Interviewer: [Inaudible]

Cindy: Today is Monday, April 20, 2009. My name is Cindy Phan. You have permission to record my story.

I remember in grade school when I would go to my science class, and make volcanoes using vinegar and baking soda. I was so amused by that simple reaction. That's when I first got into science. My interest and love for the subject has grown with me, and now in college, I plan on making it part of my career.\'a0\
When I was little, I didn't know that getting into science would involve so much writing. Back in middle school, my science classes mainly focused on observing the experiment itself. In high school, I started writing elementary lab reports. They were fairly short, 1-2 pages, and I would often write them right before class because they were so simple.\'a0\
However, in college, I find myself working on lab reports all the time. Each lab report is so extensive, I feel as if I'm writing a novel. The actual experiment takes a back seat, so even if a completely wrong product forms, or the percent yield is incredibly low, it wouldn't matter as long as it's all documented and thoroughly explained in the lab report.\'a0\
When I think about science, I will always think of writing an introduction, mechanisms, procedures, observations, data analysis--the most important section that makes up the bulk of the report--and finally, the conclusion.

Interviewer: Did your parents kind of reward you for doing this sort of thing?

Cindy: Not really.

Interviewer: No?

Cindy: Yeah... [laugh]

Interviewer: You just did it?

Cindy: Mmm-hmm.

Interviewer: Did you ever reward you for reading?

Cindy: Umm, my sisters would. My mom didn't really pay attention because she was really busy with work, But if I read...\

Interviewer: [crosstalk, inaudible]

Cindy: My sisters would let me play video games or they would bake me cookies or something.\'a0\

Interviewer: Cool. Alright?

Cindy: That's it.

Interviewer: That's it?

Cindy: Mmm-hmm.

Interviewer: Thank you.