2017-2018 Avatar: Emily Guernsey

It seems like just yesterday that I was presenting my CPS project and packing up to go home for the summer. Now here I am, at the start of a new school year, sitting at a new desk, in a new room, on a new floor. Though only a year has passed since my own GROWeek, my life has changed in unimaginable ways. As I watch the juniors assimilate to their new environment, meeting new friends and learning the ins and outs of life at Gatton, I grow excited for all of the experiences that await them. I’ve had many great experiences with Gatton so far, and I would love to share some of them with you.

First, I should probably back-track a little and introduce myself. My name is Emily Guernsey, and I’m from Louisville. Prior to Gatton, I attended Sacred Heart Academy. Now, back to my time at Gatton.

One of the first unique aspects of Academy life that I experienced was research. My first semester, I enrolled in the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program. Through this program, I met some of my closest friends at Gatton, while also discovering and characterizing a unique bacteriophage, which I named JEGGS. This experience reaffirmed my passion for research, and I decided to apply for a Gatton Research Internship Grant (RIG). I was awarded a RIG and spent part of my summer doing research on cancer metabolism at the Brown Cancer Center in Louisville. The rest of my summer, however, was spent abroad.

Which brings me to another aspect of my Gatton experience: study abroad. In January of my first year, I went on the Gatton trip to Greece. This was my first time out of the country and it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Through this trip, I learned a lot about the history and culture of Greece, saw breathtaking sights like the Parthenon, and grew closer to my classmates and the Gatton staff. I also had the opportunity to go on the Gatton trip to England this past summer. There, we spent a lot of time learning about English literature, visiting important historical sites like Oxford, taking in all of London, and exploring Harlaxton Manor. Having the opportunity to go abroad twice with Gatton has been fantastic, and the memories I’ve made will surely last a lifetime.

When I’m not involved in research or study abroad, I fill my time with class and other activities. Gatton has given me the opportunity to take courses that go deeper into my interests (primarily biology), like Neurobiology, while also exploring new fields, like Political Science. Outside of class, I’m involved in Student Y, various volunteer opportunities like Big Brothers Big Sisters, and of course, Avatars.

My time at Gatton has given me so much more than I could have imagined, from lifelong friends to incredible opportunities. I’m very excited to share my Gatton experience with all of you this year, both through this blog and at various Gatton events!