Hello! My name is Alex Birck, and I’m a student at Ridgway High School. This summer, I’m headed to Boulder to intern at LASP—the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. I’ve always been the type of person who wants to know exactly how things work, so the chance to take my interest in STEM out of a textbook and into a real-world lab was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
Me, skiing in Telluride.
In school, I’ve found myself drawn to the logic of college-level chemistry and trigonometry. I hope to study astrophysics and engineering at college. I love that specific, satisfying feeling when a tough math problem finally “clicks” and everything starts to make sense. It’s the same reason I find chemistry so interesting – realizing that a complex system actually follows a pattern that you can predict is fascinating to me. I’m really looking forward to seeing how these step-by-step problem-solving skills apply to space science.
Playing at the Telluride Chamber Music Festival.
Outside of academics, music is a huge part of my life. You can usually find me at the piano at the United Church of the San Juans or playing around town, during our many festivals and events. You can also find me playing the trumpet in my high school band or pep band. I love the energy of being in a band; there’s nothing quite like the moment when everyone hits their mark at the same time, and the sound finally comes together perfectly. One of my favorite experiences last year was putting together a jazz trio with two other students to play Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating” during the school’s winter holiday concert. I was also proud to have established Ridgway Secondary School’s first annual talent show!
Hiking in Glacier National Park.
Living around Ridgway, I spend most of my free time hanging out with friends and family, whether we’re just grabbing food or getting outdoors and exploring our wonderful mountains. I really value the balance between staying busy and taking time to relax. This summer at LASP is going to be a brand-new experience, and I’m eager to see where it takes me!
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