Reflection Jan 2017

Spring semester is already in full swing.  I ordered my cap and gown today, which is bittersweet but exciting to think about.  So far this semester has been going well, other than finding out my asthma has worsened and I now have to take a preventative inhaler in addition to a rescue inhaler.  On the bright side, I haven't been hacking constantly or being short of breath singing or walking.

As far as classes go, they are not as intense as previous semester.  Biochemistry will be biology (cell biology; biological processes) and [mostly organic] chemistry.  This class will most likely be my hardest class, but I love the two professors that are co-teaching it.  They both are polar opposites in terms of their teaching.  Dr. H is really excited and bubbly and no lights and Dr. M uses his hands and the board, occasionally uses explicates, and keeps the lights on.  Evolution is mostly reading novels, having class discussions, and doing projects.  The professor, Dr. P (birdman) has already had us watch videos of birds and brought in two stuffed birds (The biology professors have their own specific interests and will incorporate them in their classes.).  Far Eastern Religions should be okay, the textbook is pretty cool with the sound effects and the interactive activities in the textbook.  Painting - I am not sure my thoughts on it as of yet.  I have had very little experience with painting (and I mostly draw anyway) so it should be a challenge.  It's a little crazy to think this is my third art class and I am glad I did choose to take them as filler classes.  And Prescriptive Fitness should be okay.  The class will definitely help me learn and reiterate what I know about health and fitness and incorporating in my life (aside from my obsession with gummy worms at the moment).

I also met my internship boss the other day for a meeting.  He brought a couple of devices for all of us, one for indoor air pollution and the other for outdoor pollution as well as radon kits.  I am looking forward to gaining experience editing and writing for resume building.

Spring Semester 2017

Tomorrow is my last "first" day of the semester of school, at least until I choose where to go to graduate school.  These past four years have been shaped and helped me grow in many ways (academically, professionally, and socially).  When I started college, I was really nervous and would rarely talk to anyone with the exception of Prof. H (my English/one of my FYS instructors) and a couple of other people. However, this changed (as well as becoming more independent) changed once I began living on campus during the Fall of 2013.  

This semester should be pretty smooth, hopefully.  I am taking 14 sh plus doing a project for independent study, along with PR work study, researching and writing a couple of pieces for my internship, and SI. I met with my Dr. H today and when I get the data for Cabarrus County, I will build from my Capstone project/paper.  With the IS, I get the opportunity to present research, which is exciting but nerve-wracking to think about.

Here's to my final semester at Catawba!

Goals for 2017

I am not one that is big on New Years Resolutions, but I do have some goals for this coming year:

1. Graduate!!!! I am blessed beyond belief to have had the opportunity to go to college, given the predicament I was in 4/5 years ago. I had so many great people and opportunities while at college that have made the experience wonderful.

2. Health: continue to focus on eating healthy, as well as indulging occasionally (in moderation of course, so I won't feel deprived). This can be super challenging as a college student, picky eater, and as someone with stomach issues, but it is worth it to feel good!  I also want to take these new habits into my post-graduate life.  Along with eating better - staying as active as I can - whether it is working out in a gym, learning a work-out routine in the home, yoga, going to a class, etc.  And something I started becoming interested in after taking Behavior Modification: mindfulness... I want to keep working on being mindful, especially with what I eat, how I feel, and is right for my body.

3. Keep learning... I will be out of school in May until I decide what I am planning on/going for Graduate School, so why not keep learning about different things.  I will try and definitely keep up to date with Science and NPR!

4. READ more... I have heard this many times, especially recently by C.S, but I need to engage in books more often. I used to read a lot as a child/teenager... but after being in college, I have been lucky to complete a whole book a year.  From what I have heard from others, it is difficult to fit reading in to college when there is so much in terms of assignments, required readings, and papers but it is important to learning.  I did manage to almost complete December during my time in the airport and on the plane today :)

5. Be creative... I have always been creative, although I hardly see myself as that.  I have dabbled in music (singing, playing around on piano, guitar), writing (poetry, blogging, science), and even drawing since I can remember.  Like reading, I was maybe only drawing once or twice a year, aside from making Christmas cards.  But after taking Drawing, I realize it may be time to start doing it more (although I prefer out of class drawing).

Hello 2017 - short blog

So, just got back a while ago from visiting my parents in Connecticut.  While I was there, I decided to make the move up there after I graduate this coming May.  This move will be great to allow for me to be with my parents more, will help me get out of my comfort zone, and new opportunities, both career and academic wise.

In the meantime, I go back Sunday afternoon (weather permitting) to campus.  I am hoping to start this semester off without a major roller coaster of chaos.  I am taking a variety of major and general education courses again, including: Biochemistry (I had to have one more class with Dr. H and of course, good ole Dr. Madman - my crazy organic chem professor), Evolution, Far Eastern Religion, Prescriptive Fitness (1 sh), and Painting.  Additionally, I have gotten the SI position for Elementary Spanish 2, PR workstudy, and the internship with pollution detectives! Super excited to see what this semester brings.  

