AN UNCONVENTIONAL SUMMERFrom the 8th to the 24th of February, I had the chance to intern at Peru's own molecular biology and Forensic DNA testing laboratory. Through over 50 office hours and 20 hours at home, I learned all about the basis of forensic typing. My average day consisted on either visiting the morgue, assisting the procedural preparation of DNA sampling or helping employees pulverize bone with liquid nitrogen. It was truly a remarkable experience to have during my Junior year in high school.
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SOME OF THE PERKS:
NUMEROUS LAB HOURS |
GREAT WORK EXPERIENCE |
LEARNING FROM THE BEST |
MY EXPERIENCE:
It was a sunny Monday evening when I first stepped into the forensic laboratory to commence my summer internship. I was intimidated by the tall 12-story building and the many unfamiliar faces that worked within it. As I shyly made my way through the lobby and up the elevator, several thoughts traversed my mind. What if I messed up? What if I ruined it? After all, this wasn't like anything I had ever done before. Textbooks and courses don't prepare you for the pressure that handling actual blood samples and bone fragments implies. The idea that I would be dealing with real people in a real life setting was frightening.
When I entered the offices and met the manager, he showed me to the lab where Araceli, my mentor, worked. They told me to sit and make myself comfortable, and I began to realise that this wasn't intimidating at all. Although it didn't happen immediately, over my time working there, I got used to the laboratory surroundings. After a while, instead of seeing evidence samples as sources of pressure, I began to look at them like they were sources of information and my personal growth.
Over my time interning at the laboratory, I was able to see how giant PCR machines work. I saw the use of large centrifuges and even visited the morgue. I could on forever stating the several experiences I had and lessons that I learned, but one of them stood out from the rest. If I had to rank my learnings over the course of those few weeks, I'd have to say that becoming comfortable in a laboratory environment was the greatest one.
At first, I had a mindset that made me perceive labs as if they were these delicate places, where even the slightest mistake could have lethal repercussions. But the workers taught me that there is nothing to worry about if you're careful with what you do. Although at first my days consisted solely of observing others do work, by the end the employees began to feel comfortable around me too. Before I knew it, I was scanning barcodes and handling the bone pulverizing machines. Throughout those three weeks I worked in forensics, I found great value in speaking to the professionals. Now I know that I'll never forget the conversations had and lessons learned because I'll always remember my time working in Peru's forensic lab.
When I entered the offices and met the manager, he showed me to the lab where Araceli, my mentor, worked. They told me to sit and make myself comfortable, and I began to realise that this wasn't intimidating at all. Although it didn't happen immediately, over my time working there, I got used to the laboratory surroundings. After a while, instead of seeing evidence samples as sources of pressure, I began to look at them like they were sources of information and my personal growth.
Over my time interning at the laboratory, I was able to see how giant PCR machines work. I saw the use of large centrifuges and even visited the morgue. I could on forever stating the several experiences I had and lessons that I learned, but one of them stood out from the rest. If I had to rank my learnings over the course of those few weeks, I'd have to say that becoming comfortable in a laboratory environment was the greatest one.
At first, I had a mindset that made me perceive labs as if they were these delicate places, where even the slightest mistake could have lethal repercussions. But the workers taught me that there is nothing to worry about if you're careful with what you do. Although at first my days consisted solely of observing others do work, by the end the employees began to feel comfortable around me too. Before I knew it, I was scanning barcodes and handling the bone pulverizing machines. Throughout those three weeks I worked in forensics, I found great value in speaking to the professionals. Now I know that I'll never forget the conversations had and lessons learned because I'll always remember my time working in Peru's forensic lab.
QUOTE FROM MY MENTOR:
"Frances' greatest strength is her spirit to learn new things, which is essential in a field of science"
- Gian Carlo Iannacone, Laboratory Manager