It's almost impossible not to be interested in biology, since we're surrounded by it/in it.

It has been said that we have more bacterial cells than human. However, a recent study may have debunked that theory – just goes to show how biology is one of the most dynamic and constantly developing areas of study. You could even say it’s constantly evolving (pun totally intended).

I was pretty lost in school – all the decisions seemed to be made for me: these are the subjects you’ll study, these are your options, this is what you have to wear – everyday seemed the same, like a bad parody of Groundhog Day.

When the time came to choose an undergraduate programme, much like an organism with a chunk of its DNA missing, I didn’t seem to know what to do next – the instructions were missing. No one in my immediate family had gone to university, and although my parents are my biggest supporters they weren’t really in a position to provide any clarity on this confused haze I found myself in. I wasn’t very confident, so approaching a teacher was too daunting. So I went to the information powerhouse of the world, aka the internet.

The freedom, at first, was overwhelming — especially being somewhat sheltered due to attending an all-girls grammar school, which had a rigid structure for what seemed liked every action possible, for seven years. It made university seem like a (desperately needed) breath of fresh air. I was so grateful when Aston accepted me to be a part of their biology programme, as it resulted in not only me being able to be one step closer to a career in my chosen subject, but also meeting some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. It really is true when they say you make friends for life at university. Yes, university may be centred around your course, but it’s so much more than that. I found myself developing as a person, not being as shy and awkward (the awkwardness is too ingrained to completely eradicate). It was a chance to reinvent myself, you be who you want to and not what others expect you to be.

I remember reading ‘curiosity killed the cat’ – a proverb to warn us of the dangers of unnecessary experimenting. The full saying is actually ‘curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back’. So, if scientists were to have taken that at face value, then we wouldn’t have the modern healthcare we now take advantage of: no vaccinations, no other advancements. So, if anything, curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it revolutionised it!