is doing. I want you to watch her working with the horse," she told me. I quickly learned the release signals of a horse, that shaking is good, and that they lean into you to relieve the tension in their bodies. In the moment, I recognized how much I was taught on horses and their habits. Now, I realized working with these beautiful animals taught me that life isn't a set of rules to follow. As I had mentioned before, my volunteering experience began slow and I felt confined, almost punished. It almost felt as if the barn was the place with the most regulations and safety procedures. Although significant, my service allowed me to look away from those rules for a breath of fresh air. Like the real world, horses, and really all animals, do not have a definitive set of characteristics. There are multiple symptoms to colic, yet not all horses that have it may experience all of them. I tend to formulate a plan when completing tasks in my life, and when I cannot follow it perfectly I easily become discouraged and unproductive. Being involved in an environment that is essentially unpredictable forced me to stray from my own plan. I had to learn to fly while plummeting towards the ground. I became increasingly adaptable as I continued volunteering. I am proud to say is that my "plans" are now broader, and I allow myself room for change. I do not become disoriented when I am presented with a surprise. I keep my composure if a deadline was moved up, or if an unexpected event takes away from study time. Allowing myself to step away from what I had considered necessary granted me the power to regain focus on my goals and complete them to a higher standard. Horses, and all their chaos, gave me freedom.