My School

Stem cells are indeed fascinating components of life but you may ask how I came to know of them. Ranging from indoor experience to outdoor experience, I have learned about them different ways; outdoor field work being more fun due to "hands on" experince. The Primate Center especially stood out because that was the place that got me interested in them.

Remembering the very moment takes me back a little more than a year back in time. It was the day of the Primate Center field trip on which everybody had positive and negative thoughts on, including me. As we approached the center, I started thinking of how boring the trip would be until I saw the monkeys. Sure it smelled as if a pickup truck had unloaded 200 pounds of compost but the sight was amazing. The monkeys would do incredible jumps and would tackle each other when we threw them carrots. So much for the cutting edge technology known as the zoo! As we passed the 8^th grade Rachel Carson group, one of the Primate Center employees allowed the 8^th graders who were 14 years of age to enter the lab. I asked the employee what was in the lab that 7^th Later that day when I reached home, I immediately started reading about stem cells and was astounded by their value to scientists. Due to that field trip, I learned something new that would astonish and assist me during my 8^th grade project. 7th graders could not view and they replied telling me that the lab contained samples of stem cells and I was underage to view them.

    I never wanted to be a scientist and was disgusted about science until I came to Rachel Carson. I discovered what science really was and showed some interest towards it. If I hadn’t attended this school, I wouldn’t be doing an 8^th Along with science, I learned about the scientific method. I definitely wouldn’t have learned this method as easily at a normal public school because they wouldn’t focus on science as much as Rachel Carson does. If you’re wondering how the scientific method is relevant to stem cell research, it is because scientists conducting lab experiments on stem cells use it to make the process simpler and easy to understand. I also learned about cells and their different properties back in sixth grade which I found very interesting, partly due to the dissecting lab. Believe it or not, we even just started a unit on genetics based on cells (including stem cells) in science class. I probably wouldn't even be doing an grade project right now and wouldn’t be interested in stem cells until perhaps my future high school years if I hadn't come to Rachel Carson.

    Another way environmental science relates to stem cells is endangered species. If you’re familiar with the concept of cloning (check out my cloning page if you’re not) it is a mind-boggling experience which scientist actually study and experiment with. After we fool-proof stem cells and increase it success rate (1 in 10 cloned embryos surviving isn’t close to good enough), we can start cloning endangered species and make them as common as the dog or cat. On my trip to the Primate Center (this one was recent), I even discovered that the scientists there had cloned a primate in the past who is still living at ten years of age! One species that is being madly hunted is the whale near Japan. Environmentalists believe in preserving the land along with its creatures and keeping the land in better shape than we found it millions of years ago (that’s a little to much for ask for these days). Click here to read all about it. Even though we have damaged the environment, we can still make up by using fewer materials from the earth and trying to reuse what we use. That however is not going to be easy as many people don't care about the environment and do whatever they like.

    As I leave this school, I can't help to wonder how I would be different if I had attended a different school. I definitely wouldn't be as environmental as before and I wouldn't have the skills I have today either. Being in Rachel Carson had one major advantage; it has fewer students than most schools so it is easier to learn as it doesn't get too crowded and the teacher knows everybody's strengths and weaknesses. It has truly prepared me for high school well because when I was in 5th grade, I never thought I would take middle school to be so difficult but it will be different as I enter high school. I have forecasted and know exactly what classes I am going to take so I wouldn't be in for a surprise when I arrived in the actual class. Although I do not wish to leave Rachel Carson, half a mind says I want to due to my curiosity to begin high school!