Topic Proposal

As a topic of interest this year, I am pursuing the field of oncology. Specifically, I

want to focus on research and medical oncology to increase my knowledge and
experience in these areas.
The love for science needed to go into the medical field was ingrained in me
from a young age. From grade school, I discovered that my favorite classes would be
elementary science consisting of basic biology and ecology topics. To further encourage
my fascination with science, my parents used to order me genetics, chemistry, and
physics experiment kits to test in my leisure time. Then, during the spring of my fifth-
grade year, being part of a “Challengers” program, I was given the opportunity to visit
a research facility in the middle of Lake Erie called Stone Laboratories. Over the course
of three days, I observed many scientists conduct biological research while participating
in science-based activities myself. Throughout this experience, I gained a lot of insights
into the scientific world which garnered a passion for science in me that I took with me
to middle and high school. I participated in many science fairs and started doubling up
on science classes in high school with chemistry and physics. My love for science had
made it clear that I should go into the STEM fields, but it wasn’t until my junior year of
high school that I honed my options down to oncology. I had been accepted into the
Independent Study and Mentorship program and had decided to research biomedical
engineering for the year. I was extremely fortunate to obtain a mentorship with a
bioengineering professor who specialized in radiology. With him, I was able to conduct
statistical analysis on tumor data from glioblastoma patients. Specifically, I attempted to
find evidence that having a methylation MGMT promotor region influenced a patient’s
response to chemotherapy. Throughout this experience, I discovered that I felt a
connection with the patients whose data I used and that I wanted to do my part to help
more people suffering from cancer. These experiences led me to decide that I would be
happiest with a future profession in the oncology field.
As any career in the medical field, a career in oncology is filled with many hours
of hard work and emotional results. However, I know that I will be up for the effort
required because I will be pursuing something I really enjoy. Moreover, I am an
independent and kinesthetic learner so going into research oncology will be an
educational process for me. I am aware that lab work is a strenuous and a time-
consuming process, but I have the tenacity and patience to keep developing a solution.
Even if I go into the clinical side of oncology, I have traits that will make me successful
in that area. For one, I am a good listener which will be necessary when making patient
diagnoses. Furthermore, I am considered an empathetic person which is important to be
when delivering difficult news to cancer patients and their families. As unfortunate as it
is, the truth is that cancer is a tragic disease that is becoming more and more prominent
in the modern age. By becoming an oncologist, I hope to bring changes to the world of
cancer by both care of patients and making discoveries against the illness.