<p>I think it's a bit plain:
"One of the most important concepts that I learned from the scientists at the lab is that making mistakes is expected and is okay"</p>
<p>Care to help me rephrase?</p>
<p>I think a lot of people will suggest that you make it shorter and active.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>“In a lab, you learn that mistakes are okay.”</p>
<p>Although that is not active. Go with what you think “feels” best in your essay. Writing is subjective and most admissions committees just want to hear your voice.</p>
<p>How about this:</p>
<p>The lab scientists taught me many important concepts. For example, I learned that making mistakes is not only expected, but acceptable.</p>
<p>And then you could make the first sentence better by putting in the name of the lab or whatever, like, “The University of Chicago lab scientists taught me several important concepts during my two month internship last summer. For example, I learned that making mistakes is not only expected, but an acceptable part of the experiment process.” Something like that.</p>
<p>I did the exact opposite of the other suggestion of shorter and active by making it longer and wordy.</p>
<p>Depends how the sentences around it sound. Usually I like to contrast. Long short long short etc. But I’d say something like</p>
<p>“The scientists at the ____ lab taught me that mistakes are expected and even vital to the research process.”</p>
<p>I like yours!</p>