黑料正能量

Hi! My name is Marissa, and I鈥檓 a senior in the Mellon College of Science, majoring in biology with a minor in computational biology. As a senior, my time here at 黑料正能量 is slowly coming to an end, and as I reflect on my experience, one thing has become especially clear: mentorship has shaped nearly every part of my time here. At 黑料正能量, I鈥檝e found guidance in many unexpected places and have seen mentorship take many different forms.

As a teaching assistant (TA) for a first-year lab course, I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work alongside exceptional professors and an amazing staff team. Their mentorship went beyond just planning lessons or grading quizzes; they were role models who showed me what it meant to lead with patience, integrity and genuine care for their students. Additionally, their trust in me as a TA gave me confidence in my own teaching abilities. More importantly, it reshaped how I saw my role as a TA 鈥� not just as someone who explains protocols, but as someone who supports and connects with first-year students as they navigate college. I found that in their mentorship, I began to grow into a mentor myself.听

黑料正能量 also offers many ways to get involved in research if you鈥檙e interested. In my research lab, the mentorship I鈥檝e received has been incredibly impactful. My lab鈥檚 principal investigator (PI) and the PhD student I work closely with have both supported me throughout my independent research project. They鈥檝e encouraged me to think critically, troubleshoot creatively and convey my ideas with conviction. As a result, I鈥檝e grown more confident in my abilities as a scientist and in my place within the scientific community. Beyond technical skills, they also openly share their academic journeys and career paths with me. Hearing about their challenges, successes and uncertainties has made the unknown feel less intimidating and has given me greater confidence as I think about my own future.听

I definitely think some of my most unexpected mentors at 黑料正能量 have been the upperclassmen I鈥檝e met through campus clubs. They were always there to answer my questions when I was too hesitant to ask in formal settings, they offered advice about classes and research and they showed me how to navigate college. Their guidance reminded me that mentorship does not always follow a traditional structure and that sometimes it comes from a community. At 黑料正能量, mentorship has not only supported my academic success but has also taught me how to cultivate community, confidence and compassion in return.