Summer @ Brown

Jennifer Stewart
Dominican Academy 2010
New York, NY

Summer is the season that is most anticipated by school-aged children. It’s two solid months of absolute nothingness; no early wake up and, the greatest part for many, no school. This summer, however, I strayed from my normal routine of waking up late and lounging around the pool. I decided that I wanted to find an academic summer program.

This desire was easier said than done; there are so many options available for high school students. After much searching, I was pulled in by a brochure I had received from Brown University. They had a plethora of different programs, all spanning different times. I really liked their pre-college mini courses, all of which ranged from one to six weeks in length and discussed various subject matters. One of the classes offered was a two week class entitled “Medical Microbiology: Germs in the News.” I’m interested in medical research, specifically research on viruses and diseases, and this class seemed right up my alley. After filling out admission forms and mailing them off to Rhode Island, I eagerly awaited a response. A few weeks later, I got my answer--I was going to Brown.

Any worries I had about my stay melted away when I arrived on campus. Everyone was really friendly and welcoming. I have to admit, the first night alone was a little eerie (I was dorming in a single room in the basement), but after that, I was fine. I quickly adapted to “college life.” Sharing a bathroom, eating every meal in the same dining hall, and making sure I had my room key all became part of my normal routine.

My class was amazing as well. It was taught by two graduate students, both of whom were deeply knowledgeable about microbiology. We had two different class types, lectures and labs. On lecture days, we would listen and carefully take notes as our instructors taught. On lab days, we would meet in the science lab, where we would run various tests and experiments, just as we would if we worked in a research lab. We had homework as well. Every night, we either had a reading assignment or a written assignment. The written assignment entailed finding an article on a certain topic and critiquing it.

It wasn’t just work all the time. There were other classes offered, such as yoga and college success seminars. A scavenger hunt, karaoke, and movie nights were among some of the activities offered to us.

Overall, my two weeks at Brown University were nothing shy of wonderful. I got a chance to experience life at college. I learned how to live on my own, which will surely help when I go off to college in two years. I met many people whom I know I will stay friends with. I discovered that I really do enjoy science, and I learned so much more about my field of interest. These were truly two weeks I will always remember.