Forget Princess! I want to be a laboratory scientist!

Just a princess with a blog ... Jokes! Basically just your average science-nerd!

[science-lab-brat-blog]

To the boy who just wasn’t ready

Hello,

I know you told me you loved me. It was a classic relationship, just like out of the movies. We met in our university residence and, as you have told me, there was an instant attraction. You began to get involved more in university life to be around me more and in my life more. We spent all summer after our first year talking on the phone. We had reached the level of best friends. By the fall of second year, we were in love and cared so deeply for each other.

The first term of second year was filled with constant dates, surprise gifts, kisses, hugs, and morning/night texts. There was nowhere else I would have rather been. Life was great.

In second term, you went on coop. I was lonely and sad most nights because my best friend was so far away. I missed you dearly, and I know you missed me the same. We made it up to each other with the best Valentine’s Day date a girl could ask for. It was complete with a CN tower tour and dinner and ended with the candle-lit bubble bath. I had never felt closer to you.

Little to my knowledge, this was the time you felt we were drifting apart. You began to feel separated from my life. You felt disconnected and thus, began to fall out of love.

By Spring term, the little sweet gifts and dates felt like obligations to you. You didn’t enjoy planning dates or surprising me anymore. I felt you drifting away from me. I needed you more. I craved your presence every day, to the point where I almost began using you. I would drag you to the drug store, to the grocery store, and even get you to do homework with me. I just needed someone to spend my life with.

You pulled away. You kept your distance from me. You stopped coming over as frequently and even stopped planning dates for us to go on. You didn’t want to get involved in my family dinners and even hid me away from your parents.

I was frustrated, tired, and sad. For you fell hard at the beginning and I fell slowly. We had our fights, arguments, and even debates. Although we always got through them, I don’t know how to get over this.

You were the boy I loved, and began to dream of growing old with. You were more than my best friend and you will be hard to replace. I wish the best in life for you. I hope you gain all the success in the world. Keep all my gifts and notes and texts, for I meant every word.

There will not be a day that goes by where I do not dream of my fairytale wedding. However, the altar remains groom-less now and I anticipate finding the suitor in the future.

So here’s to us. The couple that could never move together or at the same pace.

- xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

The Struggle Living with Reynaud’s Disease

You sit down in an air-conditioned room on a hot summer day. You’ve been extremely hot outside - to the point of sweating - and finally find somewhere comfy to sit and relax. The air-conditioning feels so good on your hot body and your tired muscles begin to relax.

A mere 15 minutes go by.

Suddenly, you cannot feel your feet. Your fingers are purple and white and you are unable to hold anything in your hands. What has happened to this blessed relaxing spot? Why is your body suddenly so cold?

Believe it or not, I face this everyday. I complain about the weather the moment it is above 20 degrees Celsius or below 10 degrees Celsius. My body can only function well at an optimal temperature before my extremities begin to turn purple to black to white or beaming red in the heat. It resembles a painter dipping my fingers or toes in their paint buckets - not a pretty sight.

There is no cure, however bad I wish there was! Suffering even while doing physical exercise, or taking nos in a lecture hall, or studying for an upcoming exam. The pain becomes unbearable at times and it often takes me longer to complete written assignments or written exams. Laptops and keyboards are my best friends for in the classroom and studying.

For more information on Reynaud’s Disease please click on this link: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/basics/definition/con-20022916

Few more notes:

it is hereditary

more common to women

most common to people who live in colder climate regions

appears around 15 years of age

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Like all health related issues there are good and bad to everything! Coconut oil has been an obsession lately and here’s a few facts to let you know what all the craze is really about!

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/oils/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

[science-lab-brat-blog]

This is another one of my favourite songs! It is a great study song and a good song to just listen to! I can honestly say that it is always a toss up for me of whether Shawn Mendes or Ed Sherran is a better artist!

I love music and have always lived every important moment in my life through a song! I believe music inspires people and can change the way someone thinks or feels - that’s why music is in movies! Have you ever watched a horror film without music? It’s a lot less scary without the music!

- xoxo M

[katievota]

We surveyed Americans and a panel of nutrition experts about which foods they thought were good or bad for you.

