Vakkachen Joe

Being in science and being an absolute nerd, I absolutely love genetics. So much so that I tattooed the 4 nucleotides which make up every living thing’s DNA on me. ATGC, 4 letters carrying the information of every plant, every bird, every insect, and most importantly: you. This is something I always feel like is underappreciated. The stunning thing about your genetic makeup too is that it is unique! That is why you are so important, no one else has the exact same DNA modified the same way as you and it’s probable that no one else will. I always say that things happen for a reason. If, on my way to campus, I walk to my bus stop and see my bus pass by me I don’t get upset. Instead, I smile because I now I can walk to school and maybe I’ll see a friend along the way. I have lived my life thinking there’s always a greater purpose. That’s what I think is the most important thing in my life: purpose. I think that with everyone having a different genetic code we all have a unique story and there’s a reason we’re all breathing and living. Never doubt your worth, always remember you could have been a fruit fly if your genetic code was rearranged: but you’re not, you’re an amazing, unique, wonderful person. We’re all perfectly imperfect and we’re all living our life and that’s what matters."