This semester I have been spending time studying at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) with nine other students. In this space, I have been able to learn extensively about myself and how I relate to and live within both my immediate and larger communities, as well as critically explore and develop career goals and aspirations. 

My favorite part of this experience has been my internship. I spend the majority of my days at Georgetown University where I work with the team in Dr. Rebekah Evan’s lab. The overarching goal of this lab is to more deeply understand the neuronal circuitry of the basal ganglia and how it is impacted by models of early Parkinson’s disease. This is achieved through targeted lesioning followed by behavioral testing and ultimately imaging of mouse brains. 

My role within this process mainly focuses on the behavioral testing and analysis component. This means I come into work every day and spend a solid couple of hours working with mice to test their balance, gait, and startle response in order to quantify how they change over time as a result of the lesion. 

Through my time interning at Dr. Evan’s lab at Georgetown, I have gained confidence working in the lab, as well as connections and important conversations with current graduate and medical students, all of which have helped me to develop plans and goals for after I graduate from EMU. 

Another huge component of my time at WCSC, which has proven to be both very challenging and at times deeply rewarding, is living in the house with nine of my peers. From cooking dinners and keeping the kitchen and bathrooms clean to connecting with each other through fun events, I have enjoyed my time learning more deeply about who I am and living in a community with others. It is always fun having people around to participate in house and city life with. 

Some of my favorite things we have done together are: eating lots of food and drinking lots of tea and coffee from some of the many amazing coffee and food venues in the city, walking (and cartwheeling) around the National Mall, spending time at memorials, hiking, singing around the campfire, and our Friendsgiving dinner! 

I am truly thankful to have been extended the opportunity to live, learn, and grow here at WCSC this semester!