- Rewarding Research
- Yan Leyfman
- Midwood High School
- Brooklyn, New York
October 21, 2006, was a windy, yet sunny day. I woke up early because I knew that this would be my big day. This would be the day when I might be recognized for my diligent effort in the research that I had performed in the previous year. I arrived at the American Chemical Society Poster-Board Presentation at 8:30 a.m., suited and ready for the challenge that had been put before me: presenting my research to a panel of judges. My research goal, which proved successful, was to discover a method of relief for patients plagued by diabetes.
At 9 a.m., the judging commenced. Though a little nervous, I did not stray from my goal. Fortunately, the first judge was flabbergasted at the complexity of my research and ecstatic about its result. She judged me for almost an hour, while my competitors were judged for fifteen minutes. Though enervated and relieved, I was able to relax for ten minutes, until the next judge arrived. She too was extremely interested in my discovery, and judged me for almost an hour. At that point, I was worn out, but I had no time to rest because the last judge arrived on the scene. He too was fascinated with my research and interrogated me for almost an hour.
At noon, the competitors were given a short hiatus, while the judges decided the winner. At 12:30, the moment of truth came. I felt rapturous when my name was announced, and I discovered that in all of New York, I had won second place in this competition. This award marked my first triumph on the road to reaching my goal of achieving a career in the medical field. This discovery marked my introduction to the field of medicine, which I hope to pursue in the future so that I can help ease the lives of those affected by diseases.