The Science of Life Anonymous

The small, fluffy bundle of feathers quivered in the palms of my hands. I brought the tiny budgerigar up to my face, my almond-shaped eyes meeting his bright, beady ones. My 6-year-old self marveled at his vibrant plumage: a brilliant green that stretched across his wings, fading into a soft baby yellow. From the gentle curve of his beak to his long swishy tail – he was flawless. Only the warmth radiating from his body and his thumping heartbeat against my skin could convince me that this perfect little creation was indeed alive. As I gazed at my new pet, I was awe-struck, brimming with curiosity. Seized with the desire to learn anything and everything about the little bird, it was at that particular moment that my love for biology surfaced for the first time. Although that initial wonder I felt could be interpreted as the simple naiveté of a young child, it quickly blossomed into a full-blown obsession with the science of life.

As a child, I always had an endless supply of questions, and eagerly sought out the answers in whatever I could get my chubby hands on. I grew up with anatomy coloring books, picture encyclopedias, and countless episodes of PBS. For my tenth birthday, I was presented with my very own toy microscope....