Emma's Personal Statement: I am a seventh grader, and I have been selected to attend the Duke Talent Identification Program 3-week Summer Academy because of my high SAT scores. My family and I are very proud of this achievement. My dream since Kindergarten has been to become a surgeon when I grow up. I feel that this program will help me begin the journey to accomplish my dream. My choices, Introduction to Medical Science or the Human Body, will greatly improve my knowledge of the human structure. Also, it will give me a head start for my remaining time in Middle School and my years in High School. In addition, enrichment studies in medical science will help me build a history of learning and achievement to show top medical schools my deep interest. I see the DukeTIP program as an opportunity to build the foundation of my future career. I hope to attain new skills and insights on which specialty I might pursue in the future. By becoming a doctor, I will help people in my community. I have already been serving the community in many ways. I participated in my church mission trip to Eutaw, Alabama, where I cleaned and painted flooded houses, taught music to impoverished children as part of a youth-led Vacation Bible School, and cleaned trash strewn in the community. I am actively involved in Cadette Girl Scouts, where I am working toward my Silver Award with a service project to work with rescue animals in need of care. I have also volunteered at multiple events like the Walk for Heart Disease, the Multiple Sclerosis Walk, beautification of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, and organizing toys at Metropolitan Ministries. I love to serve, and it makes me happy to help others. I have had a love for science since a very young age. In fourth grade, I created a Science Fair project, called Fruity DNA, which won a Superior Medal at the Regional Science Fair. The objective of my experiment was to determine if the amount of extractable DNA was proportionate to the ploidy levels of the fruits. In sixth grade, I continued the project using vegetables. The Veggie DNA project earned a Silver Medal at the Regional Science Fair. I hope my summer studies at Duke TIP will help me discover a new medical science topic for next year’s science project. I hope to develop a project that can be continued throughout my high school years, and compete at the International level. My interest in science runs deeply. My involvement in the Duke Tip program will hopefully benefit both my peers and me. I have been told that I can stimulate discussions, keep a conversation flowing, and shine light on new, interesting subjects. I ask many questions so that I fully understand the subject we are discussing. I believe the Duke TIP summer program will be an innovative, exciting three weeks for me. I plan to glean as much as possible, and to use my time at the program to further involve myself in science. Thank you for your time and consideration.