[science-lab-brat-blog]

This is a very interesting article and very informative. As of right now, there are actually mixed reviews about coconut oil. However, if you substitute butter with coconut oil, you diet will be better and your body fat will decrease (a fact I learned from CCNM tour day).

[science-lab-brat-blog]

How to Join a Sorority at University

1. Find out what kind of Greek Life your school has to offer. Some sororities are not social but rather academic, or religious. Make sure you find your sorority that is a perfect fit! You will find Greek Life at any clubs days, or society days at your school and will be easily able to recognize the Greek Life by the presence of Greek Letters!

2. Do your research. After you have gotten information from your school about Greek Life, begin to look into each sorority you are thinking about joining. Imagine yourself in the sorority and what it will feel like if you were a member. Take into account the philanthropies that each sorority supports, their social presence, and the goals or pillars of each organization.

3. Attend a Rush Event. A Rush Event is an event hosted by an individual sorority in order to recruit new members to join. At this event you will learn more about that individual sorority and their process of becoming an official member. This is the time where you want to look and act your best. Go for an outfit that highlights your personality and remember to always just be yourself. It is best not to act how you believe that they want you to act, as this will be your sisterhood for life. You want real sisters and not fake sisters. At the end of the rush, which usually lasts for a week, you will eagerly await the arrival of a bid (an invitation to join the sisterhood).

4. Go through the Pledge Process. Pledging does not involve any hazing! It’s not like what you see in the movies. Pledging is more of a bonding experience and each sorority’s pledge process is unique and confidential. It is within this process where you learn about the sorority’s background information, in addition to the secret ceremonies and traditions. Use this opportunity to bond with your pledge class and pledge master. Meet as many of the sisters as you can and truly feel a part of the sisterhood.

5. Initiation. This is a time for full introduction to the sisterhood. Each sorority is different in how they initiate their pledges. You’ll have to make it through pledging and be formally invited to this event!

Remember to fully enjoy this process! Remember the unknown can be exciting and to make the best of every situation! Get to know as many sisters as possible as soon as you can! Make good connections and bond! Good luck rushing sororities at university! It is a great experience and you will have sisters/friends for life!

- xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Ways to never have to go to the gym to look toned!

If you are like me and hate going to gyms with sweaty, muscular, frat guys (or just hate going to the gym general), these tips are for you:

Walk to class. This is simple and effective cardio. You’ll use your bag as extra weight and, if you use your arms, you get a full body cardio!

Do at home exercises for areas on your body you want to tone. With the rise of the internet, you can google any stretches or toning exercises for your body and within seconds can be performing these moves in the comfort of your own home.

Eat healthy. Eating healthy can remove the excess fat from your body to help you build muscle more easily and be able to see it as well. The people who get the best results for toning their body additionally have a strict diet they follow in order to look the way that they want. Remember to get all of your daily nutrients required to stay healthy if you choose to follow a diet plan!

Drink water. Water flushes out your body of toxins and wastes. In order to look toned, you must first remove all the toxin from you body. Just take your weight and divide it by two. That is how many ounces of water you should be drinking daily!

[science-lab-brat-blog]

This song is great to study with, in my opinion. I like slower, softer, acoustic pop songs to listen to when I study. This is actually the original “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” track. What songs do you listen to while you study?

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Molecular Controversy

Molecular biology can seem quite complex. You are dealing with microscopic processes within organisms that create life! However, most processes can be explained quite simply.

For instance, we reached a point in our lecture course about processes containing cis-elements and trans-factors. To simplify these terms; cis-elements are sequences of DNA which act on the same strand of DNA, and trans-factors are proteins that recognize the cis-elements and bind to them. Trans-factors act on opposite DNA strands, often adjacent to each other.

This concept seems quite complex. However, there is a larger scenario in order to remember this concept! This of it as trans-gender. With Trans-gender individuals, they take the opposite gender, similarly as trans-factors take the opposite DNA strand. Cis = same. Therefore, cis-elements take the same DNA strand.

Science can be fun and easily explained with many real-life examples. The field of molecular biology is constantly changing as research falsifies old truths and allows us to see the molecular world more clearly. Through technology, these processes have become clearer to the human mind and ultimately better understood.

