Zahra Savoji
About Me
Talaria truly gave me the wings that I needed to take off towards fulfilling my love for scientific research, and it made me believe that even as a high school student, I can do what I am passionate about without having to wait until university.
Research Experience
I felt beyond excited, but also nervous and unsure of how I will even approach starting my research paper. This was my first time ever writing an academic literature review, so it felt overwhelming to write it or even start researching. I thought that as a high school student, doing this was definitely going to be pushing my limits, but I was still certain that I wanted to participate. My excitement kept exemplifying the more I was immersed in my topic, and ironically enough, I felt like a professor working on a research paper in a lab–something I have always dreamed of. Frankly, I believe the difficult part for me was getting started on the paper, but once I did, everything became a lot easier to work with. It made me more courageous to develop my own research and delve into scientific topics that I love. It also made me more certain of the fact that I am definitely going into neuroscience–my ecstatic emotions upon seeing 3-D models of the human brain and researching it made me more certain. Before Talaria, I only had a blind love for neuroscience, but now, I have felt my passion for it and love it even more.
Mentorship Experience
Although we only had one meeting and did not have a completely tangible experience, my mentor was very helpful, supportive and encouraging. We communicated well most of the time through email, and she gave me amazing tips on how to improve my research paper and what I should change.
Favorite Part of Talaria
Feeling like a true scientist writing a research paper that I knew was going to get published made me very happy inside, and I think it was my favourite part of the program. By the end of my research, I felt accomplished, and felt that I now had something scientific to talk about with a significant amount of knowledge in it.
Who I Recommend Talaria For
Aspiring future scientists who want to make a difference in the world, and ones that do not settle for less when it comes to science. Students that do not only observe things, but always ask "why?"–this is the key to being a true, passionate scientist. They should also be prepared to explore the depth of their scientific interests beyond the borders of high school material.
Advice for Future Applicants
I am not trying to sound cliché, but loving science is enough for you to be sure that this is the right program for you. All of the mentors, officers, program coordinators and mentees are very welcoming, genuine and supportive. You will also be surrounded by people that have the same interests as you. Most importantly, by the time summer is over, you will feel accomplished, and proud of the achievements you have made through Talaria. Do not even hesitate to apply!
