While I never expected my first job out of college to be in public service, the two years I spent working as an NIH fellow were the most transformative of my life. Walking out of Medical Center station onto campus for the first time, I felt nothing short of awe – and rightfully so. Embedded in the incredible science that saves lives and makes headlines is the steadfast dedication of workers who use science as a means of taking care of others. That drive, I quickly came to learn, is what makes us strong. Where I saw breakthrough cures, I learned to see teams of everyday people – parents, friends, partners, siblings – who are motivated by love for their science and care for the people they serve with their work. At NIH, I learned not only a great deal about science and discovery, but also about what it means to serve the public, even when that means standing up to leaders whose actions do not reflect that mission. It is the altruistic spirit of every hardworking individual at NIH which gives me hope, and I will carry that spirit with me for the rest of my career.
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