Laila, I really appreciate how your final reflection combined both lessons learned through work and the relationships and trust within the community that you built along the way. The way you connected with Arab and Middle Eastern-owned businesses through shared culture was especially powerful. Common ground can open doors to deeper trust and collaboration. I’ve experienced something similar in my own community project this summer, where learning the local culture and language became a bridge that built trust and allowed the work to feel more personal and impactful. 

I also love that you took the time to create a keepsake with the UV printer and laser cutter. It feels like such a meaningful way to tie together the creativity, memory, and teamwork of your experience. It demonstrates the holistic spirit of your work that included both hands-on efforts and bigger-picture conversations. I hope you continue to share updates as the homes come to life! I hope you have been able to settle in nicely in New York!

Erica, I absolutely loved the part where you mentioned the community being the best resource! I’ve experienced the same thing. When you take a genuine interest in someone’s home, history, and work, their whole face lights up. Sharing their way of life becomes prideful, and they welcome you into their stories with such generosity. I also found myself with a towering book queue and days that felt both wonderfully full and far too short, wishing for 25 hours just to keep working, exploring, and listening.

I also really resonated with your point about young people being the future. When I was narrowing my project’s focus, I thought about the same thing. In the end, I chose to work with ages 12 to 16 because I see this as such a pivotal age. They are old enough to start grasping complex issues, but still full of energy, courage, and optimism. It’s an age when you not only believe change is possible, but you’re determined to be part of it. If we invest in that energy, its effects, I believe, can transform communities for generations. I look forward to connecting when we are back in New York!

Valeriya, several parts of your post truly resonated with me. First, the openness and creative freedom your supervisor provides is such a gift, especially as it allows you to focus on work you are genuinely passionate about. I firmly believe that passionate work is not only completed more quickly but also at the highest quality, and it’s inspiring to see that your supervisor embraces this philosophy.

I was also struck by your mention of the ocean and the built-in time for reflection. When engaging in impactful work, it’s essential to step back, give our minds the space to process, and allow ourselves moments of solitude. In a world so often consumed by the “next achievement,” this crucial step is too easily overlooked, yet I agree with you that our best work comes from a clear and focused mind. Thank you for highlighting this.

Finally, I share your admiration for watching experienced professionals excel in their field. It is deeply motivating and reinforces my own desire to make a meaningful impact. I’m so glad you had the opportunity to participate in the Sadako Peace Day celebration, and I look forward to hearing more about your experiences when you return to NYC!

Anna, your work in the field is seriously impressive. It’s not easy to step out of the lab and fully immerse yourself in the unpredictability of real environments, but that’s exactly where so much of the most meaningful learning happens. Being right there with the plants, seeing how they grow, respond, and interact with their true surroundings, must open up a completely different level of understanding. I can imagine this experience will reshape how you think about your research questions going forward. Excited to see where this leads you!

Priyanka, it was amazing to hear about your work! Being able to witness the entire pipeline over two summers, from lab research to clinical trials, is such a rare and exciting opportunity. The transition from controlled experiments to real-world impact is where the heart of medical innovation beats, and it sounds like you have experienced both sides firsthand. How awesome! Regardless of a clinical trial’s outcome, the insights gained always push science forward, and that, to me, is the true beauty of this work. In my opinion, clinical trials are where the magic really happens because they bridge research and patient care.
I was especially moved by your reflection on representation in clinical trials. Including underrepresented communities, particularly in studies for diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect areas with limited resources, is essential. Your awareness and dedication to maintaining ethical balance in this space is deeply inspiring. No leader gets it perfect, but the best ones continue to grow, and it is clear you are doing exactly that.
I cannot wait to connect when we are back in New York and hear even more about your summer!

Tara, your narrative is truly exceptional, both in its eloquence and the experience it captures! It’s both heartwarming and powerful to witness the kind of mutual trust that can emerge when we engage with communities authentically. I’ve encountered similar initial hesitations in the rural villages of Majuli, and like you, I’ve found that once I have interacted face-to-face and clearly communicated my intentions, communities often respond with such openness and warmth. It’s a beautiful, humbling process to be part of. I’m genuinely excited to hear more about the school’s opening for the Sama Bajau community, and I sincerely hope you continue documenting your journey in narrative form. I’ve found reflective writing in my own journal to be one of the most meaningful ways to preserve these moments, which, without a doubt, will be ones both you and I carry with us for a lifetime!

This was incredibly insightful, Justin. Being around the field of medicine this summer has taught me that the research process is typically seen as collecting data, analyzing it, and then presenting the findings. However, you have highlighted a crucial aspect—dedicating time to internalize and thoroughly understand the data before presenting it. This step is essential to fully grasp the implications of the research and effectively communicate them to the community. I am excited that you have made such an important realization early in our research journey, and I look forward to hearing about your insights from this summer!

I truly appreciate how you took the time to understand the culture and people within the region you are researching, Kate. This approach is crucial in research, as it provides a deeper understanding of the context in which your study is situated. By immersing yourself in the local culture, you gain valuable insights that can significantly enhance the relevance and impact of your findings. This level of engagement not only enriches your research but also demonstrates respect for the subjects of your study, which is an essential aspect of conducting ethical and comprehensive research.