Looking back on this summer, I realize how much I’ve done and learned in the past eight weeks. I was nervous about handling animals, and now, I am doing cytology and weaning by myself and assisting in surgeries. Because this was my first experience in a lab, I have learned a myriad of new skills. My mentor, Dr. Daniel Pfau, has been absolutely incredible in teaching me these new skills and about research in general. They have provided reading materials and opened me up to new experiences above and beyond what was expected of them as a mentor. My eagerness to learn has served me well, as I tried everything that was offered to me. I am proud of myself for the progress I have made, and I am going to continue being a part of this project into the school year. I reached my goals of learning the functions of a lab and learning how to handle the mice. However, I also accomplished goals I did not realize I would. I have a better sense of where I want to go in my education and career in the future. I discovered a passion for endocrine functions and how that interacts with social identity and mental health. This has helped me plan the next three years of my education and offered me with incredible connections both in and out of my intended future career. Specifically, Daniel has been not only a mentor in the lab, but in my life as well. They are the only trans adult in my life, and it is beautiful to see an incredibly educated, successful, happy trans person going about their life in the world. It is really inspiring to me and helps me realize that a great future is possible for me. I have been extraordinarily thankful for this experience, and it has offered so much to me.
