Being President of my school’s BioEngineering club has been one of the most enriching experiences of my high school journey. What really means most to me about BioE is the community that we have built: from experienced coders to curious biological enthusiasts to those with little background looking for something fun to try, it is a place where anyone can learn. As President, I’ve loved creating opportunities for members to tackle real-world challenges, from building artificial lungs to developing innovative solutions like the Coollar, which we even submitted for patents. It’s incredible to watch students grow in confidence and creativity, knowing their ideas can make a tangible impact. For me, BioE isn’t just about science; it’s about fostering curiosity, teamwork, and leadership. Seeing members support one another and come together with a shared purpose has made all the late nights and problem-solving sessions more than worth it.
The Coollar is one of the projects I spearheaded in the BioE club, which was born from a simple observation: dogs in my neighborhood were burning their paws on hot pavement. We designed a smart collar that detects ground heat temperature and alerts pet owners to dangerous conditions, thus helping prevent injuries. As Proposal Writer, Project Manager, and Sustainability Lead, I worked the team through brainstorming, patent submission, and so forth to ensure that each detail is in line with our vision of practical real-world impact. This project exemplifies what I love about bioengineering: using science and creativity to address everyday challenges in meaningful ways.
The sense of innovation was taken to a whole new level when GBE challenged us to think about agriculture in space. In collaboration with NASA, my team worked on optimizing plant growth for microgravity by experimenting with different environmental variables and species of plants. The project has broadened the horizon of my knowledge in the area of bioengineering's support for life beyond Earth by teaching me how important adaptive solutions are once traditional systems no longer apply. GBE showed me how bioengineering not only solves today's problems but also creates the foundation for exploring the future—helping humankind to thrive, whether on Earth or in space. It also allowed for our entire club to collaborate on the project together, measuring the plants on different days and working together to complete the experiment.
