Francis Tuttle: A Short Story

“Where’s the alcohol?” he screamed at me. “Where is the ice?” I yelled back. We were running around like chickens with our heads cut off because if we didn’t get that alcohol to the perfect temperature, nothing would work out right. Once we got the alcohol perfectly chilled, we mixed it with the sweet smelling strawberries, and our concoction was complete. But we still screwed up. The kid we were trying to impress just ran screaming right out of the lab.
Earlier, my partner and I explained to the kid that we would be extracting DNA from a strawberry, and that this same DNA stuff was in everyone’s body. But I guess it was too much for him to handle because as soon as the white gunk formed he sprinted down the hallway. Once I consoled him and re-explained the lab, he exclaimed “Can I see my own DNA?” My emotions of utter disbelief and excitement came bubbling out of me as I said “Sure! Let’s get started.” This kids name was Ben. And Ben along with some of his friends, were the middleschoolers I spent the summer of 2016 scaring and exciting about chemistry at Francis Tuttle.
Prior to that summer, I was accepted into the Francis Tuttle Biosciences and Medicine Academy.
The teachers and the labs there catalyzed my fascination with chemistry, and I wanted to give back by sharing the experiences I had with others. Though, I was immediately rejected by Ben’s disgust with DNA, I eventually sparked an interest for chemistry in him and my other little scientists. By the end of the camp, they had actually researched, on their own time, how certain chemicals affect the body, and they told me some things I didn’t even know! That’s when I realized that my actions sparked their sudden fascination with chemistry, and more importantly their excitement to
learn.
Currently, I attend the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics. And maintaining As and Bs with a packed schedule and only college-level courses doesn’t allow me much time to blow people’s minds with my interests. Despite this, I go to tutor table every week to help people better understand their classes and maintain an interest in their subjects. I also attend a mentorship every week were I am constantly learning something new from my zealous mentor and her grad students. I have been both the mentee and the mentor, and I hope that throughout college, as a tutor or a TA, and into my career that I will continue to help people learn and become truly interested in all types of subjects. My old school had a quote on the wall that said “Learning shouldn’t be the blaze to burn your interest, but the spark to inspire. I have been a spark, I am a spark, and I plan on being a spark in throughout future.