February 2004Hailyn Nielsen • Finding Purpose Until Namangolwa Mutanga revealed the No. 1 killer of her people, my life was completely planned; I had only to live it.
I met Mutanga, or Jenny, as she told me to call her, in London during the summer of 2002. Jenny was a nurse from Zambia; I was a freshman from the University of Iowa. Advanced summer study placements at the UI led me in a roundabout way to London and that meeting with Jenny. Always drawn to the methodical beauty of the biological sciences and their purpose, I spent every free moment of my high school and undergraduate curricula learning the skills, meeting the experts, and applying my knowledge of science. I devoted the summers of 2001 and 2002 to working in Dr. Lacy Daniels’ microbiology lab at the UI, helping to search for new antibiotic treatments for tuberculosis. That first summer, I was taking part in the UI’s Secondary Student Training Program; the second year, Dr. Daniels invited me back to work with him independently. I’m glad he did. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases estimates that two billion people—one-third of the world’s population—are infected with the TB bacterium. Every year, eight million people develop the active form of TB, and three million of them die. My work at the UI those two summers helped me win at the state and then national levels of the Junior Science and Humanities Symposia, earning me a scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense—and a trip to participate in the London International Youth Science Forum. Jenny was my roommate for those two weeks. One evening, I and some 150 other students from more than 50 countries listened to her make a presentation about the most lethal disease—tuberculosis—in her hometown. When I took the stage next and delivered my lecture about the more esoteric and intricate microscopic workings of the tuberculosis bacterium, my mind began to wander. What if I discovered something important during my research? What if my work led to a better vaccine? I could help save lives. Since that trip overseas, I’ve attended class and pursued laboratory positions with renewed energy. My passion for microbiological research used to stem from the intellectual stimulation. But, while I enjoyed the accolades and rewards for my diligent work and preparation, I felt I’d overlooked something important. In London, I found what I’d been searching for. Thanks to Jenny, I found my purpose. Back to "My Life as a Student" Index
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