Learning Something New

 You know the saying, “you learn something new everyday”? I love it because it’s true. From the smallest detail to the biggest concept, we are continuously learning. Being in the science field, I’m very much accustomed to this. This semester, I learn everyday through a wide range of classes:

1. Ecology
2. Developmental Psychology 
3. Evolution 
4. Animal Behavior
5. STEM Success

In this blog post, I’m going to share a few things I learned.

In developmental psychology, I learned that babies under six months can't self-soothe. When they cry, they are under a lot of stress and the stress hormone, cortisol, shoots up. When a caregiver picks them up, cortisol levels drop and the baby feels much better. Also, the baby will adequately begin to self-regulate after six months of age. It may be believed that picking up a baby when they cry will spoil them (I thought this was true before I took this class). However, this is inaccurate. At the end of the day, picking them up is beneficial for them. 

In STEM success, we are reading Daring Greatly by Brené Brown. Ever since I read the introduction, the book caught my attention and I wanted to keep reading. The author talks about scarcity, vulnerability and other common characteristics that are looked down on. During the first three chapters, she expresses how characteristics that are applauded for are often the result of the “weak” characteristics. For example, those who are courageous display vulnerability… WHAT? I never would have thought these two would go hand-in-hand. However, upon reading her book, I can see the relationship now. Stepping outside one’s comfort zone is vulnerability.  Isn’t stepping outside one’s comfort zone also courageous? This is something I learned and hope to bring down my guard to see what’s on the other side. Whether it’s good or bad, it’ll be added onto my “what did you learn today?” list.

Figure 1. A drawing of a thinking brain. 

Citation:

“Collection of Thinking Brain Cliparts (45).” Free Thinking Brain Cliparts, Download Free Clip Art, Free Clip Art on Clipart Library, clipart-library.com/thinking-brain-cliparts.html.

A Step Towards the Future

Have you ever worked on a project, put so much effort into it and actually liked the end product? Me too. I recently had to create a timeline for my evolution class about Earth's history. Sounds pretty easy, right? However, the instructor requested us to be creative about it. She didn't want us to do a simple linear timeline; no, she encouraged collages, videos, pictures, and, interesting enough, songs. I'm not quite sure how a song would work but I would like to hear one.

I decided to lean towards a drawing. I had a couple of ideas but I wasn't quite sure which to go with. I could have done a stair case... no, too boring. A fast forward video of drawings on a white board? Post-it note flip book? A maze showing start to finish with events along the path? I liked these ideas but I wasn't sold. The one I decided to go with was drawing foot prints. As cheesy as it sounds, everything in Earth's history was done a step at a time.

As I began my drawing, I took my time and paid attention to detail. After about five hours of working on it, I finished and I'm happy to say that I genuinely like it! Pictured below, the timeline I created: "A Step Towards the Future" is shown.

Figure 1. My timeline depicting the steps that molded the Earth we see today.  

Me to Me: Use Resources and Network!

As a first generation student, I wish I had all the help I could get when I started college. With that being said, if I could go back in time and give myself advice, it would be to take advantage of every resource on campus. When I first started, I was unsure where to go to find scholarships or financial aid. Not only that but I did not know who to ask. I spoke to students in class but only kept it at that. I did not think to ask more about their life and the idea of networking did not cross my mind. On that note, I would also tell myself to keep a close network of colleagues for future references. Today, I have maintained a good network and have been exposed to so many opportunities. As simple as it may seem, I have had free meals because a colleague of mine informs me about such events. Networking goes beyond this though as I found an internship out-of-state due to another colleague. One day, I noticed she was typing away and asked what she was working on. She mentioned she was applying to an internship in Boston, so I took that opportunity to do the same and expand upon other states. To say the least, if it was not for her, I would not have known about such benefits. If I had known about the importance of using resources and networking earlier in college, I may have started achieving accomplishments sooner rather than later.

Figure 1. A clipart depicting how networking works. One person knows another, who knows another, and so on ("Linked Connected Network...", n.d.).

Citation:

“Linked Connected Network Free Picture - Connected Circles Transparent Background {#355967 - Free Cliparts on ClipartWiki.” ClipartWiki.com, https://www.clipartwiki.com/iclip/hRxRoR_linked-connected-network-free-picture-connected-circles-transparent/.

Goals: Completed, Ongoing and New.

Since the beginning of school, my goals have ranged from new and old. I’ve listed completed, ongoing and new goals below. 

My completed goals:

1. Shadow a doctor.

2. Learn sign language.

Goals that I am continuing to work towards:

1. Graduate with a BS in Biology in May 2020.

2. Donate my hair to Children with Hair Loss.

3.Skydive.

New goals:

1. Apply for a medical Spanish interpreter program.

2. Get hired as an EMT.

3. Volunteer in a human trafficking organization.

This semester, I had the opportunity to shadow medical professionals at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services (CRS) clinic. I observed doctors and nurse practitioners in neurology, spina bífida, pulmonology, genetics, and audiology. That checked off one of my goals and I couldn’t be happier. Another goal I completed was learning sign language. I’ve always been intrigued with this beautiful language and feel proud to say that I’ve finished two years of American Sign Language (ASL) classes.

I have been working towards my ongoing goals for two to four years now. It hasn’t been easy, with difficult classes arising and the feeling that time-is-of-the-essence. I’ve learned that patience and dedicated/ honest work are key. Everything will be worth it in the end and I will proudly pat myself on the back. I can’t wait to see that day.

My new goals are small and nothing drastic or impossible to achieve. I like to set goals that I know I can accomplish, even if they sound challenging. As the old saying goes, if you stick your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Everyday, I am working towards completing my goals and creating new ones. After all, goals have helped me keep my mind on track and focused; that’s something I want to continue doing.

