A Non-Invasive Solution to Improving Psychological Resilience to Acute Stress and Anxiety

Their adornments glistened brightly in the light. I could only glimpse at the twinkling of the jewels on their necklaces and their gold-coated earrings as they swiftly moved across the stage in perfect synchronization. I was truly mesmerized by the passionate expressions on their faces, each of which perfectly matched the song lyric that played on the background speakers. I may have been a dancer myself, but I recognized that these performers were highly proficient in their skill; it was a type of perfection I strived to achieve. Thousands of questions darted through my mind as I continued to observe the stage: how did they move with such elegance? How long must they have learned to achieve that level of mastery? My thoughts were ultimately interrupted by my mom, who leaned closer to me and whispered, "They're blind. They can't see anything."

Coincidentally, those dancers would end up staying at my parents' house. While getting to know them, I received a firsthand account of the lives of visually impaired people. I was taken aback by how dependent these girls were on others to perform daily tasks, and I couldn't help but feel immensely sympathetic to their situation. One of the most significant memories I had from this experience was when it was one of the girls' birthdays, and my family purchased a cake. Simply lighting and blowing out the candles on the cake was difficult for her, and it had me in a plunging hole of contemplation. One of my most riveting thoughts while lying on my bed one night was whether visually impaired people could rely on something besides another human.

These experiences were simply the beginning of my venture into research projects. I realized that despite being so passionate about science and scientific research, I was essentially turning a blind eye to the numerous problems in medicine. Cancer, heart disease, neurodegeneration, and even visual impairment were and still are a mere fraction of the incurable conditions humans experience. Yet, I was determined, motivated to help not only these girls but also individuals worldwide who are considered legally blind. I spent months researching ideas for a device that could substitute a "helper" for the visually impaired. At first, I frequently found myself discarding ideas as soon as they no longer seemed feasible. My first research experience was undeniably exasperating, and there were moments where I wished to discontinue out of sheer frustration. However, I continued to persevere because the independence of visually impaired people depended on undiscovered technology to relieve their hardships.

After months of intensive research, I had finally discovered a solution: a pouch. The apparatus I created had multiple sensors and a camera and relied on image recognition software to interpret location and any incoming danger. After concluding my first research project, I felt a sense of euphoria; it was almost as if all the difficulties I faced while researching never happened. It occurred to me that researching is like climbing a mountain; there are moments where we want to give up, and as we rise, we become more desperate to reach the summit. In both situations, however, the key was patience. I needed the patience to conduct successful research, a skill I had learned from not only the girls who could navigate their daily lives despite being disabled but also from being a dancer myself.

As I continued to dance and work on research projects, I applied this principle in my activities. Instead of being temperamental and losing hope from the slightest drawbacks, I began calmly assessing the situation and patiently navigating myself through the correct pathway. These qualities even transferred to my dancing and the way I approached new choreographies. During the initial years of my dancing, I was frustrated because performers were expected to wait several hours before their actual performance, which made me anxious about performing a five-minute piece. However, I realized that I needed the patience to adjust to the nature of performances if I wanted to perform well. Looking back on the development of these skills, I recognize how crucial it was for my future research projects.

As an aspiring researcher, I have always been interested in and seeking opportunities to learn more about the research process. Upon realizing that summer research programs were a great opportunity to collaboratively research and to be mentored by scientists, I began looking for such programs to apply to. When I discovered AJAS, this opportunity looked extraordinarily promising at first glance, as I read and viewed what previous students had accomplished. At my high school, seldomly do I have the opportunity to work with peers who are interested in STEM. Thus, being able to work with and research alongside students just as passionate about scientific research as I am would be extremely rewarding. Such diligent students will also be immensely influential towards my work ethic, and I likewise hope to influence other students with my previous research experience and knowledge in science.