STEM – The Gatton Academy News

Embrace Failure

August 12, 2024 | Sofia Sileo | No Comments

My time at Gatton was filled with learning about myself and the world around me. One of the most important things I learned at Gatton is setback today does not define tomorrow’s outcome. In fact, many times, yesterday’s failures have paved the way for today’s achievements.

Like many of my peers at Gatton, I arrived with a high GPA achieved with relative ease in previous settings; however, adapting to a different academic environment requires resilience and the ability to embrace failure as an essential step toward success. Although I didn’t quite figure out the phrasing “failure today does not necessarily mean failure tomorrow” until my last semester of Gatton, this philosophy has been what kept me on track to reach my goals.

Whether facing challenges in the gym, setbacks in experiments, disappointments in exams, or rejections from programs, I’ve learned to remind myself that setbacks are part of the process. Supportive mentors, friends, and family have reinforced this belief, emphasizing that persistence and dedication lead to eventual success.

Research highlights this principle vividly. Engaging in the Genome program my first semester, I learned microbiology techniques required to isolate a novel bacteriophage. Bacteriophage research became a passion during my time at Gatton. Through multiple rounds of experimentation over the course of a few semesters (and only one broken piece of glassware!) I was able to meet my research goals. My research mentor, Dr. King, noted that research progress is marked by occasional setbacks. When his wife asks him how his day went, he replies with “I don’t know! The results are not out yet.” Perhaps he didn’t mean it in this way, but I decided to take the anecdote as meaning, “Why not be excited about the research you did today, even if it doesn’t work out the way you want it to? If it doesn’t work, you’ll get to try again.”

Initially disheartened by failed experiments, I gradually embraced these challenges as opportunities for growth. Each failure taught me valuable lessons, refining my approach and eventually yielding meaningful results.

Whether pursuing research or any other endeavor, it’s essential to recognize that failure is not just acceptable but necessary. Perfection rarely manifests instantly; it emerges through persistence, adaptation, and learning from setbacks. Embracing failure as part of the process has transformed setbacks into stepping stones toward success, a mindset I carry forward with confidence as I embark on new challenges beyond Gatton. I encourage you to do the same.

By Gatton Academy

The Foodhackable Meal Plan

June 25, 2024 | Juma Conn | No Comments

Introduction

During the 2023-2024 academic school year at Western Kentucky University, the WKU Restaurant Group removed the Weekly 21 meal plan. The Gatton Academy was forced to adopt the All-Access Meal Plan for its students, a controversial change to many who craved Chick-Fil-A for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am here to challenge the notion that more meal swipes are the answer to quench the hunger of Gatton Students. The All-Access Meal Plan allows for more creativity and freedom, beating out the rigidity of the Weekly 21 meal plan.

Context

Many universities offer a meal swipe system in their meal plans. Meal swipes are a discrete currency where each swipe can purchase food adequate for a single meal. WKU restaurants have a sub-menu for meal swipes, and the meal swipe options are available online and at a link at the bottom of this blog. Students can use up to four meal swipes in a day. Meal swipes can also be used as an entry to the all-you-can-eat style buffets like the Fresh Food Company nicknamed “Fresh.”

The Weekly 21 Plan gives the student 21 meal swipes that reset every Monday morning and a few hundred dollars to be used through the semester at on-campus restaurants. In contrast, the All-Access Meal Plan affords students 10 weekly meal swipes, unlimited entries into the buffets (one entry per hour), and also a few hundred dollars for WKU restaurants.

Diversity in Choice

When it comes to diverse options, the Weekly 21 seems to win this category. Not including customization with different toppings and such, there are about 68 meal swipe options across all WKU locations according to the WKU’s Spring 2022 Value Meals document. The number of meal swipe options has increased since then, but they are not visible online.

Assuming order does not matter, the student can use the same meal swipe multiple times, and that the student must use all 21 meal swipes in a week, there are about 21⁶⁸ possible combinations of meal swipes a student may have in a week, which is 80 million times as many atoms there are in the universe.

Meanwhile, the All-Access meal plan has 10⁶⁸ possible meal swipe combinations in a week, which is 8 sextillion times smaller than the number of combos on the Weekly 21. The Weekly 21 seems to sweep the All-Access meal plan in diversity. However, this naive argument only thrives in theory.

