On Experience

" You cannot create experience. You must undergo it. "
Albert Camus

I can say so many things about my summer internship. More than that which has already been said here and here. But today, I'll leave you with just a few words regarding the experience and knowledge gained from my internship at the Breast Cancer Research Lab at FCCC...

(1) A lot of hard work goes into being a PI and running a lab.
(i.e. grant writing, research planning and implementing, and keeping your sanity through all of it)

(2) Equal amounts of effort goes into being research associates. 
(i.e working late evenings, long weekends sans pay, and meeting the demands of your PI)

(3) Research is not limited to performing experiments and hoping to get results. 
Most of the time is spent collecting data; be it counting tiny cells on an invasion membrane or counting endless mammary gland structures on a 9X7 grid on a computer screen. Someone has to do it. 


(4) Being a part of a team that is as dedicated to research and science as much as you are is very motivating.

(5) Interning with world renowned breast cancer researchers who take the time to extend their knowledge to up and coming scientists is extremely rewarding. 
I was able to not only learn from the PI, co-PI, and senior researchers, but my fellow interns as well.

Oh, and btw: Apparently I should stick to my day job because I majorly failed at cutting our celebratory cake on Friday.

Rat dissections: Pass

Cake cutting: #fail 

ツ

Me, Myself and Irene

I knew the storm would hit my the Philly area by late Saturday afternoon, which meant that it wouldn't reach Connecticut until Saturday evening, into Sunday at midnight. I had the choice between staying at home until Monday to wait out the storm, or gunnin' it to Connecticut early Saturday morning.... I decided on the latter. I left Philadelphia around 8 am and arrived on campus at 11:30 am. It was cloudy, but not much more in terms of precipitation. The rain began around 6 pm. At that time, my new house mate decided to pack up and 'peace out', leaving me in a huge rancher by myself.

It was okay at first, I could hear the rain pounding on the sun roof. That was comforting enough to put me to sleep, especially since I had only slept for 3 hours the night before. I woke up around 2 pm  to the sound of the rain pounding on the sun roof, and the constant hounding of the wind. I called the beau, talked for a while then went back to sleep.

I woke up again around 8:30 am, Sunday morning, and read a text from one of my classmates that said "I already lost power". I didn't think much of it, but then I looked over to the closet (where I kept the light on over night) and realized that the light was no longer on.

The rain continued until 2pm, and then everything began drying up. Not much damage was done, except the leaky sunroof that left a small puddle in my bedroom and the living room, a somewhat flooded basement, and tree limbs, leaves and twigs scattered about the streets.

I even saw a few wild turkeys come out of hiding. It started with just 2 of them. They ran down the street making loud war cries. With that call, the two became three. Three became five, and five then became about nine or ten. The turkeys were on a wild goose chase trying to find each other. I was in the car trying to decided where to drive to while they scurried pass me. The birds were so large and swift in movement,  that I decided to just stay in the car and take pictures from afar.

The power is STILL out. It's been about 29 hours now. Who knows how long it will take to have it up and running again. Good times....

As Summer Winds Down

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Farewell, Summer 2011!

I can't believe the last days of summer vacation have crept in so swiftly!
The days are getting somewhat cooler; the thunderstorm/flash flood season has arrived in full force; and the sun sets at least 20 to 30 minutes earlier now.

Although it seems as if the weeks flew by this year, it still felt like a long and fulfilling summer. I didn't go to this beach this year, and did not actually spend time away from home, but any time away from school is a vacation to me.  ツ

I was able to (1) learn a LOT, (2) meet new people, and (3)spend time with those that matter most.

I return to Connecticut in a few days. I will be completing the final year of my Masters program. (That time has passed very quickly as well).  I'm looking forward to completing this phase, and moving on to a 'non-school-related' phase in life. I am also looking forward to the new (mis)adventures that I will experience, and the life lessons that will be learned this round. Let's go!!