For senior Kashvi Logu, her passion and dedication to biology made her dream of becoming a USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) finalist a reality.
Logu’s interest in biology sparked from childhood experiences. She has always been curious about the natural world, especially animals, which eventually motivated her to dive deeper into environmental biology in her studies.
“I’ve been wanting to pursue biology and one of ways I wanted to grow my interest is trying to find a community of people who were like minded,” Logu said.
To achieve her goal of becoming a finalist, Logu dedicated years to study for the USABO. In addition to reading biology textbooks including the Campbell textbook, she studied articles released by federal public health agencies and tracked any scientific breakthroughs via various academic journals. Her curiosity and commitment to learning stood out in the classroom, according to Logu’s biology teacher Madeline Kelly.
“[Logu] was always very driven to understand the material and never seemed satisfied with not knowing how something worked,” Kelly said. “She would go and dig deeper into scientific concepts.”
While studying for the Olympiad for three years since freshman year, Logu faced challenges balancing her passion for biology with her academic responsibilities. Additionally, Logu felt an underlying uncertainty about what to expect upon entering the testing room. To overcome these challenges, Logu temporarily took a step back from her studies to reflect and ask bigger questions about the world around her.
“The truth is life and the world,” Logu said. “Since you’re surrounded by the world of biology, asking questions about where you are and what’s going on around you can also help you understand and learn about new principles.”
Her most memorable experience during the Olympiad was training for 12 days at a camp. The camp consisted of various labs and procedures that she was taught as a team of students who made into nationals. During the camp, she got a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in complicated concepts as she watched birds in Hudson river and dissected flowers in the garden.
“One of the favorite things that stood out during the Olympiad were when what my fundamental belief is about going on, experiencing the world to actually learn is something that the camp also heavily stressed on,” Logu said.
Logu plans to major in biology in college and follow a pre-med track, with a goal of becoming a surgical oncologist. Her drive towards her dream has caught the attention of those around her, including her friend and junior Shaili Chudasma.
“Logu always works hard to make sure and puts herself out to make sure that she gets what she deserves,” junior Shaili Chudasma said.