In reality, most Gatton students restrict themselves to a select few meal swipes from a handful of restaurants based on proximity, convenience, and personal preference. I’ve seen students abuse their digestive systems with fried chicken sandwiches, French fries, and soda for every single meal of the day. Many students never set foot in the Den by Denny’s or the Spread, simply because they are too far from our residence hall.

Then, the benefit of the Weekly 21 Plan really comes from the volume. While not advised, students have the option to eat at whichever place they desire for any meal of the day, given that the restaurant is open, and they budgeted swipes properly. The problem with this is that many of the popular restaurants like Moe’s Southwest Grill, Panda Express, and Road Trip America are restricted to serving at lunchtime on weekdays only. After 4pm, the most popular dinner time locations on campus become Fresh, Chick-Fil-A, and Eiffel Pizza. With all this considered, the estimate of 21⁶⁸ meal swipe combinations in a week becomes impractical given the hours of operation and preferences of most students.

Fresh Food Company

Most of the controversy seems to originate from the general disdain for Fresh. Many students question the quality of the food and the new options they offer every day at their various sections inside of Fresh. Some would rather spend money eating at restaurants off-campus than to default to Fresh.

While there are things Fresh could improve about their cuisine and dining experience, I believe much of this animosity comes from a lack of creativity and adventure. So many students keep the burger and fries at their grill section or their pasta at the saute every single time without taking advantage of the buffet experience to create their own dishes. These students seem to believe that they can’t take items from the salad bar to add to their entrees, or ice cream and soda to make their own vanilla Coca-Cola float.

In addition, the All-Access meal plan allows “unlimited” entry into Fresh, which really means entry every hour. In theory, a student that skipped every class in a week could obtain 89 boxes of food from Fresh and still have 10 meal swipes to spend at any other location on campus. Those boxes could be filled to the brim with Lucky Charms cereal, bread, spinach, beans, fries, mushrooms, yogurt, croutons, and anything else they offer in Fresh.

It is always so convenient to come by Fresh for just a black coffee, some soup, or a small post-workout meal being forced to wait to feel hungry to eat a proper meal. It’s also impossible to forget to budget, given that one can’t use every entry to Fresh at once.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the potential of the All-Access Meal Plan is unmatched compared to the Weekly 21. It comes across as unassuming, but being unafraid to go against the grain has allowed me to realize what is possible with unlimited entry, unlimited power. Don’t be afraid of what other people may think of your Fresh optimism. You are different. You see what unlimited Fresh access can achieve. In the words of former Academic Opportunities Coordinator Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, “Be wolves, not sheep.”

WKU Spring 2022 Value Meals (OUTDATED): https://www.wku.edu/wkurg/documents/spring2022valuemeals.pdf

By Gatton Academy

A Week in Woods Hole

June 20, 2024 | Mara Neace | No Comments

An early morning flight landed nine fellow students, Sam, and myself in Woods Hole—a small village in Massachusetts—to study marine biodiversity at the Marine Biological Laboratory during spring break. Dr. David Mark Welch, a biochemist, and Dr. Hillary Morrison, a molecular biologist and microscopist, taught our course which specifically focused on the microbial biodiversity of water sources in Woods Hole.

Throughout the week, we participated in numerous research opportunities like collecting water samples from sources throughout Woods Hole, running lab analyses like PCRs and gel electrophoresis, and performing bioinformatic analyses with VAMPS and BLAST software. At the end of the course, we presented our weeklong research to Sam, our instructors, and some MBL faculty members.

In addition to research opportunities, we were visited by guest speakers who lectured about their work and research. Some examples are Dr. Blair Paul, who presented his research on bacteriophages and marine microorganisms, and Dr. Jessica Mark Welch, who showcased her work in studying the spatial organization of microbes. We also toured two labs at the MBL, where axolotls and lampreys were used as model organisms to study brain and spinal cord regeneration. At the Marine Resources Center, we learned about various aquatic life at the MBL and saw (and also held!) horseshoe crabs, spider crabs, cancer crabs, sea anemones, and more.

