Only a month left until I finish my last sets of finals in my undergraduate career and graduation shortly thereafter. The time is creeping up really close.
Since I have been at Catawba, I have always wanted to attend a conference where I can present my own work. As a part of my independent study, presenting a poster or talk is required, whether at a conference or as a part of Catawba's Research Creativity Symposium.
At the end of March, I was able to go to Alabama with a group of six other students and three biology professors. The conference was at the Renaissance Hotel, where there were a variety of activities, events, talks, and poster sessions for everyone to enjoy. I presented a poster on my research that was started by my interest that stemmed from my summer internship.
During the conference, I got the opportunity to attend Dr. Coggin's talk on 23andme, a DNA testing kit, and what he has learned from his personal experience with the program and his expertise. All of us got the opportunity to attend poster sessions and talks, including each other for support. Many schools came together to present posters during a two-day span for both the American Southeastern Biologists and through Tri-Beta (Tau Eta). The final day included an awards ceremony for those that were in Tau Eta chapters, with two of our own students receiving awards for their talks.
Additionally, we all got the opportunity to spend time together outside of the classroom/lab. On the first day of the conference, we attended a social that was held at the Riverwalk Stadium. Although we were rained out, we enjoyed grilled foods and live music inside the stadium. We got the chance to explore downtown Montgomery, ate at local places, and explore the Riverwalk Park near the hotels.
It was definitely an awesome trip to go on my final semester as an undergrad.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Spring Break 2017
Spring Break is here! Nothing major planned for spring break other than binge watching on-demand shows, applying for jobs, studying biochemistry and the worksheet, preparing my poster for a conference at the end of the month (so close - eek!!), and my internship and PR work. I may also spend plenty of time outside depending on the weather (which has been gorgeous)
School has been going good. I have a couple of classes that are awesome although biochemistry has been a blur, mostly because that is very complex to understand at 8 am (although 9 am is another story). The other day in my prescriptive fitness class, our class got the opportunity to have a fitness instructor from the Y come to teach our class. This class was called "Estercize" (basically pilates/yoga and planks) and was taught by a woman from the Netherlands. She used music while doing the yoga and pilates sequences. I was impressed how she sang while she was doing the routines. She did compliment me on how flexible I was - in one of the sequences I managed to have my leg positioned at an almost 90-degree angle (which was pretty cool! I have always been flexible (Splits, foot behind my ear, sitting in weird positions (very rare now), etc.) but haven't focused much on flexibility in a long time. However, I decided to give yoga a try this year after noticing how stiff my joints are). Speaking of yoga, I have tried our yoga class on campus (finally on a day I don't have lab or youth group). These classes have helped loosen my joints and have helped my balance - although it can be boring with how quiet it is! I definitely will look into pilate classes one day in the future.
Today, I hung out with my friend, K.B, who I haven't seen in a few months! I will miss her when I leave in May. We went to the mall today, goofed off/had serious discussions, and ate dinner together. While there, I got a new black dress (which is very flattering) for the conference, black sandals, a dressy, flowy tank top, and a light pullover sweater - and spent my gift card from Christmas for Old Navy. I wish I had some more money budgeted after discovering Gap and Maurices today!!! Soon enough, when I search for clothes for a career.
Also, only two more months left until I leave to go to CT - many mixed feelings!
School has been going good. I have a couple of classes that are awesome although biochemistry has been a blur, mostly because that is very complex to understand at 8 am (although 9 am is another story). The other day in my prescriptive fitness class, our class got the opportunity to have a fitness instructor from the Y come to teach our class. This class was called "Estercize" (basically pilates/yoga and planks) and was taught by a woman from the Netherlands. She used music while doing the yoga and pilates sequences. I was impressed how she sang while she was doing the routines. She did compliment me on how flexible I was - in one of the sequences I managed to have my leg positioned at an almost 90-degree angle (which was pretty cool! I have always been flexible (Splits, foot behind my ear, sitting in weird positions (very rare now), etc.) but haven't focused much on flexibility in a long time. However, I decided to give yoga a try this year after noticing how stiff my joints are). Speaking of yoga, I have tried our yoga class on campus (finally on a day I don't have lab or youth group). These classes have helped loosen my joints and have helped my balance - although it can be boring with how quiet it is! I definitely will look into pilate classes one day in the future.
Today, I hung out with my friend, K.B, who I haven't seen in a few months! I will miss her when I leave in May. We went to the mall today, goofed off/had serious discussions, and ate dinner together. While there, I got a new black dress (which is very flattering) for the conference, black sandals, a dressy, flowy tank top, and a light pullover sweater - and spent my gift card from Christmas for Old Navy. I wish I had some more money budgeted after discovering Gap and Maurices today!!! Soon enough, when I search for clothes for a career.
Also, only two more months left until I leave to go to CT - many mixed feelings!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
February Update
The end of January and February have seemed like a blur. Things are going slow, fast, and mixed in with finding jobs and graduate school programs and what I want to do.
Classes this semester have been okay. I am struggling with the whole "senioritis" thing but I am getting things done. Biochemistry is still a tad bit rough at 8 am in the morning but it isn't bad with the professors I have. Evolution is still okay. Dr. P (aka: Birdman) has been talking about his work with birds, which makes things more interesting. Far Eastern Religion is interesting although a bit of work. Dr. Sa is pretty crazy at times. Painting has been interesting and it is pushing me out of my comfort zone, especially since I am so used to drawing with graphite and that is my strong area and have yet to paint much.
Also, this past weekend, I got the opportunity to go hiking with Catawba Outdoor Adventure to South Mountian State Park. It was pretty intense but the views were awesome. I saw waterfalls, rocks (and got to climb them - I am kind of a child at heart with climbing), and some people riding there horses through one of the horse trails. The same day we had Winterfest, which is a winter formal. C (roommate) and my friend came and got all dressed up and hung out. (Hopefully I can figure out how to post some pictures to my blog!)
Anyhow, only a week and a half until spring break... and two and half months til graduation, it is all so close, yet far off.
More writing and exciting adventures coming up!!!!
Classes this semester have been okay. I am struggling with the whole "senioritis" thing but I am getting things done. Biochemistry is still a tad bit rough at 8 am in the morning but it isn't bad with the professors I have. Evolution is still okay. Dr. P (aka: Birdman) has been talking about his work with birds, which makes things more interesting. Far Eastern Religion is interesting although a bit of work. Dr. Sa is pretty crazy at times. Painting has been interesting and it is pushing me out of my comfort zone, especially since I am so used to drawing with graphite and that is my strong area and have yet to paint much.
Also, this past weekend, I got the opportunity to go hiking with Catawba Outdoor Adventure to South Mountian State Park. It was pretty intense but the views were awesome. I saw waterfalls, rocks (and got to climb them - I am kind of a child at heart with climbing), and some people riding there horses through one of the horse trails. The same day we had Winterfest, which is a winter formal. C (roommate) and my friend came and got all dressed up and hung out. (Hopefully I can figure out how to post some pictures to my blog!)
Anyhow, only a week and a half until spring break... and two and half months til graduation, it is all so close, yet far off.
More writing and exciting adventures coming up!!!!
Friday, January 20, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
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!
Thursday, January 5, 2017
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).
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.
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