Computational biology is a fairly new field that combines biological data and computational methodologies, but there are still many different options for me following graduation. I love learning, and specifically want to learn as much as I can about this developing field by pursuing a graduate degree. In the long term future I hope to use what I learn to make breakthroughs in healthcare and push the boundaries of biotechnology. Overall, I want to learn as much as I can about this field to make a positive impact on the world.

Outside of learning and school, I like to consider myself an avid media consumer, which is essentially my way of saying I love reading books, watching movies and shows, and listening to music. I also love understanding characters from the media and thinking about who they are outside of the storyline that was written for them. I often find myself making playlists about a specific character or the relationship between two characters. My friend once asked me what my chosen art form is, and I truly believe that its this. Pouring over a book or binge-watching the latest series isn’t just entertainment for me. It’s my form of creativity and exploration of the human experience. That leads me to my motivations (or at least part of them) for traveling to Madrid for the International Internship Program. 

I’ve always loved to travel, but what drew me to it wasn’t mere sightseeing, but getting to know a country through its people and getting to know it like its people. I think there’s two different ways that people travel: one is getting all the traditional tourist experiences. The other is getting to know it like a local. That’s part of the reason I’m so excited for this program. I think getting to immerse myself into the work culture and the home culture is one of the best ways that I can get to know Madrid. 

From a professional standpoint, The Madrid IIP provides me with a fantastic opportunity to further my professional skills in a global context. I have the opportunity to broaden my cultural understanding while gaining a perspective on practices within the global industry. I feel this is particularly beneficial for improving my computational background because of the vastly collaborative and global nature of computational fields. Elaborating on that, the program allows me to create an international network of professionals. Also, with its location in Madrid, this program allows me to practice and improve my Spanish competency, which I believe is extremely helpful in industry when communicating with colleagues, but also with global collaboration. 

I’m really looking forward to this program, and am hoping it helps me develop a set of professional skills, specifically to be able to take the classroom knowledge that I’ve gained and apply it to higher order thinking in real world situations and in industry. I also want to be able to increase my cultural competency, which will allow me to work with people of different backgrounds and cultures, which as I mentioned earlier will be very beneficial in the field when it relates to global collaboration. Also, as I mentioned before, I’m hoping that the program’s location in Madrid will allow me to immerse myself in the language, which will bolster my language proficiency. 

With that, there are a few more things I would like to talk about before I start this journey. I wanted to leave myself a little “letter”, if you will, for my future self to look back on before I start this trip. So…

Dear Future Me, 

Remember why you chose this program (if you don’t it’s literally right above). I hope that you remembered to embrace every opportunity to learn, not just about the field that you’re interning in, but also outside of that. I hope you got to explore the unfamiliar, engage with the local culture and appreciate the diversity that comes with a new country. I also hope you remembered to take care of yourself. Speaking as your earlier self, you’re a little scared, a little nervous, but that’s all to be expected. Being in a new place can be overwhelming, but I hope you remembered to prioritize your well-being and stay connected with the people around you who offer support, friendship and inspiration. Thirdly, I want to know if you embraced change and growth. I imagine you’ve been challenged in ways you never really imagined, so I hope you embraced that discomfort and allowed the inevitable ups and downs to shape you into a stronger, more resilient individual. 

I wish you endless adventures, unforgettable memories, and profound personal and professional growth. 

With anticipation, 

Sanjna