#mindful-med

[mindful-med]

August 8, 2020

How is it already August? Almost half a year of quarantine?? Everyday I feel like I’m missing out on more and more of my youth :0

I finally got out yesterday and went for a 4 mile hike with my friend. It was hilly and painful as hell, but the view was great and the company was even better!! It was so nice to spend some time with my friends, although I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about being out. After the hike we had thai food, swam in my friend’s pool, and had a mini poker tournament. I won 40 cents and I’m quite proud of myself. I think I’m ready to drop out of a college and become a full time poker player (med school who?). Poker is def much more enjoyable than I thought it’d be and I wish I’d learned earlier so I could’ve played with the guys in my dorm building. On another note, I’ve made some progress on the design for the web app my sister and I are making, and I’m so happy with how it looks so far! It’s been such a long time since I’ve designed something and I forgot how difficult it actually is, but it’s been really fun to work on. Stay tuned for updates :D

[mindful-med]

August 9, 2019

And the panic has officially set in for my summer biology course! I thought my calm facade would last a little longer but welp, I guess not. Stay tuned to see if biology takes over my life.

[mindful-med]

August 8, 2019

I promised myself I’d be more active on this blog this summer yet it’s been a month since I’ve posted ... oops.

Summer life has been pretty great so far. I just started my new bio class and despite bio being my least favorite subject, I actually don’t dread going to class because everyone I’ve met is so friendly and easy to get along with!

What I’ve liked the most about this summer is how balanced my life is, something I lacked immensely during the school year. Since I’m only taking one class, I’ve been able to focus my energy on areas of my life other than academics—and it’s been a breath of fresh air. I’ve gotten much closer to the people in my lab and been able to spend some much needed time with friends from back home. I’m hoping I can somewhat find a balance between academics, extracurriculars, and a social life this upcoming year, because life is a lot more enjoyable when I make time for things other than academics (wow, who would’ve thought?)

[mindful-med]

August 14, 2019

Today was another one of those days that reminded me how lucky I am to be a part of a lab full of such genuine, kind, supportive, and passionate people. Besides from my interest in learning more about neuroscience research and its applications to treating illness, the people in my lab are what make spending so much time there not feel like a chore.

Today we had a retirement party for one of our scientists (who I found out is secretly a die-hard Trojan despite having worked at UCLA for so long. lol) Party days are so wholesome because the whole lab puts aside their work and comes together just to chat and eat good food and enjoy eachother’s company. During the party a few of the undergrads and I decided that we’re going to have a day where everyone in the lab dresses up like one of our post-docs, and I could not be more excited for this to actually happen.

All wholesomeness aside, my PI is planning to ask all the undergrads for a progress report this Friday, and I’m just hoping I don’t sound like a complete noob in front of him. I also have my first bio midterm this Friday, so I guess I’ll be cramming tomorrow.

Life has been busy, but life has been good :’)

[mindful-med]

August 20, 2019

Yesterday I ...

Successfully injected my lab mice after having struggled with IP injections for so long

Received my bio midterm score back and found out that I did really well!

Got brought yummy homemade Indian food by one of my lab mates

Enjoyed 30 minutes of Bachelor in Paradise before my sister decided she needed to go study for her math final (we’ll be binging the rest of yesterday’s episode as well as today’s episode later tonight!)

Made good progress on analysis for the lab project I’m currently working on

Not too bad for a Monday :)

[mindful-med]

July 1, 2019

Although UCLA isn’t quite the same without all my peers, I’m really glad that I get to spend my summer here. I’m so grateful to get the opportunity to take courses and work in my lab this summer. Being here takes me back to last summer when I came for freshman orientation and reminds me of how excited I was to be attending this school. Times like these remind me of how lucky I am to be here :’)

Now that it’s summer and my post doc has more time to train me, I’ve been learning a lot of new stuff in my lab, and I’m finally feeling the excitement that I used to feel when I started working there in the winter. Besides learning new procedures, I’ve also bonded with the other post docs and the new undergrad. With new students coming in for the summer, I’m no longer the newbie in the lab :0

On another note, I took some time this morning before class to make a trip to the business library, and I think I’ve found my new study spot for the upcoming year!

[mindful-med]

January 26, 2019 

Midterm season is officially upon us. Let the fun begin. 

In all honesty, this past week has been pretty rough for me. I think it’s because the stress of midterms and classes finally caught up to me, not to mention that I wasn’t getting as much sleep as I usually do. But now I’m in better spirits and I’m ready to crush the two midterms I have coming up this week (actually, more like get crushed BY them. yikes.) 

I had my second shift in the lab yesterday and I feel like I learned so much! At times I did feel pretty dumb because the post-docs and more experienced undergrads would talk about pretty complex stuff, but it was only my second shift and I have so much more to learn. I’m excited to learn more about the projects that are going on in the lab and hopefully soon begin working with a post-doc :)

[mindful-med]

Introduction

In honor of the new year and the upcoming quarter, I figured I’d get this blog up and running. I’m excited to document my college experiences here and make some new friends in the studyblr community! 

About Me:

I’m 18 

From the valley and currently a first year Psychobiology student at UCLA - Go Bruins!

I have a twin sister who’s studying computer science at UCLA. yay for women in STEM

Interests:

I’m no artist but I'm trying to learn brush lettering!! 

I watch way too much TV for my own good and am currently obsessed with Criminal Minds. Some other shows I enjoy are Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn 99, anything in The Bachelor franchise (lol no shame), Mindhunter, House of Cards, and The Good Doctor 

I don’t really listen to music except whenever the radio is on, but I do enjoy some good 80s music 

I enjoy graphic design and I find it to be very therapeutic 

Future Goals:

I used to run long distance and even did 2 marathons, but I stopped once I started high school. I kind of want to start running again but we’ll see??

I want to pursue a career in medicine, possibly surgery but we’ll see??

Adopt a dog or cat (or both and they can be best friends??)

Some blogs that inspire me: @callistugh @markiveelle @neuropsychs @hope-and-sleep

And that’s all I have for now. Happy new year everyone 🎆