Reflection on 2016

So as much as this year has had its ups and downs (as many of us experience); here are some great things that happened this year

1.  I was published in the Salisbury Post through my work study - I love that I have gotten the opportunity to write and be published - which was something I always wanted to do since I was a little girl

2.  I got an internship at Cabarrus Health Alliance - doing vector control work - seems small but I got a good reminder where my true interests lie: environmental health (which would have explained my interest in vector-borne diseases) and field work 

3. I got the opportunity to be Supplemental Instructor for Spanish - which reiterated my interest in teaching and psychology of learning 

4. I have gotten to do some many different things with friends: winter formal (although I will only stick to that once), beach trip (what a learning curb), doing things as an organized club on campus (helping with concession stands, bonfire, an event through the science department), and so on

5. Took the most challenging course in my college career and made a B in it (Neuroscience)

6. Got an internship with pollutiondetectives.org writing and revising this coming semester! 

7. Met some amazing people!

Fall 16' Reflection

It is hard to believe I just wrapped up my fourth year here, although I still have a semester left.  These past four years have definitely shaped me as a person and taught me that I can do more than I thought possible. This semester has had its ups and downs like I never experienced before.  Part of it was taking on more than I can handle in the beginning and some of it was the typical senioritis.

First, this semester all my classes managed to be connected to other classes and life. For example, in my drawing class, I created a diorama/piece with brains - which was an amazing feat since it is the hardest thing to understand. I also created a piece with an fMRI machine and spiders - combining my interest in insects and psychology - of course.  Oddly, Hebrew Bible helped me to reflect on things that really mattered, such as morality, in the face of the craziness of last month's election.  And the topics from my neuroscience class came up often in conversations - to the point where my friends and I sat at dinner one discussing things from my assigned article reading, which included a piece about is reality real (that article was crazy).  Then there was my capstone class, where I was able to study more about the topic from my internship, mosquito biodiversity and abundance and disease ecology.  (I was even asked if I was presenting at the state conference for research by the professor - which didn't happen since I am waiting on information/data from Cabarrus County). And being in Spanish again lead to do my research paper/lab report term paper on Bilingualism.

Also, this semester I was inducted to Psi Chi (psychology honors society), got to hear Erin Brochivich (which was amazing!!!!!!), heard a talk from artist, Dianna Cohen (who is an artist who works with plastic bags and is also an environment advocate), was an officer in a club for the first time, helped out a science demo event, got to be an Supplemental Instructor, and found a new trail to explore.  I also learned a few things including: you can't help everyone (although one can wish- thanks Dr. A. H. for the reminder), don't take on more than you can handle, debit cards will not work if the machine is broken and that I should carry cash on me, and I am a person who does not explain herself thoroughly at times (ironically with the fact that I blog and write).

Now onto winter break and next semester.

November Update...

Hard to believe we are in the final weeks of the semester.  It has been a busy semester for sure, even after having to drop a class last month.

For my capstone class, we were required to go to the Students of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) - which is a statewide symposium compared to our research and creativity symposium we have every year in April.  It was in Durham and held at North Carolina Central University, which is a gorgeous campus!  And the campus was big compared to what me (and many of my peers) are used to.  The food was pretty good there that day, although it would be because of having visitors on campus.  There were so many topics though presented, from psychology, neuroscience, biology, environmental science, and chemistry, among so many other subjects.

On November 7, I got the opportunity to hear Erin Brochovich speak at Catawba.  It was through our Center for Environment, which has hosted quite a few special speakers this semester to celebrate the anniversary of the CENV.  The movie, Erin Brochovich, (the movie is based on her life) was what really sparked my interest in the different issues that are in our environment (chemicals in water, food, etc).  In her talk, I was surprised to learn that she had dyslexia growing up and was even seen as an underachiever. But despite that, she did a retrospective investigation on individuals that were directly affected by the hexavalent chromium 6 (as a secretary at a law firm in Hinkley California) with health issues, including many types of cancers.  With her work in Hinkley, she went on to continue advocating for environmental health issues (and still is) and encouraging others to do the same.  She has also created a website with a map that shows us what environmental issues are going on around the world... http://www.communityhealthbook.com/.  Also one of her quotes that stand out to me from her talk is "what is your legacy" - Erin Brochovich.  Definitely, a good quote to motivate someone toward the end of the semester.

Also, on November 10th I was inducted into Psi Chi (the honors society for psychology).  It was definitely a different experience from when I was inducted into Tri-Beta. It was pretty low-key. We went to DJ's (maybe 12-15 of us) and we all had the chance to get to know each other better and ate dinner.

These coming weeks should be slowing down...  I have my final capstone presentation this coming Tuesday, and my internship boss from the summer (CS) is hopefully coming.  And with this project for capstone I have a good foundation for my independent research for next semester. And after I only have one exam, a drawing project/oral presentation and my final oral presentation for neuroscience (and the 12-20 page paper)