Where curiosity leads by Reanna

Where curiosity leads by Reanna - October 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I began my project, “Mapping Justice: Designing Geospatial Tools for Social Change,” I wanted to understand something I had noticed in my own community: why do some neighborhoods seem more vulnerable to extreme heat than others? Growing up in South Florida, heat was something I experienced regularly, but I had never thought deeply about how differently it could affect people depending on where they lived. I wanted to know whether geography and data could help explain those differences.

I used geographic information systems (GIS) to examine heat vulnerability across Miami-Dade County. I compared factors including heat exposure, median household income, and tree canopy over time. As I mapped the data, patterns began to emerge. Areas such as Coral Gables and Pinecrest generally had greater tree coverage and higher household incomes, while some lower-income communities had less tree canopy and greater exposure to heat. Seeing these differences visually made an impression on me. Numbers in a spreadsheet can feel distant, but seeing them represented across real communities made the research feel personal and meaningful.

The project also challenged the way I initially thought about maps. Before this experience, I viewed maps mostly as tools for showing where places were located. Through my research, I discovered that maps can tell stories. They can reveal patterns that are difficult to recognize otherwise and encourage us to ask better questions. I also learned an important lesson about interpreting scientific information: finding a relationship between two factors does not automatically explain why that relationship exists. I had to be careful not to make assumptions and instead let the evidence guide my conclusions.

That realization made me more curious, not less. Instead of simply wanting to finish my project, I started wondering what else the data could tell me. Why do some communities have more trees? What factors influence access to environmental resources? How might the built environment affect people's health? Each answer seemed to lead to another question. I began to understand that research is not always about finding one final answer. Sometimes its greatest value is showing us which questions we should ask next.

This project also changed how I think about science. I have always been drawn to science because I enjoy understanding how and why things work. However, GIS showed me that science can extend beyond a laboratory. It can be used to examine the places where people live and identify patterns that may affect their everyday lives. I began to see scientific research as a way not only to understand the world, but also to better understand the people within it.

That perspective is especially meaningful to me as I pursue an education in biology and prepare for a future in healthcare. My research taught me to look beyond the obvious, question what I see, and use evidence before reaching a conclusion. Those are lessons I know I will carry into future scientific and healthcare settings.

Most importantly, this project taught me that curiosity is more than simply wanting to know something. It is the willingness to investigate, challenge your assumptions, and keep asking questions when the answer is not immediately clear. What started as a question about heat and geography became a lesson in how research can change the way I see my own community. It reminded me that meaningful discoveries often begin with something simple: noticing a problem and being curious enough to ask why.