When we weren’t performing research, we explored Woods Hole. Several people and I visited Coffee Obsession, a small coffee shop with amazing London Fogs, and Pie in the Sky, a local bakery with fantastic pies and pastries. We also visited the nearby beach and the waterfront park and saw beautiful views of the ocean, being sure to take photos for the calendar photo competition hosted by the MBL. We visited the gift shop, where several people bought tee shirts, axolotl plushies, and socks. On days when we were not exploring, we watched Avatar and Monsters University in the presentation room, ate meals in the dining hall, and played trivia in the common spaces.

Traveling to Woods Hole and the Marine Biological Laboratory was an incredible experience filled with amazing people, hands-on research, immersive lectures, and derpy axolotls. While the flights were long and the weather was chilly, I can’t imagine a better way to have spent my spring break.

By Gatton Academy

Starting a Club at Gatton ft. Card Club

June 11, 2024 | EB Barrett | No Comments

Despite what some people may think, students at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science do more than just study. They often get involved in at least one, if not several, of Gatton’s clubs. Since Gatton has a diverse selection from which one can choose, not finding one that sparks interest is difficult though not impossible. Should that happen, an easy solution exists: Start one – That is what I did.

How to Start a Club

At Gatton, establishing a new club is simple. First, register (fill out a form for) the club with Gatton’s Lead Residential Counselor for Activities, informing them of the purpose of the club and providing a list of interested students (see the Gatton Student Handbook for greater detail). When the club has been approved, start hosting meetings and encouraging students to join.

My Interest

For the past five years, I have practiced cardistry, the artistic movement of playing cards. It is an enjoyable activity that helps pass the time while advancing hand dexterity and giving me an excuse to show off. As an experienced cardist, I can spread cards, split a deck into packets, create shapes, spin, flip, or throw cards, and more. The lack of limits, unlike in calculus, to what I can achieve with fifty-two pieces of paper motivates me to continue cardistry.

Unfortunately, the only Gatton club close to my interest focused on playing card or board games, so in my senior year, I founded Card Club.

What is Card Club

Card Club was open to everyone, regardless of their experience. During meetings, I taught participants a few cardistry or magic tricks and showed them card-related videos. We even reviewed different decks and playing card brands, discussing our opinions on the creativity of the designs and handling. Additionally, we video-called other experienced shufflers, allowing students to interact with someone new and hear different stories of getting into cardistry and other perspectives.

Impact of Card Club

In general, Card Club allowed students to be exposed to the use of playing cards beyond games and gain cardistry and magic skills. Considering how little they knew in the beginning, seeing their improvement was gratifying. The club also provided a time to hang out and even procrastinate on work.

Personally, Card Club instantly became something I highly anticipated each week. Rambling about cards and teaching others tricks cheered me up after a stressful day of class.

Lastly, on a significant and universal note: Initially, I feared I would have to desert cardistry to prioritize my education. Establishing the club has reassured me that I can dedicate time to it while balancing rigorous coursework. Overall, coming to Gatton does not force you to leave the interests and activities you enjoy. Participating in clubs or even starting one allows you to stay connected and engage others in them, allowing you to build community. Furthermore, even when you graduate, the club you started may be continued by the preceding class for future students to discover something new to enjoy.

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Extracurricular Activities at The Gatton Academy

May 31, 2024 | Tobi Akangbe | No Comments

Students at the Gatton Academy involve themselves in various extracurricular activities that encompass their unique passions. If a student is passionate about a topic and cannot find a club to fulfill their passion, the student is welcome to start their own club with an adult supervisor. I am the co-president of Gatton Academy’s Medical Association and Women in STEM. I have been open to so many opportunities and have grown close relationships with my peers. I learned how to be a leader and to listen to others. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to participate in these activities.

Below is a list of a few of the extracurricular activities that students were involved in this year and what each club does.

Women in STEM

23-24 Leaders: Tobi Akangbe, Sarah Nath, and Ashlynn Linet

This club is for the young women at Gatton to form relationships with a mentor who helps them envision their future and set goals. Students have the opportunity to talk to female STEM role models who will show them the possibilities of careers, paths, and different interests.

Envirothon

23-24 Leader: Atiana Spivey

Envirothon is an environmentally-oriented competitive club. Students compete in teams of five at three levels: regional, state, and international. Each person is assigned to one category: wildlife, soil, aquatics, forestry, or current issues. The current issue is a topic that changes every year like this year’s is renewable energy and last year’s was climate change. Each category has specific requirements but most of them are based on identification (skulls, trees) or applied knowledge (soil horizons, stream orders). Gatton students have competed internationally for the past two years.

