It turns out the knowledge base she established at St. Andrew’s played a large role in helping her thrive in the lab.

 

“All the classes I’ve taken here have provided me with a really good foundation so I can go into the lab and understand what’s going on around me,” said Hope, who has taken AP Biology and AP Physics at St. Andrew's.

 

“Work there is much more complicated than what we learn here,” she added. “Having a strong foundation and a strong understanding of the fundamentals of an area really makes you prepared to go out and experiment with it and have a curiosity about it.”

 

This was not Hope’s first time interning at the Lab. The summer after her freshman year, Hope isolated microbacteria from deep sea vents. After her sophomore year, she investigated the effect of transition-metal chloride catalysts on the production of alpha-ketoglutarate, an important biological compound. This past summer, Hope investigated the origins of RNA, or ribonucleic acid, by examining the production of uracil, a component of RNA, in solutions with transition-metal chlorides.

 

Hope submitted the results of her RNA research to the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, a research competition for high school students who take on individual or team research projects. She wrote an 18-page paper, excluding the abstract and resources, that detailed her hypothesis, methods and conclusion.    

 

Although her submission did not advance, she said participating in the competition was a good opportunity.

 

“Writing a scientific article is definitely an experience you don’t have unless you’re in the science field, and it requires a different set of skills than writing an English paper,” Hope said. “The terminology and how you phrase things is unique to whatever area of science you’re working in. I think it’s definitely a good real-life scenario.”

 

Hope might not have moved on in the Siemens Competition, but she already has a number of academic and athletic accolades to show for her hard work. Last year she was inducted as a junior into the Cum Laude Society and she was one of two juniors to earn awards at the Upper School Honors Assembly last June, taking home the Wellesley Book Award.

 

A goalie on St. Andrew’s lacrosse team, Hope was named a 2016 US Lacrosse High School All-American, a designation for top players who excel academically.

 

She said students should intern because it allows them to have new experiences and gain a greater appreciation for professionals in their ideal career field.

 

“I think you learn a lot about yourself and your interests, strengths, and weaknesses,” Hope said. “That’s something St. Andrew’s values, having each individual learn more about themselves and be confident in their abilities.”