1 August, 2003
Sebastian Patino
Lubbock High School
Lubbock, Texas
To the National Science Foundation:
This letter is to express my gratitude to the NSF for allowing me to participate this summer in the Research Training Program of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. I truly appreciate it, as it was a great experience and a timely opportunity to help me decide what I want to do for my future career.
I have learned many things from this experience. I learned, for example, that what I am doing will help other scientists in their research. My main task has been to put data into an electronic database. Electronic databases will make it easier for researchers to find information. They will only have to get on a computer and look it up on-line instead of having to search through numerous books or other people's data books. I have also learned about entomology and about the snout moth, the subject of my database work. This experience has also taught me how to get around a big city like Washington D.C. My hometown, Lubbock, is a much smaller city in west Texas and things there are much simpler. Finally, I have learned that having a job and duties to perform are a big responsibility. This is my first real job and I cannot think of a better place to have this experience than the Smithsonian Institution! I believe that all these new experiences and knowledge will be very valuable for me to decide what direction to take for my future career. I will begin my sophomore year in high school this fall far better prepared than I could have ever imagined.
I have enjoyed working in the Entomology Laboratory with my supervisor, Dr. Alma Solis. She has made my work fun. All the other people in the laboratory also have so much energy especially Pat, the secretary. Pat has a great sense of humor. I wish to thank all of these individuals for making this experience not only easy for me but also fun.
Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.
Sincerely,
Sebastian Patino
Research Assistanships for Minority High School Students, 2003
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