Bible study

23-24 Leaders: Melanie Stewart, Daniel Berry, and Livi Ray

Gatton Bible Study is a community of Christians at Gatton who come together twice weekly for a devotional, fellowship, and prayer. This is a space for Gatton students to unite on their walk with Christ.

GALE

23-24 Leader: Jocelyn Seadler

GALE is a community service club founded to support the educational development of youth in the Bowling Green Area. GALE does many activities such as tutoring, homework help, assistance with the local elementary school’s Math Scholars Program, and other educational activities and games at local youth service centers!

Create Circles

23-24 Leader: Maggie Rowton

Create Circles is a nonprofit focused on addressing older adult loneliness. Older adults are paired with trained student volunteers, and together they choose a project to work on that the older person is passionate about.

Students have the opportunity to do amazing things through these extracurricular activities. These activities help strengthen their resumes and meet other students with similar interests and develop new friendships.

By Gatton Academy

Maintaining Work-Life Balance at Gatton

May 1, 2024 | Hayden VanHook | No Comments

Becoming a student at The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science can be a challenging transition for many who come here for their last two years in high school. Students learn how to live on their own, be responsible for their own coursework, budget a meal plan, make friends in a dormitory, study, and many other things. Maintaining a work-life balance is a good way to help yourself stay ahead of the curve during your time at the Gatton Academy and here are some ways to do that.

Clubs: Gatton and WKU both offer a variety of clubs that may pique your interest. Most clubs meet weekly and can be a great way to involve yourself with your interests and community.
Eating with Friends: Sharing a meal with your friend group a few nights a week is a good way to keep in touch with one another.
Going Out: Whether it’s a 30-minute walk or a trip off campus to get Boba with friends, a miniature outing is a great way to break up the day and enjoy the sunshine.
Exercise: The Preston Building offers a full natatorium, gym, and basketball court. A workout split or a pick-up game are great ways to stay active.
Weekend Activities: Gatton hosts activities every weekend for students to participate in: karaoke, arts and crafts, movies, and off campus adventures are examples of events that occur each semester. The shopping shuttle is also fair game on a Saturday afternoon.
Rest Day: One of the most widely practiced techniques is the rest day. A student picks one day out of the week where they do no schoolwork. For many this is a Saturday or Sunday, but it could also be a weekday if you like to get caught up on school on the weekend.

By no means do you need to do all these things to maintain an adequate work-life balance, but two or three from this list will help you stay on top of things without becoming completely engrossed in an unbalanced lifestyle. Hopefully you find this short list of recreational activities to be fulfilling and worthwhile. If you find other things to do throughout the week, be sure to share those ideas and these with your friends to help foster healthy and balanced lifestyles!

By Gatton Academy

Birds of Western Kentucky University

March 12, 2024 | Macey Weaver | No Comments

Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and, as someone who grew up in a very rural environment, it was hard for me to get used to the urban surroundings. I have been an avid birdwatcher since I was nine years old, and one way I stay connected to nature while at WKU is by birdwatching. While it can be difficult to find the same kind of biodiversity in a city than in rural areas, many bird species frequent the wide variety of trees and ornamental plants at WKU.

Red-tailed Hawk

WKU is home to a few Red-tailed Hawks. Red-tailed Hawks are the largest hawks in Kentucky, and prefer to prey on larger species such as squirrels and rabbits. Western’s campus is home to an enormous squirrel population, so the presence of the Red-tailed Hawks keeps the population healthy.

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk may not be a common name, but they are a common bird at WKU. Common Nighthawks are primarily active at dusk and during the night. You can see them soaring above the buildings just before the sun sets calling and booming as they catch insects. They are best identified by the white crescent shapes on their wings that are clearly displayed in flight.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are a summer migrant of Kentucky, but you can see them on Western’s campus as early as mid-March and as late as mid-October. They are the only species of hummingbird common in Kentucky, and are easily identified by their small stature and the male’s bright, red throat (also called a gorget). They feed on the multiple ornamental flower species around campus.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Juncos are only present in Kentucky through late fall to early spring. They migrate here from northern Canada. These chipper birds are in the sparrow family, so they are typically on the ground feeding on whatever little seeds and small insects they can find. They are easily identified by their gray bodies, white outer tail feathers, and their pink beak. These birds can be found in small flocks all over campus, typically feeding on the ground and in bushes.

