byron

BYRON
Byron has been in New Zealand conducting scientific research since June. He applied for and received a grant from UNH’s International Research Opportunities Program (IROP) to study the effects of UV radiation on sea urchin embryos. Byron will return to UNH in January to complete his bachelor's degree and to contemplate his future plans. Options at this point include pursuing a postgraduate degree in the U.S. or abroad; participate in a research project in the Antarctic; or sail as an Assistant Scientist for the Sea Education Association's SEA Semester.

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GOING TO SEA

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SELF ADVOCACY

 My freshman year of high school, I was put into earth science and I wanted to take biology.  My school had it set up so you had to take biology with a certain math class. I hadn’t taken the advanced math class in 8th grade so I couldn’t take the math class and I couldn’t take Biology. So I projected that up to my senior year, I would not be able to get up to the top science classes that I wanted. I would be at a disadvantage applying to colleges.  I was insulted because my science class was a joke, not at all stimulating or challenging, and here I was interested in sciences. I went to my advisor and convinced her to allow me to switch into Biology under the condition that I take two math classes the next year. I switched into biology two weeks into the semester and ended up getting an “A” because I started off behind everyone else and had something to work toward. If I am challenged, I do well. If I am not stimulated, I loose interest and nothing gets done. The next year, I took the two math classes and I was fine. I knew I wanted to do it and I made it happen.