Growing up, Sherayah Kitchen was told that as people, we should be kind to others, respect our elders, and always cheer for the Notre Dame Irish on Saturdays. Her childhood with her father was filled with love and appreciation for both the team and the university. As she nears adulthood and gears up for her next step in life, when Mrs. Sofia Chittenden presented the opportunity for her to go to the Notre Dame DNA Learning Center for a summer program, Sherayah said, “It was a no-brainer.”

Since her sophomore year in Honors Biology, Sherayah has shown a genuine spark of interest in science under the guidance of Mrs. Chittenden. Mrs. Chittenden presented the opportunity to her whole class. She shared that Sherayah was the first to reach out about more information. “It was obvious she wasn’t just casually curious; she was genuinely excited about the chance to do college-level lab work,” expressed Mrs. Chittenden. Sherayah has been in Mrs. Chittenden’s class for both Honors Biology and now AP Biology, so she understands her work ethic and her enthusiasm for science. Mrs. Chittenden also shared, “She asks questions that go deeper, she loves hands-on work, and she’s always trying to connect what we’re doing to the bigger picture. That initiative and curiosity made me confident she’d shine in the program.”

While at Notre Dame, Sherayah took early morning walks. She said, “The beautiful green campus during summer, paired with the gentle breeze and overly fed squirrels running around, started my day with serenity. This peaceful morning gave me a glimpse of what my future could be as a student.” Before even stepping into the lab, she knew that this was where she wanted to be. When she first worked with the advanced lab equipment, she was nervous. She worried about how expensive and daunting the tools were. However, she found confidence as the week went on. She expressed, “I started to see past that nervousness when using them. I could then see the benefits of having such precise tools, and found them super cool. Using them made me feel confident in my experiments and very official.”

During the DNA camp, she found that the most exciting part was receiving the outcomes of their research. One of the main experiments that she conducted was tracing the ancestry of her mitochondrial genome. She shared, “I loved being able to do the work and see viable results that I had made happen, while learning interesting parts of myself and the scientific process.” 

Sherayah’s experience at Notre Dame fully strengthened her interest in pursuing a career in science and medicine. She said, “I gained a newfound confidence in what I found achievable, and now know for certain I am capable of success in any academic situation.” This program made her realize the importance of branching out for her education and opened her eyes to what she truly wants. She expressed, “I will always think back to the one week I lived at my dream university when making choices for my future.” She is eager to see what life is going to be like out of high school and cannot wait to start this new chapter of her life, thanks to her experience at Notre Dame.

After returning to the regular school year, Mrs. Chittenden said, “I’ve noticed even more growth. She participates more actively in class and gets excited when we dive into molecular biology topics that connect back to what she experienced at Notre Dame.” She believes that the Notre Dame DNA Learning Center program gave Sherayah something that cannot be fully replicated in the high school classroom. She was able to use advanced equipment and surround herself with students who share that same curiosity. Mrs. Chittenden shared, “I think it confirmed for her that she flourishes in science, and it gave her a strong foundation she’ll carry into future courses and eventually into college and her career. It didn’t just build her skills, it expanded her vision of what’s possible for her in STEM.”

Sherayah plans to attend an in-state university to pursue a degree in exercise science, specifically athletic training or physical therapy. When asked if she would recommend this program to other students, she said, “Just do it! Never in my life would I have thought I could get a nearly full ride to go study for a week at Notre Dame. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enjoy a week of extra school during summer vacation. But here we are.” Sherayah’s journey is a reminder to all Hanover students that opportunities are out there waiting. With passion, preparation, and courage, they can lead to incredible futures.