For a long time, I struggled to distinguish between "like" and "enjoy.

" When I like a course, I am

willing to take the time to learn it, but I will feel tired or bored as time goes by. The incredible
thing is that I never seem to feel the passage of time when I am exposed to biochemistry. In the
summer vacation Last July, during the summer vacation, I went to a biochemical institute in
Russia under the leadership of my chemistry teacher and several classmates. Working with
professors there, we did a heart-centered biochemical experiment for 14 days. But I never
thought that a seemingly ordinary study tour would have such a profound change in my life.

The first experiment we done is that investigates electrophysiological mechanisms of cellular

contractions in the muscles of heart and another experiment is investigates molecular
mechanisms of neurotransmission in the healthy animals and in the animals with the induced
neurodegenerative pathologies. In the first experiment Dr. Alexei Averin taught us how to remove
the heart from the rat, how to dissect the heart and remove pieces of papillary muscles. Then the
papillary muscles have been mounted into the apparatus to measure the flow amplitudes of the
electric impulses and the force of contraction of papillary muscle cells.

The experiment is complex and the knowledge required is extensive. I felt anxious on my first day
there because I still didn't understand a lot about many parts of the experiment. The laboratory is
very old, and much of the equipment was used in the former Soviet Union. So there are a lot of
difficult experiments that we can't rely on instruments and equipment to do, and when I know
this fact, I'm a little overwhelmed because I don't understand how we can measure the data that
we need without instruments. The experiment went well at first, but after three days, I
encountered the first problem that bothered me. In the process of data analysis, I realized that
the error of our experimental data was a little large due to the equipment, which would also
affect the final analysis. A professor in the lab noticed my predicament. At first, I wasn't sure if I
should speak up, because I was worried that my problem would affect someone else's
experiment. But he seemed to understand my concern and said, "Don't worry, ask your
question." I'll help you find out." These words gave me a lot of courage and planted a seed in my
mind. So, I started sharing the difficulties I was facing. In the beginning, I only mentioned a little,
not wanting to take up too much of the professor's time. But when I answered every question,
such as how to reduce the data error, how to find a better measurement method, how to speed
up the reaction, he gave me a lot of suggestions to improve the measurement method. What
impressed me most was that he said that the simplicity of the equipment could not prevent the
experiment, but we could make up for the lack of equipment with clever design. As he said, he
explained my problem in detail and pointed me in the right direction.

After listening to his explanation, I had a new view on experiments, not focusing on the ability of
equipment, but making difficult experiments complete by simple equipment through clever
experimental design. So I started brainstorming with my teammates on how to make this phrase
a reality. This process lasted for 3 days and we put a lot of effort and time into each of these 3
days. I didn't think I could do it before. I would get tired, I would get bored, I would think about
other things. But not this time. I never felt tired or tired during these days. Instead, I felt so
excited that some days I even forgot to eat. It was a big turning point for me. Because from this
moment on I think I understand what real enjoyment is. I can gain a sense of satisfaction,
pleasure and happiness in this process and biochemistry that I have never felt before.

Since then, similar things have happened every day and changed the way I think about
experiments. Whenever I have a problem, I don't change the equipment but make the
experiment work through my own ability and design. My inner desire for biochemistry and these
"changes" helped me understand the difference between "like" and "enjoy." The next 14 days
have been overwhelming for me. This 14-day trip to the lab made me feel like I was finally
experiencing the utopia I had dreamed of.