Aside from gaining these job skills, she has also learned how to adapt to her environment at ECU Health. Starting out, she was unsure how things would go, considering she’s working with many people who are twice her age.

     “One thing I’ve gained is learning how to work with adults,” Thompson said. “Everyone there is very welcoming and accepting of me, despite my age, which I was really nervous about.”

     Aside from the internship, she is taking advantage of other research opportunities in and outside

school. She is currently part of the research program at the Brody School of Medicine, which is offered through both ECU Health and the Health Science Academy. This program is helping her advance her medical knowledge and be a part of groundbreaking research.

     “A lot of it is medical-based,” Thompson said. “[They are researching] regenerative medicine, DNA, kidneys and stuff like that.”

     This semester, she is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) Research as part of the AP Capstone program. AP Research is allowing her to learn in-depth about topics that can be applied in her future college classes. With this, she is pursuing the AP Capstone Diploma, which is awarded to students who score a three or higher on six AP exams, including AP Seminar and AP Research.

     “I was thinking about doing [my project] on either genetics or cell regeneration in plants,” Thompson said. “I feel like the same things could be applied for cell regeneration and cells in humans, which could be used for biology courses in college.”

     She has always heavily applied herself when it comes to her academics, consistently taking honors and AP courses throughout her high school career. These classes have helped her in ways she never expected. 

     “Higher level courses, like AP courses, have really prepared me for not only interviews and things like that, [but] also being able to express myself and who I am through essays,” Thompson said.

     Thompson’s teachers that she has had over the years were a great support system for her. They helped introduce her to passion and always pushed her to succeed. 

     “If I didn’t have the teachers that I have at Rose, I would not be in this position,” Thompson said. “Just being with teachers who really care about their students and put in the effort to make sure their students are succeeding is something that I really value about Rose.”