Northern Cardinal

Being Kentucky’s state bird, it’s no surprise that Northern Cardinals are one of the most common species of bird at Western Kentucky University. The males are easily identified by their bright red plumage, crest feathers, and their bright orange bill. The females, however, may be a little more difficult. Females are buff brown with a bright orange beak and a head crest. They have a crisp chip call that is easily differentiable from other bird calls.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The only sapsucker in the eastern United States, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a delight to see fluttering around the trunks of trees on campus. They feed on the sap of trees by drilling rows of holes in tree trunks. They have a disheveled look with an off-white belly and a bright red forehead and lores. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has an irregular drumming pattern similar to morse code.

By Gatton Academy

Square Roots and Square Dancing: Incorporating Dance into a STEM School

January 18, 2024 | Melanie Stewart | No Comments

When I was applying for Gatton, I heard a lot of questions about leaving sports behind; what I didn’t hear a lot about was leaving behind an Arts education. I started dancing when I was 3, and the arts have played an integral role in my life ever since. I was dancing 14 hours a week, choreographing musicals, and participating in the musical theater departments at my school and in my community. Due to all of my involvement in dance and musical theater, I was apprehensive, at first, to join a STEM program for fear that the arts would be left behind. However, it soon became apparent that my fear was all for naught!

First and foremost, WKU’s Department of Theater and Dance has allowed me to stay connected to my arts education. Certain dance classes are open to all students, but in my case, I auditioned to enroll in the level best suited to me. I had enough room in my schedule to take Tap III in my first semester of senior year and Tap IV the following semester. In these classes, most students are majoring or minoring in dance, and the passion and happiness of people who are doing what they love is inspiring. Enrollment in these classes also opened opportunities to attend productions of the WKU Dance Company and participate in the Dance Showcase where all dance classes for the semester perform. The professors in the Theater and Dance Department at WKU are so welcoming and made the process of joining their community of artists incredibly easy.

Additionally, a few of my friends formed the Gatton Dance Club during my senior year. Meeting once a week, my peers and I learned different dance styles, such as ballet or jazz, played Just Dance, or practiced student-choreographed dances to perform at showcases and talent shows. Our first Showcase was held on Halloween for Gatton students to watch and enjoy. This has been a great way to connect with my peers who are also passionate about the arts while living at a STEM school.

Maybe not as notable, but a just as fun way to stay connected to the arts, are the groupX classes offered at the Preston Center, WKU’s on-campus gym. Some classes offered that I participate in are Dance Fitness and Pilates. Preston Memberships are provided to all Gatton students, which includes free access to the gym and the classes they offer! It’s a great way to connect with WKU students and get involved in WKU activities without joining a club or sport.

All that being said, coming to Gatton was a scary transition because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pursue my other interests when I got accepted. However, through many different opportunities that arose, I was able to continue to grow in my love for dance while still learning and growing at WKU and the Gatton Academy.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Research Profiles

January 5, 2024 | Tobi Akangbe | No Comments

One of the ways Gatton stands out from a typical high school is through the various research opportunities offered. Gatton encourages students to participate in research so they can explore their interests, create relationships with their faculty mentors, gain laboratory experience, and connect with peers in their field. Gatton allows students to participate in research in a wide variety of departments, through research internship grants (RIG), and do research at different schools.

Learn more below about some of the students who do research at Gatton and their projects.

Mara Neace
Research Department: Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences Department
Location of Research: Western Kentucky University
Information about research project: This project involves collecting water samples from 11 sites in the Jennings Creek/Lost River watershed, testing samples in a lab to identify pollutants, and processing/analyzing historic and modern data to identify pollution trends over time. The goal is to develop a watershed management plan to address pollution on a site-by-site and widespread basis in a geographically vulnerable karst region.

Landon Carlton
Research Department: Biology Department
Location of Research: Western Kentucky University
Information about research project: This project explores the contributions of V-type ATPases in the wing development of Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly) using RNA interference in conjunction with the GAL4-UAS system to silence the genes responsible for V-type ATPases’ creation.

