After carefully lining up fruit fly larvae on a glass dish, I slid the dish under the microscope, hoping to capture a clear 3D image of their neurons for my summer project. Despite following the protocol my mentor had left, I ran into one technical problem after another. The microscope software wasn’t cooperating, and I couldn’t get a good image no matter what I tried. To make things harder, my mentor was away at a conference overseas, so I couldn’t ask for immediate help. With limited time before the larvae became unusable, I had to figure something out quickly.
This moment marked a turning point in my summer research. During the summer of my junior year at UCLA, I received the Exceptional Research Opportunities Programs (EXROP) fellowship from Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to do research in Dr. Yuh Nung Jan’s lab at UCSF — a leading group in developmental neuroscience. Coming from a small lab with no neuroscience background as a college intern, I felt overwhelmed joining a team made up mostly of experienced postdocs and grad students. As the only international undergraduate, I was self-conscious about my English and hesitant to ask questions, worried I’d seem unprepared. In such a renowned lab, I often felt like an outsider, unsure if my voice belonged in conversations dominated by experts.
But standing there, stuck and alone, I realized I had no choice but to ask for help. I jotted down my questions and approached Dr. Peter, a postdoc known for his expertise with microscopes. “I’m sorry to bother you, Dr. Peter, but could you help me?” I asked, half-expecting to be brushed off. Instead, he was happy to troubleshoot with me, patiently teaching me the basics. Thanks to his help, I finally captured the images I needed.
This experience changed me. I began to see science not as a solitary pursuit, but as a collective effort where even the questions of an intern can spark real progress. Hesitation and silence only costed my opportunities to grow. After this realization, I started reaching out more — talking to lab members after meetings, asking for feedback on my presentations, and offering to help on other projects. By the end of the summer, I’d finished my project, presented at the EXROP symposium, and found a real sense of belonging in the lab.
This summer not only strengthened my scientific skills but also reshaped how I understood my identity and the value I could bring to a lab. Over time, I came to view that my “otherness” was not a barrier, but a unique fresh perspective I could bring into the team. My curiosity and passion helped me become an active contributor, and more importantly, taught me the value of communication and openness in science.
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