#### From [Daniel Dsouza](https://www.danieldsouza.me/):

_I joined MLC during their inaugural Request for Plots (RFP) call in 2021. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Sara Hooker and Chirag Agarwal from the Lab, which has significantly enhanced my research skills through various projects. I am incredibly grateful for having such exceptional mentors at MLC! ❤️_

_As someone now engaged in full-time research, I have two key pieces of advice that worked for me:_

_**Be a good mentee** 🧑‍🎓— Requesting mentorship is a relatively low-risk step, but the true value comes from following up, respecting your mentor's time and advice, and diligently putting in the necessary effort. This is the only way to organically develop a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship._

_**Invest in your community** 🤗— Breaking into research can be challenging. Recognize that communities like MLC exist to support you, and remember, the more you contribute, the more you will gain in return!_