- xoxo M

[medicalbasics]

[science-lab-brat-blog]

As an exercise coach for various forms of cancer survivors, I can agree that exercise is important for all healing and truly benefits those who have gone through cancer treatment. I fully believe that a healthy lifestyle is the key to staying healthy, happy, and motivated in life! 

- xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Learning Disabilities and School

What is a “Learning Disability”?

Learning disabilities are not actually defined in a simple manner - or at all. Many definitions have been proposed for government and funding purposes, however no clear definition incorporating each disability and excluding cases whereby a disability is not present, has been defined. There are definitions and guidelines for specific disabilities, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, and Special Learning Disorder, in order for psychiatrists and medical doctors to diagnose patients with the specific disability and provide help.

How do you know if you have a learning disability?

There are specific guidelines for each disability identified and thus, if your inabilities fall into those specific categories, you may have a disability. The requirements to qualify as learning disabled are strict and incorporate many aspects of cognition, memory, and mental processes. These strict rules are not to exclude those with a disability, but more so to prevent over-diagnosing individuals who are not actually disabled.

Trouble focusing, inattention, poor memory, lower results on testing than what is predicted based on your IQ, and difficulties in reading and math can qualify one for a learning disability. Of course not everyone who is a poor reader or who cannot get above a 70% on a math test is considered learning disabled. There are tests, such as the WISC-IV which allow researchers to identify your specific disability as being learning disabled or not. In order to be learning disabled, your brain must be preventing your from learning a certain skill or concept. Thus, the terminology learning disabled.

How to perform well with a learning disability:

If you suspect that you are learning disabled, the first thing to do is to be tested by a developmental psychologist or your medical doctor. Through various tests, your learning disability can be identified or falsified based on the specific criteria.

Once you have discovered your specific learning disability, begin to recognize those areas in which you struggle. For the most part, learning disabilities can be overcome at school. There are facilities at university/college to help students to succeed exceptionally, even with their current learning disability. For example, if you have difficulty being attentive in lectures, ask your prof if you may record the lecture to re-listen to bit-by-bit and over-and-over again in order to retain the information covered. Furthermore, if your memory is affected, try seeking out good memory tricks to help you remember. There are various websites that help you to remember terminology, definitions, and concepts for upcoming tests and exams.

I suggest trying out many different methods to overcome your specific disability in order to give our best performance academically!

More information on learning disabilities:

https://ldaamerica.org/

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Study Motivation

Who actually likes studying? I mean making Que-cards and flowcharts can be fun (especially if you are artsy), but no one actually likes having to remember all that information for the final.

I find it is hard to start studying later in the day if I have been out with friends all day or have just finished watching Netflix. It’s like Newton’s First Law of Motion “Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it”, or Galileo’s concept of inertia. Thus, there needs to be a push in your motivation in order to get your body to do the task of studying after being in a relaxed state.

I often motivate myself by my ultimate goal of becoming a Naturpathic Doctor. I need certain grades in order to achieve this goal. Therefore, my brain remembers this and gets my butt in motion to study and get that A!

Another way to help motivate yourself to study is with friends or significant others, or even family! If you have someone constantly reminding you of due dates, or the need to study for the next test, you will ultimately be motivated to study harder - and consequently be more productive! In addition, you can start a friendly competition between yourself and peers to achieve higher grades. This method works, however it must be used carefully as to not ruin friendships or relationships with your peers! Parents often motivate their kids by setting expectations. Although sometimes the expectations can be difficult or not achievable, they do help motivate students to study harder!

What are your study motivations?

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Tips for Better Morning Energy

Drink a tall glass of water before you have your morning coffee

Do simple yoga stretches before you take your morning shower or get dressed

Take a cold morning shower - alerts your brain to wake up as well as soothes achy muscles

Eat a breakfast with mostly veggies, berries, and protein (avoid having carbohydrates - specifically refined grain - in the morning to conserve the energy). Balance is key so you can have more carbs as the day progresses!

Put coconut oil in your coffee and less milk (or simply just avoid coffee)

Trade in your regular dairy milk for almond milk

Wake up before 9am - If you wake up too late, often your day becomes wasted.

- xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

How to Attend Professor's Office Hours

This task seems simple enough. How could one go wrong simply attending their professor's hours specifically set for students (like yourself) to ask questions? Much can go wrong! Here are a few guidelines to get the most out of a 5-20 minute session with your professor:

1. Write out questions you want to ask BEFORE you go to the scheduled office hours.

This will help you not to forget any questions you have or concepts that you found challenging in class. Possibly make a Word file that you can print off later in class and write down all possible questions about the material being covered during class in that file. If during class the answers to those questions come up, write those down too so you remember the answer and do not have to waste time asking those questions during the office hours

2. Dress for success.

You do not need to wear something business-casual. However, you do not want to look like a slob. A well-dressed student looks good to your professor and they will know that you take the course seriously! I suggest wearing something appropriate to go to school in (after all, you are a student attending classes and not a young adult attending a club).

3. Go earlier rather than later.

If possible, go to the earliest time that office hours are held. This will prevent any time being wasted waiting outside their office, that could be spent studying. Also, you will not have other students trying to ask questions to your professor at the same time you need your questions answered. Professors always have a limited window for questions and you want to make sure that all of your questions get answered! Do not sacrifice your education for someone else!

4. Do not go the day before the midterm or exam.

Of course if you still need questions answered, go to your professor. However, try to see your professor on a regular basis, rather than right before the big test days! Going regularly will show dedication, and serious drive for the coursework. In addition, the time you get to spend asking questions will be far greater if you go regularly rather than at peak times. More students wait until the last minute, which actually annoys the professor more and causes stress to everyone! Do not wait until last minute to go to office hours and go regularly!

5. Bring a notebook or paper and pencil with you.

This tip should seem obvious! You will need something to write on for all of the answers to your questions. In addition, your professor may give you extra information as tips or clues to your next big test - write those facts down too! Have the paper or notebook and pencil ready to write down all of this new-found wisdom. Furthermore, do not forget to review this information when you study! 6. Remember to thank your professor before you leave. This is the most important step! Your professor took time out of their research pr marking in order to benefit you! Thus, you should thank them. Make sure you remember to say their name as you thank them. Saying your professor's name when you thank them may make them try to remember your name. It is always a good idea to have your professors know who you are - especially if you really enjoy their course or their research. After all, having connections is important in the real-world!

Good luck at your professor's office hours!

-xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Good Afternoon!

This is a picture of my amazing dinner last night! It consisted of a tofu based veggie patty, California style vegetables, brown rice made with coconut oil instead of butter, and a fresh 1/2 avocado with soy sauce. I complimented my dinner with a full 500mL of water to wash out any other toxins within my body.

Many university students outgrow their acne phase in high school, however for some it still remains a problem. For me, my acne came back and even spread by first year. I was unable to keep it under control and ended up going back to taking minocycline prescribed by my family doctor. Being the hippie I am, I did not want to stay on the minnocycline pills, thus I decided to turn to a Naturopthic Doctor for advice.

The Naturopathic Doctor assessed my entire lifestyle - and took into account multiple levels of health concerns both in my life and in my greater family’s lives too. Some of the topics had nothing to do with my acne and more to do with day-to-day living. This approach to medicine is what I love about the Naturopath career (Still hoping to get into the field after my undergraduate degree)!

After the ND’s assessment, he suggested that i have both an imbalance in hormones and in nutrition deficits. For this, we decided to work on my nutrition deficits first. Being a vegetarian, I often neglect to eat my protein and often compensate with eating more white-flour carbohydrates than necessary. Carbohydrates (white-flour based), sugars, dairy, and other unhealthy junk foods increase one’s levels of insulin. Insulin is necessary in the body, however too much can be harmful. When dealing with acne, one must remember to keep the inflammation of insulin down in order to prevent acne from occurring. After all, acne is just inflammation in the skin resulting from dirt and bacteria trapped beneath the pours.

For the next two weeks I will be making foods from the list that my ND gave me in order to decrease the inflammation in my diet. I eat mostly vegetarian protein and lots of vegetables now! I always make sure to have one “good” fat and one hearty protein source with each meal. I also take care not to have too many white-flour carbohydrates such as muffins, bagels, toast, and pasta (only whole-grains for me)! I have replaced the white-flour carbohydrates with brown rice, and quinoa. My protein sources come from chic peas, brown beans, quinoa, tofu-based meat, eggs and rice protein powder. For the “good” fats I have coconut oil, olive oil, peanut butter, and avocados!

