Ayana Gray to study at MIT for six weeks

Ayana Gray to study at MIT for six weeks

Just about as soon as the CMR student body bids the school farewell for the summer on June 8, junior Ayana Gray will be boarding a flight to Boston, where she will spend six weeks studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the MITES program — Minority Introduction to Engineering & Science.
She will spend June 10-July 21 living on the college campus with about 80 other students who were admitted to and received full scholarships to the competitive program.
“It will be a preview to college,” Gray said, adding that she will be enrolled in five undergraduate level classes, including calculus, biochemistry and physics. “I’m kind of nervous.”
Gray, who was named the outstanding junior in the math department by teacher Terri Dahl this year, is currently enrolled in Honors Statistics, Honors Chemistry and Introduction to Engineering. She completed calculus during her sophomore year.
“What I definitely like about science is that everything basically revolves around science,” Gray said. “Everything is made of matter, and it explains the world around us. Science never ends. So many things can be created using the laws of science, and that’s cool.”
Gray said she aims to major in biomedical engineering, eventually studying to be a cardiothoracic surgeon.
“I’ve been interested in medicine since fifth grade,” she said. “My dad is a cardiologist, and that made me realize I’m interested in heart surgery this year.”
Gray said her time at MIT will ultimately help her when it is time to apply to college.
“My dream college is MIT,” she said. “I’m really excited to be in Boston. When we found out [I got it] everyone in the house was screaming. It was like Christmas Day.”
The program will include weekend excursions in New England, which Gray said will be a nice break from her studies.
“I know it will be a lot of hard work. Everyone there will be super genious,” she said. “I’m feeling a bit intimidated, but I’ll do my best.”