Li 1 Carissa Li Student Essay #1 IMSA Application 2020-2021 14 February 2021 1) Why do you want to attend IMSA, and how do you think this opportunity will assist you in reaching your future goals and dreams? The room had a dim and subdued lighting, but it did not gain meaning until I noticed the collection of 24 real human embryos and fetuses. It was astounding to see a vivid timeline of prenatal development, ranging from almost a month to a full 38 weeks. I found myself studying these special forms of life for much too long, even holding up my tour group, but it had been one of the few exhibits that truly resonated with me. IMSA would allow me to develop the skills I need to pursue my curiosity in a biological field. The Scientific Inquiries courses build a strong foundation in investigative skills that allows me to dive deeper into the science curriculum in following years. Courses like Medicinal Chemistry and Cancer Biology are among the many that pique my interest. Similar to Scientific Inquiries, these have an interactive approach, stressing hands-on laboratory work and guided inquiry with advanced technology. These classes will allow me to narrow down to a specific passion in biology or chemistry that I can fully immerse myself into, comparable to the way the museum originally allowed me to uncover my fascination with science. IMSA also offers other opportunities to develop these new skills such as the SIR program. SIR gives me the chance to build a comprehensive project around an ongoing topic I am curious about. On-campus guided Li 2 investigations such as Drug Discovery and Glioblastoma Multiforme Studies drive me to think at a higher level because of its complexity. A key factor in my ambition to attend IMSA also arises from its differentiation to normal public high schools. It’s difficult to study topics like disease and medicine because classes are centered around fundamentals at most high schools. These experiences are left for extracurriculars like Science Olympiad; however, schedule conflicts limit individuals like me in exploring these fields. IMSA, instead, offers these topics within their school curriculum and research opportunities like SIR. An interactive environment would help me to retain knowledge through activities such as building models of biological systems in the Pathophysiology course or analyzing non-pathogenic microbes in Microbes and Disease. Lab activities are often better suited for scientific classes instead of completely reading and listening based approaches to introducing concepts. Current students frequently speak to their involvement in extracurriculars that foster STEM-related interests as well as other passions. Cultural activities like ASIA and Luwali encourage students to explore their own heritage and those of the diverse IMSA community. Recognizing that modern dance is also a very significant part of the community, I hope to contribute to the student body by choreographing and leading groups in annual activities like Clash. This mosaic of cultures and ethnicities is fostered at IMSA because of the close relationships that students form while living on campus together and working collaboratively. Through a culmination of exciting courses and IMSA’s outstanding education philosophies, I am convinced one out of one thousand two hundred ninety-two schools in Illinois is more than enough.
