The Power of Curiosity by Jeevika

The Power of Curiosity by Jeevika - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

My heels clacked as I trekked to my cubicle, moving at a constant velocity, clad in business casual. I observed the controlled chaos of the waiting room, unaware it foreshadowed the rigor of my experience in the Otolaryngology Department at KU Medical Center.
The mental pressure was heavy; how could I contribute to a radiomics cancer project when surrounded by trained medical professionals?

Questions. Curiosity.

The Radiomics Project utilized an AI Model that analyzed scans of patients with and without cancer recurrence to predict potential cancer locations. While reviewing the project, I questioned a few things: if the study had run for three years, had the AI Model improved over time? Could it build upon itself through deep learning? My eagerness to probe into details and passion for medical technology shifted my role from observer to contributor. I began discussing results with the research team and saw firsthand how artificial intelligence could advance medical diagnostics.

Questions. Curiosity.

That same curiosity posed a new question: how can I improve medical devices? Instantaneously, I had the chance to do so with my new assignment: a Wound Irrigation Study comparing high-volume low-pressure irrigation with low-volume high-pressure irrigation. While reviewing the methodology, I noticed a missing key variable: time. Shouldn’t it be factored into the study? Low-pressure high-volume irrigation may be effective for particulate removal, but it takes longer–an inefficiency in emergencies. Could Bernoulli’s Equation be applied to see fluid dynamics, or was the internal friction being disregarded in the equation a confounding variable? These insights earned me participation in the study along with a co-author title.

This experience taught me that my teenage perspective was unlike any other, so it was essential that I learned to harness it. Be thorough, ask questions, challenge perspectives. It’s mutualism: I learned something new, and my questions contributed valuable insight to improve the project. I learned that curiosity has the power to unlock doors, discover your interests, and make powerful connections.

The mental pressure persisted another day, but my curiosity carved a clear-cut path through an intimidating, frenzied environment. I made history by defying inertia and embracing change with curiosity.