Justin Iso
The Harker School

Prior to my enrollment in the Research class, I was rarely exposed to the innovative research conducted by high school students throughout the country. My knowledge of science was strictly limited to nothing more than baking soda and vinegar volcanoes. On my first day of research, I felt inadequate as my classmates boasted about previous internships, while I had never before entered a lab.

The first assignment introduced me to an extraordinary tool, which soon became a necessity throughout my research project. ScienceDirect, a subscription database, provided me with access to scientific papers covering nearly every topic. These papers demonstrated ingenuity in problem solving that gradually influenced my work. My research finally brought me to a project topic that I wished to investigate: mussel bioadhesives. With further reading of papers, I rapidly learned terminology and adapted methods to proceed with the experimentation.

ScienceDirect exposed to previously conducted research on mussel adhesives and therefore assisted me in determining a question to base my work on. I decided to compare an amino acid called 3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in the foot and byssal organs of Mytilus Trossulus (Bay Mussel). The necessity of precise and detailed planning when solving a dilemma was certainly the most valuable lesson that research taught me. I proceeded with experimentation rather hastily and often neglected trivialities that later escalated into severe impediments. Only when I had to overcome these obstacles did I comprehend the importance of preparation.

My project also demanded that I speak with several experts in different fields. Through meetings and discussions, I developed the ability to articulate my requests and learned how to interact with researchers. At first intimidated by such astute scientists, I now feel extremely confident when speaking to researchers. My self-confidence about my project assisted me greatly during the competitions, when I presented all of my work.

With my project progressing, procrastination, once a common trait in my studies, became an adversary after I discovered that its consequences are much more devastating in the research process. Failure to meet a deadline incites haste, which can severely cripple results. As the date of the first competition approached, my methods became cursory, evident by my choice of equipment; although I originally intended to use an Atomic Force Microscope to study my sample, I instead made a quick decision to use a spectrophotometer, which did not obtain any results.

The first competition came at last and I felt extremely nervous. Once I began presenting, my anxiety was alleviated; I spoke clearly and with ease about my research. Thankfully, the judge was very pleased and I was elated. I found a new excitement in science that had not existed before. My project stimulated my passion for research, but the competitions truly added an exhilarating element to the research process. I hope to continue research throughout my high school career and possibly even further. My experiences have incited a fascination with science that I hope will never fade.