Wednesday, April 26, 2006

As my alarm clock buzzed away, my eyelids slowly opened as I rolled my head to determine the creature that had such courage to wake me from my deep slumber. 6:00 on a Wednesday morning: the start of yet another day. But it was not just any day. Today was special. Today was the day that I would go to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 44th Annual National Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Months of research and sacrifice were finally going to pay off. Not only was I excused from school for the next week, but the entire trip expense was already paid by the regional JSHS director (with the exception of a $100 pre-registration fee). Mixed feelings of excitement and nervous anticipation bubbled within.

After meeting up with the fair director, Dr. Edwards, and the other Michigan delegates, we caught the flight that would indirectly take us to Albuquerque. As I stepped out of the airport, a massive grinned creeped onto my face. For the first time in months (which seemed more like years), I put on my sunglasses. Michigan was still recovering from its drab, domineering winter season, so my arrival in New Mexico felt like the Spring Break I never had. It was 75 degrees and sunny, and there was nothing standing in my way to a week of vacation.

The Michigan delegation, among others, at the National Symposium. (Photo by Nirmish Singla)

We caught a shuttle that took us directly to the Embassy Suites Hotel. As I peered from the window of the bus, an unfamiliar landscape faced me. All one could see was desert surrounded by mountains and sun. The change of landscape from Michigan was much needed and appreciated. The colorful hotel was perched high and proud upon the top of a hill, isolating it from downtown.

After checking in, we relaxed in our respective rooms. The JSHS committee deliberately assigned roommates in a fashion that would force us to meet new people. Soon after, I met up with the other Michigan delegates, and together we went out to explore the city. Downtown was just a short walk away, easily 5-10 minutes. After nearly getting lost, we found a Coldstone Creamery and toasted to Day 1 of an exciting adventure.

We were free to do as we wished until 6:30, when the opening ceremony would commence. Until that time, I had gone to the main lobby area, where delegates from all over the country were socializing. I happened to meet an Illinois delegate who introduced me to numerous Intel Science Talent Search (STS) finalists, Siemens-Westinghouse finalists, and Research Science Institute (RSI) attendees. Furthermore, I would be seeing most of these delegates again at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which was in a couple of weeks. Suddenly I realized that the next week would be a dream-come-true. I would be surrounded by 250 of the top-notch students in America, brought together for a common purpose. I would hang out and be essentially part of this eminent, respected elite that had worked for months on research projects, expanding scientific horizons in innumerable measures. I was surrounded by the future of America: future doctors, mathematicians, engineers, and scientists, some of whom may one day become Nobel Laureates. Certainly JSHS would be a humbling experience that I had craved for years.

By 7:00 the opening dinner ceremony commenced in the main banquet hall. The ceremony was certainly grand, and the food delicious. My own experience that evening involved more socialization as I was exposed to the "inside scoop" of the underlying backbone of futuristic America. I met many other accomplished students, such as the grand award winner of the Siemens-Westinghouse Science Competition. My vessels were pulsating with awe as this friendly fellow shook my hand with a large grin on his face. I was essentially shaking hands with a celebrity. It was awesome!

By 9:30, the ceremony had come to a close, and most of the delegates were preparing to rest from a long day's flight. I took a refreshing walk downtown with some friends. However, we soon turned back, as the scene was rather sketchy and the lights few. Soon after, we called it a day, excited to discover what lay ahead.