Muhammad Khattak
The City College of the City University of New York
160 Convent Avenue,
New York, NY 10031
September 3, 2019

Professor Jane Bolster
The City College of the City University of New York
160 Convent Avenue,
New York, NY 10031

Dear Jane,

My name is Muhammad Khattak and I am currently a sophomore majoring in biochemistry at The City College of New York. My favorite location as a child and as a young adult was the great outdoors, splashing in puddles, and inspecting insects. I am fascinated by the living world and my enthusiasm has only grown over the years. Biochemistry has improved my understanding and made me keen to continue the discovery of the living world. I have enjoyed developing a better understanding of the scientific basis of disease, learning about protein structures and how mutations in DNA result in disorders such as anemia.

Also, my passion for Science supports me in many aspects of Biochemistry. I always think scientifically, as if everything were to be a living organism; everything begins with a common ancestor, and over time it develops and evolves, branching off into separate categories with complex structures and cultural adaptations. Science has pushed me to pursue pre-medicine because it has uplifted my thinking of becoming a cardiologist. My grandmother has had three heart attacks and she survived all of them due to the cardiologist’s efforts to save her, and each time I felt so thankful that I could spend more time with my grandmother. I want someone to feel the same way about me one day because I want to spread joy. I consider myself a fan of Biochemistry, so I must respect this relationship by becoming a doctor.

Scientific research is the core of industrialization since technology is advancing daily to maintain the wellbeing of the global population. It is imperative to continue scientific research with the hope of balancing the thriving human population with the dying environment. During my senior year of high school, I was tasked to write a ten-page research paper about a scientific controversy; in doing so, I chose climate change. The human impact on the environment was minimal until the Industrial Revolution, which boosted the world economy due to technological advancements. However, the disastrous effects of climate change were not linked to machinery, the environmental impact was not even known during the 19th century. It is through writing and the scientific basis of research that raised awareness for global warming.

As a scientific writer, my goal is always to inform the general public of the issues that are unknown or ignored by most of mankind. Two-thirds of the ocean is undiscovered. In a way, I am glad that most of the ocean is untouched because it means that most of the marine life is safe for the time being. Nevertheless, this dilemma can only be understood by scientific writers like myself. The millions of species that remain to be discovered may carry a cure to something like cancer or industrialists may pollute the only self-sustaining part of our environment. Science surrounds us on every corner; for that reason, one must always think analytically to avoid irrational decisions. Scientific writing will help students develop unique perspectives of the world to build opinions and have points of view on various topics.

The green outdoor spaces are inspiring to me, a city boy. The environment, in a way, enabled me to pursue pre-medical studies and I understand that education should be a means to empower young adults, like me, to become active participants in the transformation of our communities.

Sincerely,
Muhammad Khattak