Hi my name is Declan O’Neal and I am a student in the Science Research Program,

I first joined the Science Research Program because I was interested in science and wanted to explore specific topics that intrigued me. Rather than learning a little about many subjects in a standard class, I preferred to dive deeper into the areas I enjoy. I was particularly interested in biology, and more specifically, zoology—the study of animals.

Throughout this class, I have completed several tasks for my research project, starting with reading basic articles and progressing to full academic research papers. As we conducted our research, we presented summaries of the articles we read and eventually designed our own research projects based on topics and questions of our choice. This experience has greatly helped me understand the process of scientific research.

I feel a great sense of accomplishment from completing my project, as it has helped me learn not only about science but also about responsibility, particularly in managing my time. I want to thank my family—especially my parents and my sister, Neve—as well as Mrs. Defino and Mrs. Pezzello for their patience with me, even when I admittedly procrastinated. I strongly encourage anyone interested in science, whether they plan to pursue it or simply enjoy it, to take this class, as I feel it could be a valuable experience for many students.