Daniel Berry
Research Department: Physics and Astronomy Department
Location of Research: Western Kentucky University
Information about research project: Blazars are active galactic nuclei, black holes that spew out high energy gamma rays and other forms of radiation in the direction of Earth. As such, their magnitude (almost the same thing as brightness) greatly varies over time. We collect Blazar magnitude data (my Blazar is S5 0716+714) from the RCT and ZTF telescopes then compare that ground data to data from TESS, an orbiting telescope satellite. We modify magnitude measurements to match up on a plot to determine the calibration difference between ground telescopes and TESS. With magnitude data, research can go into determining more properties of the Blazar and the space around it.

Gracie Veith
Research Department: Chemistry Department
Location of Research: Western Kentucky University
Information about research project: This project focuses on creating polymer substrates that can act as substrates for photocatalysts. Photo catalysis is a method of water remediation and the porous polymer beads optimize the process of degradation. I specifically work with poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly glutamic acid.

Livi Ray
Research Department: Political Science Department
Location of Research: Western Kentucky University
Information about research project: This research is about dual partisanship which is the idea that a person can hold different political identities on different government levels.

Sara Nath
Research Department: Computer Science Department
Location of Research: Brown University
Information about research project: When doing research, I worked on developing machine learning models that can predict Alzheimer’s disease in single-cell datasets.

Vivianna Weaver
Research Department: Pathology and Lab Medicine Department
Location of Research: Brown University
Information about research project: I worked with Dr. Jessica Pavlick studying the effect of environmental toxins (specifically TCDD, a dioxin compound) on human neurological health using the zebrafish model. This research has been presented at the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) and will be presenting at the American Academy of Science in February.

Braeden Patrick
Research Department: Earth and Atmospheric Pressure Department
Location of Research: Indiana University – Bloomington
Information about research project: My research focused on processing and studying the metal concentration in plants harvested from Bismarck Mine in Montana.

Laurel Patterson
Research Department: Biomedical Engineering Department
Location of Research: Purdue University
Information about research project: : During my research, I created computational models to measure neurite outgrowth.

Students not only can conduct research but also can present their findings at research conferences. Each student’s research mentor typically assists in identifying suitable venues for presentations. Some of the primary conferences where students can showcase their work include the Kentucky Academy of Science, Posters at the Capital, and the WKU Student Scholar Showcase. Participating in undergraduate research is a wonderful opportunity for high school students. Gatton provides various opportunities through research to help students explore fields that they are interested in.

By Gatton Academy

Costa Rica: Sea Turtles, Hammocks, and Gallo Pinto

December 7, 2023 | Lyla Wood, Study Abroad | No Comments

My first time on an airplane landed me in Liberia, the largest city in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. We only spent a couple days there, but they were unforgettable. Releasing baby sea turtles back into the ocean at the Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Station was like a scene straight out of a movie. My roommate and I patrolled 8 miles of beach with the researchers at Playa Grande, scanning the sands for turtle eggs. We enjoyed gallo pinto (Costa Rican beans and rice) at Kike’s and listened to our peers give presentations on various organisms and cultural facets of Costa Rica.

Our next stop was Cloudbridge, which instantly became my favorite place in the entire world. A private nature reserve in the Talamanca mountains, the entrance of Cloudbridge sits at an elevation of 5500 feet. Here, I was assigned to my research group, which consisted of 4 students, Cheryl, Dr. Martin Stone, and his wonderful wife Jolene. Our project was Herbaceous Biodiversity in Aging Cloud Forests. We spent hours outside, counting plants and hiking mountains. When we weren’t surveying plots of land, we were shopping in San Isidro, petting Gato (the local restaurant cat), or drinking Costa Rican coffee. We presented our research at the Cloudbridge Symposium and departed for Poor Man’s Paradise.

After days of aching legs and mountain hikes, falling into a hammock and doing yoga on our balcony was a welcome reprieve. Poor Man’s Paradise is aptly named (it really is a paradise!). Every night, we drank a different type of fruit juice and spent hours at the beach. We snorkeled at Isla del Caño and toured Parque Nacional Corcovado, catching glimpses of tapirs and sharks. At one point, I fell asleep on the boat ride over, jolting awake to a breathtaking ocean view.

Our return to the United States was bittersweet, and I had never been more exhausted. Now, I always have an easy answer to the question: “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”

By Gatton Academy

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