This diet can be implemented for individuals who are meat-eaters and who are vegetarians. The list of food choices are quite extensive and delicious! You do not have to give up taste for health!

Here’s to the next two weeks of anti-inflammatory meals and snacks (results to come)!

- xoxo M

[science-lab-brat-blog]

(not just) Study Tips

Midterms? Stressed? Feeling overwhelmed?

I am positive that every student, whether in high school, college, university or grad school has felt one of these emotions before. Have no fear though! Here are some helpful tips I learned to stay motivated and study:

1. set goals for yourself. These goals do not need to be long-term or short-term. They can be either-or. As long as the goal helps to keep you motivated! For example, I always focus on my long-term career goal of becoming a Naturopathic doctor one day! Yes I know that this is a long ways away, but in order to reach my goal, my academics must be on check - No slacking off in chemistry or physics!

2. get up and stretch. You don’t need to go to the gym for this one! Just stand up from your chair once in a while and walk to another room and back again. Stand up and touch your toes and do a few squats. Roll your shoulders back and stretch your neck as you are sitting.

3. eat snacks. Food helps fuel your brain so the more you eat the more brain power you will have. Try to eat healthy snacks as you study like fresh fruit or veggies (I often like to have grapes). Also stay hydrated with some water - which you can also infuse with different fruits and vegetables (my favourites are cucumber or lemon). When I am studying I like to just have snacks throughout the day instead of meals to prevent myself from getting too full!

4. find a nice place to study. Whether it is on campus or a quiet place at your house or in your residence, designate that place to study! NEVER study in your bed your brain will associate what you do in that location with a particular state of mind. Keep your bed for sleeping and your study area for studying!

5. review the hardest material before bed. That one concept that you can’t seem to remember ... that is what needs to be in your brain before you drift off to sleep. Your brain will remember the things you last think about before you fall asleep better than what you reviewed all day long. Therefore, you should quickly review those tricky biology cycles, or life histories, or anything that your brain just seems to not understand right before you go to sleep!

6. ask for help and ask questions you think you already know the answer to. This one seems a bit weird or maybe obvious. Basically when you ask questions, ask them to a classmate you trust knows the information well, or ask your TA, or ask your professor! Professors are always willing to help and LOVE it when you attend their office hours. I find the best way to study is to go to office hours with a few prepared questions and then let the conversation about the topics flow with your professor. You will learn so much about the content needed for the midterm and other important facts that your classmates might have missed out on! Of course pay attention in class and take good notes as well! Additionally, ask your friends questions and quiz them on material. Chances are that they don’t have the material mastered either. It will be a helpful study tool to be able to correct them or to clarify answers that you got wrong.

Have anymore good study tips?

[science-lab-brat-blog]

Good evening,

Weekends are usually pretty relaxing - but of course midterm season has come so I must break out my books!

Just last term I declared my second minor in psychology. I know, this is the most common minor people these days decide to take! However, I really enjoy psychology and the workings of the human brain. Much of the material covered in my psych minor courses are correlated to my biology major courses, so I often now have very enjoyable terms!

Today I was studying for my psychopathology midterm. Psychopathology is the scientific study of psychological disorders (basically what makes people think abnormal thoughts). So far from this course I have learned that it is really hard to tell what is and is not abnormal behaviour inside the human brain. Most of the criteria regarding abnormalities is through a societal context which is socially constructed. Thus, normal thoughts can differ drastically depending on the person’s origin or current place in the world.

In addition to abnormalities, we also study the treatments of these abnormalities. In historic times, it was inhumane what was done to psychopaths. Often people who suffered from a psychological disorder was treated very poorly and sent to live in an asylum, away from their families. The people could just be kids when they are taken from their families. Now, in some cases, this form of treatment may be necessary. However, for people dealing with such disorders as, OCD, or panic disorders, or depression, this form of treatment seems drastic! Fortunately, care for psychological disorders has improved over the years. Even, anti-depressants have been made and drugs for ADHD as well.

This is just a small glimpse of what psychopathology is all about! If you want to learn more, I highly suggest you take Psych 257 at uWaterloo. All the best and happy studying/studyblr-ing !

- xoxo M