Victoria Sanchez, Verrazzano Class of 2020, Completed major in Biology Health Science
For years, I had waited anxiously for the moment to arrive
where I would be attending college. I decided to continue my journey as a
student athlete for the Women’s Soccer Team, winning three CUNY Champs and
attending NCAA three times. In the student perspective, I was focusing on my
career as a Physical Therapist. Little
did I realize how my life would take a full 180 and I came to realize that I no
longer wanted to be an athlete nor become a Physical Therapist.
As scary as the transition was, my decision led to my new career choice in Occupational Therapy. I was encouraged to relate my Capstone Project to my career and I knew this would be my last chance to study something that had always interested me before I began my focus on Occupational Therapy.
I have always had an interest in how the brain operates and how one minor change can completely alter it. This fascination continued through my Immunology class with Professor Liu-Sullivan. One topic we went into detail about was Glioblastoma Multiforme, one of the most aggressive brain cancers with no promising treatment to remove it from the body. We learned about tumor suppressor genes and how they have evolved to oncogenes and the mechanism behind it.
I decided to branch out and learn more of Glioblastoma Multiforme by conducting research with Professor Liu-Sullivan as my mentor. I learned so much during this project! I accessed Oncomine, a data website that conducted multiple studies for each type of cancer, then specified what sub-type of cancer the sample contained. I had to focus on T Helper 2 cells and the website made it extremely easy for me to type in the gene I was looking for along with samples that matched Glioblastoma Multiforme.
Of the six genes I researched, one of them stood out amongst
the rest. The STAT6 gene is known to be a part of the transcription factor,s
but also activates the IL4 responses in the immune system. If mutation occurs
in STAT6, it also damages the other T Helper 2 cell genes like IL4, IL13, and
IL5 function and causes the development of tumors.
During this Capstone Project, I realized that besides
specializing in Pediatrics for Occupational Therapy, that I also want to
certify in neuro or brain injury and continue my interest in the brain by
helping future patients get back to their daily routines.
My advice is don’t be afraid to continue learning, even if it is not in your intended field of work. There is so much out there for students to expand on and find new interests in, and the Capstone Project is a perfect opportunity for that. Take advantage of it and continue learning while you can.
