Abdul Hadi reports on his first week at the University of Chicago where he is studying “Biology and Its Modern Applications.” He has been adjusting to his daily schedule and missing his family, but also enjoying his lab work, attending social events and making new friends.
The Start to an Amazing Program
“Prior to the first day of class there were several social events through which I created a large network of friends within only a few days. Through intense foosball matches, intriguing lunch conversations and highly competitive poker tournaments, with fake money of course, I created many friendships and memories alike. Every day we are allowed access to the university gym and playing grounds so long as there is a residential assistant present; therefore, we played a lot of basketball and soccer,” Hadi says.
“The most interesting part of my first week at camp was my time in the lab. Each day our professor would teach a lecture from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch and then he would conduct a lab from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The lab would always be based off the information we had learned in class earlier in the day, making the lab another opportunity to build on what we learned. The biggest advantage of doing a program as such is the plethora of resources and equipment ready to use in a classroom and lab. A key difference between CCHS AP Biology and UCHICAGO Biology was the abundance of time to conduct lab experiments. Having 2 hours for each lab meant that my lab mates and I could work at a comfortable pace while also digesting all the information, whereas at CCHS, the experiments were more rushed due to a shortage of time,” Hadi reports.
“Having taken AP Biology this school year I noticed that the lectures at the program were quite vague as the class was more heavily focused on the laboratory sessions. Each lecture is paired with 6 questions and a reading, while the labs are paired with a daily journal and questions. One key skill that I have learned in my few days within the program is that with each lab I’ll be conducting in the future, I will have to write a lab report documenting my methods, materials, conclusions, observations etc. all within one notebook. Learning to document allows for a mastery of skills that I will have to use in an undergrad and grad school setting,” Hadi adds.
“I’m excited to see what else my experience in and out of the classroom can get me and hope to make the most of my time at UCHICAGO,” Hadi says.
Am I Really Done with the 2nd Week?
During his second week, Hadi explored the Chicago area with classmates. He participated in house games, a soccer tournament, an architectural boat tour, and a trip to the beach during the Juneteenth weekend.
“Saturday was perhaps the best day of the program. In the morning, we all attended breakfast at an amazing restaurant and decided to dress formally for no apparent reason. In the afternoon, I was given tickets to attend West Side Story at the famous civic opera in downtown Chicago. However, instead of going back on the bus, my friends and I extended our stay within the city and went to visit the bean and walked around downtown. We stopped at Giordano’s, ate pizza by the riverside, and then headed back home,” Hadi says.
“Classwork during the second week was lighter yet more exciting than the first week. We were able to conduct Gel Electrophoresis and were able to analyze our DNA sequenced samples. We conducted Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) testing and figured out which patient was a carrier of “Covid”, which was just chicken protein. We were also able to setup a CRISPR lab, the results of which will be examined on Monday and Tuesday during our lab,” Hadi adds.
“My group mates and I also began work on our final project. The topic we chose is “How CRISPR can be a Cure and an Obstacle when working with Sickle Cell Anemia,” and we will be presenting our poster in front of at least 3 classes on the final day of the summer session. As this final project will be worth 25% of my grade, my group mates and I will work on it throughout next week and hope to be done by Wednesday so that we can get a proofread by our professor,” Hadi explains.
“I’m excited for my final week in this program, and I am excited to present my poster; yet I’m sad that I’ll have to say goodbye to my friends knowing that I probably won’t see them again,” Hadi says.
Heartbreak
Hadi reports that his final week has been filled with “unforgettable memories, emotions, and a very important group project.”
“Let’s start with the ‘very important group project’. As presentation day approached, my partners and I printed out all the materials needed for our poster and practiced out presentation. We were informed that we’d have to present at least 3 times because each TA and the professor would give us a score. We presented to the first TA and got feedback stating that our font size was too small and a few general tips about presenting. Nevertheless, overall, we were told that we would not get below an A from the first TA, and the other TA along with the professor said that they liked our presentation quite a bit. The scores are yet to be released; however, I feel confident that I will get an A,” Hadi reports.
Hadi enjoyed several memorable moments with his newly formed friends including an “intense soccer game,” and playfully singing Karaoke in the shower stalls at school. “When I first signed up for this program, I had no idea that I would be making memories like these, and I sure hope that I can convince more of my younger friends to apply for the GFF scholarship,” Hadi adds.
“Soon enough, the day came. We all knew it was happening we just chose to ignore it, and then, it hit us. It was my last day at the program, and I was one of the few people leaving on the 29th and not the 30th. Therefore, my friends made sure to give me a proper goodbye as they all gave me a massive group hug and helped me load my belongings onto my Uber. I had everyone sign my door sign as well as my lab coat. There were about 15 of us and the Uber driver got worried because she thought we were all going to catch a ride to the train station, but we reassured her that it was just me. We took pictures and then, it was all over,” Hadi says.
“I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to attend this program and I extend my gratitude towards the Garwin Family Foundation for their generous scholarship,” Hadi adds.
We’re so happy you had a memorable time, Hadi, and wish you the best in your future studies!
>> Read Abdul Hadi’s final report (PDF file, 50 KB).
>> Learn about other students’ experiences in the GFF Scholarship Program.
