Anya Nanda

Hi! I am a junior at Redmond High School with a love for biology and medicine. I have been curious about how the human body works—and why it sometimes breaks down— ever since I was little. That curiosity has led me to where I am today: exploring cancer, genetics, and systems biology through data, research, and coding.

I am part of the COPE Junior Health Scholar program at Swedish Hospital, where I help nurses, aid patients, and get to observe the suffering illness can bring. It has taught me how complex and human science really is. I have also taken AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Computer Science A, and I am working on a summer project where I am using machine learning to study how gene regulation goes wrong in breast cancer.

Outside the lab and classroom, I have trained in Taekwondo since I was four years old. Earning my black belt wasn’t easy—I often got stuck—but through continuous practice and asking instructors for feedback, I eventually succeeded. Now I help teach other students, which has taught me patience and leadership.

I hope to become a medical researcher one day—someone who develops better treatments for the future. I want to ask big questions, and I am not afraid of hard work if the answers could help someone else.

This blog is where I share what I am learning along the way. Thank you for visiting!

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