Intricate diagrams of cells and phospholipids cover the large whiteboard as Emma Biswas (’23), sitting in the front row of her AP Biology class, curiously observes and analyzes the images. She confidently raises her hand, a question waiting at the tip of her tongue, while swiftly jotting down notes on her iPad, capturing every piece of information.

Encompassing such a vast variety of topics ranging from cells to environments, biology gives Emma the opportunity to explore new territories of science. 

“Biology has been my passion throughout high school,” Emma said. “I don’t think it’s wavered in any way, simply because there’s so much to explore in biology. So while in ninth grade, I knew I liked biology based on my eighth grade class, so by the time I was a senior, I knew I wanted to study diseases.”

Taking advantage of the research opportunities that Harker offers, in her junior year, Emma expanded on her interest in studying diseases by working with upper school biology teacher Dr. Matthew Harley on a research project. Together, they investigated if certain bacteria could serve as a potential treatment for infections caused by other bacteria. Emma enjoyed not only seeing the outcome of her project but also the trial and error process.

“We went through various different drafts of what we were going to do for the experiment, and we tested different things,” Emma said. “It was a good memory for me because it grounded me in the sense that I realized science and research just doesn’t come that easy. What I liked about research was there’s just so many ways to approach one specific and unique problem.”

Through hard work and dedication, even coming in on weekends to work, Emma put her all into the project. Dr. Harley fondly reflects on their research together, admiring Emma’s independence and willingness to learn new things on her own.

“I helped her a little bit at the beginning to organize and order materials,” Dr. Harley said. “I was expecting her to be back working with me and asking questions and having me help guide her through it, but she didn’t. She was so independent that she saw the equipment, she learned what to do, and she just worked on her own, which is a fantastic quality in a scientist.”

Emma exhibits the same keenness towards learning in robotics. Serving as Executive President of the upper school robotics team comes with challenges that she overcomes with determination.

“I liked working with my hands, and so I went into robotics summer camp, and I fell in love with mechanical and machining,” Emma said. “At the end of 11th grade, I decided to run for executive president, because I felt this team has been so kind and welcoming to me, so I wanted to give back. I thought I could make tangible change to the team in places where I thought could use some work.” 

Through robotics, she developed into a more confident, assertive leader. The multifaceted nature of the program demands such quick thinking and definitive decision-making, both skills that Emma provides. As she has progressed through high school, she has applied that mentality to focus more on achieving her own goals. 

“I always know that there are some things that are going to always be out of my control, like people’s opinions of me, but that’s someone else’s decision,” Emma said. “If I just keep working towards [my goal] and not think too much about what other people think of me, my hard work does pay off in the end.”

Whether it’s Zoom study sessions that go late into the night or weekend coffee dates, Emma is always down to work hard and learn. Her love for learning radiates onto not only herself: close friend Gary Ding (’23) admires her for her determination and grit to understand and pursue her interests.

“When it comes to learning, Emma is super passionate and always willing to learn, and when she does, she has this mindset like, ‘I’ll just do it,’” Gary said. “There’s no hesitation, especially in terms of academics. If there’s something she has to do, she’ll get it done and she’ll make sure she understands it. A lot of the times when someone has a question, [they] might be afraid to ask it, but she has always put her learning first, like ‘If I get it, that’s what matters.’” 

When she’s not at school studying or collaborating with others to further her learning, she loves hanging out with her friends and discovering new therapeutic activities, like knitting or painting nails. 

“Throughout middle school, I loved knitting, crocheting, and also makeup,” Emma said. “It was never the best, but that was just something I loved doing a lot. And recently, I’ve gotten into doing nail art, like I’ve been making press-on nails for my friends, just little things that I can make to show love for my friends.”

Close friend Ariya Reddy (’23) adores Emma’s crafts and enjoys being creative with her. Having known Emma for six years, Ariya loves Emma’s thoughtful and funny nature. 

“Emma is very caring and thoughtful,” Ariya said. “She’ll always think about what her friends want and need and she knows her friends better than anyone. I think Emma knows me better than I know me sometimes.” 

Imbuing everything she does with care, from her relationships with friends to her love for learning, Emma approaches the world around her with a refreshing curiosity. While she may face new challenges, she approaches each armed with an inquisitive desire for the truth and a steadfast determination, drawing from her past experiences. As each new topic blossoms into a myriad of possibilities, Emma continues onwards, driven by that pursuit of knowledge, one that is uniquely her own.

“At the end of the day I feel proud of my hard work, which is why I feel good when I’m succeeding,” Emma said. “It’s not just in academics. Even at home, say, if I complete a task, I feel good about myself, because I feel like I succeeded.”