Juan Enrique Maldonado Weng participated in the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program over the summer. Through this program, he was able to take a General Biology course and improve his scientific skills and study habits. Although it was challenging, the experience allowed him to expand his interests in scientific research and learn how organisms interact with their environments. It also improved his research abilities and gave him a sense of curiosity to further scientific discovery. Overall, despite the difficult work, Weng believes the experience was worthwhile and transformed him into a new, young scientist committed to using research to find meaning and benefit the world.

1. University of Puerto Rico - Cayey
Department of Natural Sciences
My Summer as a Young and Proud Scientist
Juan Enrique Maldonado Weng
RISE Program
Prof. Diaz & Prof. Gonzalez

2. Thanks to the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement, I was given the
opportunity to be a student for the summer course of General Biology. Using this
amazing opportunity, I was able to improve my skills, my study habits, and acquire a
strong fundamental base in the area of science, which gave me an edge for college.
Although studying during the summer was exhausting and an unbelievable challenge, the
experience that I received from it was completely worth it. I was able to accomplish
many feats like expanding my interests and curiosity in scientific research, establishing
new connections with the life around me, finding new and interesting experiments to
study, and learning in what direction I will be able to take my career.
Much of the time I spent during the summer, I was wondering if all this
challenging work was worth the effort. Then, I started seeing the results. I saw how fast I
picked up better study habits because of the need for studying. With my new study
habits, I was able to be more competitive in my group resulting in being more
appreciative of all the subjects handed. I saw biology in a new light. I see how, for
example, the sun seems almost useless, if not bothersome, yet it has a wonderful function
to give energy to all those who are underneath. All the organism living have adapted into
using the sun's rays of light as an amazing source of energy, like plants with
photosynthesis. While obtaining energy from the sun, plants contribute to other
organisms by producing oxygen which creates an important balance for life on the planet.
I have never realized how all organisms contribute and gain from their surroundings. In a
microscopic perspective, cells have organelles that all function in an incredibly
uniformity. One can say that there is a perfect society in each cell in which all the
structures are working together for survival, which is incredibly beautiful and admirable.
A very important skill that has improved since the summer is my ability to do
research. I had been assigned to write a proposal of any subject, and I had to find many
sources to have a foundation for my hypothesis. I have come to realize that research is a
heavy commitment. Dedicating one's self to research is like nurturing a child, a child that
constantly needs your time. This child, that might eventually become bothersome after a

3. couple of hours of lacking sleep, will grow into a teenager. Some would believe it to be
easier to be taken cared of, but won't because that is the most delicate stage of research,
when all the references and sources need to be accurately present for healthy
development. In the end, when I presented my fully grown child to the judges and to the
world, my heart sank, but I realized I was a proud parent because I raised it with love and
dedication. I put all the hard work possible, and I am incredibly satisfied with the results.
Another important asset that the program has been able to provide me the sense of
curiosity and the need to discover the undiscovered. Whether it has been during the
lectures or the laboratory, I have been drawn by pure curiosity to "leave no stone
unturned", learning of everything imaginable. The sense of curiosity has led me to think
of countless experiments and endless questions, to see if any new discovery could be
made. The thought of finding how more diseases function or duplicate could help the
medical communities find the answers to curing the diseases. Having this mindset could
lead to innovations in the fields of science and could potentially help the world. Free
thoughts help liberate one's self from the limits set by the vicious world. I am not afraid
to think outside the box, because I do not fear the truth; I embrace it.
After the course of the summer, many changes have occurred, my degree of
understanding increased, my level of commitment to research elevated, and my curiosity
knows no bound. After going through all the hard, stressful, draining, and demanding
summer, I have seen the results. I am a new and young scientist that will try his hardest
to succeed and to find true innovation, hopefully, for the world's benefit. I find the
reason why I want to commit myself to science is to find a deep meaning in my actions.
This summer, I learned that through scientific research, I will accomplish many goals and
find many answers. And so, after wondering if all that hard work was worth the effort
and then seeing the results within myself, I believe that my summer was completely
worthy of my effort.