What we do Hi, my name is Eliza Shaikh from Lynfield College.
My Brain Bee Adventure
Picture this: a quiet room, a laptop screen staring back at me, and my brain buzzing louder than a beehive. That's how my journey with the Brain Bee Challenge began – in the most modern way possible: online. Competing in Round 1 and 2, I quickly learned that this wasn’t just a quiz; it was a mental marathon.
The rounds were held online, which should have made things easier, right? Wrong! The questions came thick and fast, each one more challenging than the last. It wasn’t just about facts; it was about really understanding the mind – neurons, synapses, all the things that make our brains tick. And let’s just say, there were moments when my own brain felt like it was on strike. But despite the countless late nights spent cramming like my life depended on it (spoiler: it did), I made it through.
Next came the visit to Auckland University, where things got real. Walking through the established halls of research and innovation, I felt like a tiny fish in a vast sea of knowledge. The people there live and breathe neuroscience, and I was soaking it all up – even if my brain was still slightly fried from the online rounds. It was overwhelming but inspiring.
The real cherry on top? Winning an internship funded by The Neurological Foundation. When I heard the news, my first thought was, "Wait, me? Are you sure? Did my neurons actually do something right?" It was surreal, and to be honest, it felt like all the stress and dread was finally paying off.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible support from the Neurological Foundation. Their dedication to promoting knowledge in this field is truly remarkable, and I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity they gave me and many others like me to dive into the world of neuroscience.
In the end, while the learning process was, shall we say, challenging, it was undeniably worth it. I may not have all the answers just yet, but I’ve discovered that my neurons and I are up for any challenge – even if it means buzzing through another Brain Bee! This experience has ignited a passion for neuroscience that I can’t wait to explore further, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.
Eliza Shaikh, Lynfield College
Donate