Katherine Meek
About Me
It has given me the opportunity to experience feedback and guidance that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access; it also removed a lot of the implicit intimidation I had around research and proved that I was more capable of producing research than I had previously thought. I additionally found it to be more engaging and fun than my preconceptions envisioned.
Research Experience
I was nervous, primarily because I was working full time at a county sponsored internship, and didn’t know if I could complete project goals on time. However, my mentor and the program were very accommodating, and I found times in which I could freely work on my project. I was excited to explore the microbiome in a new context, as the inspiration for my project was from a book (I forgot the title) that changed my perspective on these wonderful microbes, but also intimidated in that I had never conducted research before. As I worked more on my project, I realized that it was indeed manageable with time management and feedback. I grew less intimidated and more engaged in what I was currently working on, ready to collect interesting tidbits of information I found to be synthesize-able. I’ve always found the recombination of old information into novel conclusions to be fascinating, but to do it myself is even more engaging. It mainly reinforced my love of biology and desire to improve health in novel/emerging ways that the general community hasn’t yet considered; these underrated microorganisms and fungi (though my project was not about fungi, I find fungi fascinating and a potential route to solving many issues via bioremediation) need to be researched and their potential fully utilized to protect not only us but also our environment.
Mentorship Experience
We bonded over high school experiences — partly the repetitiveness of the work and the audacity of teachers to prevent you from using the bathroom even when you really need to use it — and college life. It was interesting to hear a perspective that was almost the exact opposite of my own: staying in the same, rural place for a very long time. As a military child, I have no jurisdiction over where I go or how long I am in a given area, so I have learned to adapt to a multitude of different schools and regions (and grow to appreciate all of them in their different ways). I had always wondered what staying in one place with the same people was like (in a small school too), and learned that the stability is sometimes boring, but college offers many different groups of people and varying interests. She helped give me feedback on my grammar and the location of particular ideas (and a general goal for each week which helped keep me on track for success).
Favorite Part of Talaria
I definitely enjoyed having someone to talk to who I could relate to and learn more about the college experience from. It gave me a role model to look up to and aspire to be like, and also reminded me that people are more similar to me than I give them credit for; I’ve learned a lot about college, like to avoid writing courses if possible because they tend to be subjective in grading, and what to look out for and particular experiences in the University of Washington. It was very interesting being able to connect with someone across the country, very far from my current residence in North Carolina.
Who I Recommend Talaria For
Anyone who is interested in science but is intimidated by the male dominance in research, and also those who may have not considered science at all for a multitude of factors (specifically those written off as not intelligent or competent enough to go into science); it is the first program that I’ve seen that highlights and celebrities neurodiversity (which I greatly appreciate as I am autistic and have ADHD) — a potential cause of academic “underachievement” — which is difficult to find research or support with as the general public tends to be afraid of (want to cure) or not understand it. These individuals have likely been undermined and berated their entire lives for who they are (or blamed for making excuses while these behaviors are symptoms) and this program is a wonderful opportunity for them to prove to themselves that they ARE worthy.
Advice for Future Applicants
It’s always worth it to try, not only does it hone your application writing skills and familiarity with its formats (which helps you in future endeavors), but it is also more than worth it if you are accepted into Talaria. Talking with a mentor that is currently in college has given me insight on the modern college experience and the amount of reading, learning, and creating [research] is very satisfying, you’re creating your very own mark on the world, and I find that incredible. Don’t write generic responses, try to find what makes you unique, even if it’s just in seemingly mundane experiences (like being a military child in my case).