Figure 1. A cartoon climbing up a ladder to get to a goal ("The Gentle Way...", n.d.). This is how goals usually are and it's not easy to get to them. Dedication, self-awareness and time management are a few of the many skills that are helpful in climbing up the ladder and grabbing a goal. 

Citation:

“The Gentle Way to Effective Goal Setting and Ending Procrastination: Goals, Achieving Goals, Coach International.” Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24136547976700952/.

My Dream Job

I’ve always had the desire to help others. When it comes to teaching or advising, I don’t hesitate to do so if it means someone will benefit from it. With this in mind, I want a job where I can do this everyday. Not only that but my interest in biology and how the body works has driven me towards a scientific career. What career is that exactly? Well, my dream job would be a researcher and/or pediatric surgeon. 

For the researcher and surgeon position, asking questions, providing answers or trying to find answers are aspects I would cover everyday. I’ve been curious most of my life and still am. Research would feed into my curiosity as I would try to find answers. In addition, I love working with my hands because I learn better that way. Using my hands when following protocols or during surgery/ dissections would be a dream come true. 

Altogether, I know there are various careers that involve biology or helping people. Such examples are a nurse, professor, bioengineer or environmental attorney (yes, an attorney). Unlike research or surgery, these areas didn’t appeal to me. Some careers are shorter than others but I don’t mind how long the education is. At the end of it, I’ll be proud of the hard work it took to achieve my dream job.

Figure 1. A funny research meme that shows a surprised boxer dog ("Enjoyed Research?...", 2012). Research is a difficult area but requires a lot of patience and appreciation. Though my experience with research hasn't been the best, I am hopeful to find an area I genuinely enjoy. 

Citation

“Enjoyed Research? Are You Sure You're Doing It Right?” Cheezburger, Cheezburger, 29 Nov. 2012, https://cheezburger.com/6822989056.

My Earliest Memory

As my arm inches closer and closer, which feels like ten seconds with how slow-motion this felt, I get a better look as to what I’m reaching for. It was a green ball, with a pink bow sitting on a brown square. As soon as my hand touches the green ball... black; my mind goes black. I never got to see what it was! Why must you do this to me, brain? Was this just another dream? I remembered it so vividly, it couldn’t be.

This happened when I was months old so twenty years later, I decided to bring it to my dad’s attention. He sat there, listened to every word I said without showing any emotion. I was slowly starting to believe it was only a dream; how would my father know this happened? When I finished describing this moment, he told me I had grabbed a cactus that was shaped like a turkey. It really did happen… but why did I remember this certain moment? I was curious and carried that throughout my life.

I’ve grabbed the turkey-shaped cactus in various moments throughout my life, not knowing what would happen next. When I was searching for scholarships during community college, I ended up applying for an internship, not knowing where it would take me. That internship at Phoenix College helped me prepare for an opportunity in Iowa. Then I was introduced to an internship at Arizona State University. One led to another and I want to reach for more.

I’ve always been curious about finding out what makes us, us; our different personalities, anatomy or even our way of thinking. I want to dive into what goes on within the brain that makes us do certain things. Most of my life can easily go back to my curious, eye-catching decisions. Why is that? Even though I don’t know what the outcome will be, I know it will be worthwhile and I will learn from it. This is why biology, my cactus, interests me so much; my curiosity got the best of me!

Figure 1. There is a cactus named "curiosity cactus", which is seen in this picture ("Curiosity Cactus...", n.d.). Even though the cactus I grabbed and have engraved into my brain looks completely different, it is my unique curiosity cactus.

Citation

“Curiosity Cactus - Cereus Peruvianus ‘Monstrosus’ - Weird! - 4’ Pot.” Walmart.com, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Curiosity-Cactus-Cereus-peruvianus-Monstrosus-Weird-4-Pot/339466865.

Donating to Children With Hair Loss

Over the last few years that I’ve been in college, I enjoyed assignments that pertained to my goals. Reason being that I already had goals in mind so these assignments were natural and easy. What I am now realizing is that I’m glad I always had goals in mind. Sure, I didn’t write them down or make a vision board but I knew where I wanted to go. Turns out, you can check yourself by writing down goals in a SMART manner. No, I don’t mean there’s a stupid or smart way... SMART is an acronym for:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Time-bound

Of course, there are other words that can be used for the acronym such as Significant, Motivating and so on. So how exactly do SMART goals work? Well, if there’s a goal that you may have in mind, you use that to break it into the 5 categories. You ask yourself questions like “how will I know when I’ve reached my goal?”, “what will I do to get to my goal?”, etc. That being said, I recently used this method on a personal goal of mine: donating my hair to Children With Hair Loss (CWHL). Listed below is the SMART method I applied.

S- I want to be able to put a smile on a child’s face. Everyday, people get haircuts and most often then not, it’s thrown away. I want to take advantage of the hair on my head and give it to someone who is struggling and may benefit from it. There are organizations that are dedicated to creating wigs for children, one of which is CWHL. They make wigs and give them to children for free. This is an organization I want to support because I appreciate what they do and I love the fact that they provide their services to families at no charge.

M- Hair is 8 inches or longer (the length I will donate).

A- CWHL prefers hair that is healthy and not treated. From the time I started my goal, I have not damaged my hair by dying it and limited heat exposure (straightening/ curling). I could also start taking vitamins that will help my hair grow faster and healthier.

R- I rarely cut my hair so growing it is no problem.

T- Hair takes awhile to grow (especially mine)! I’ve been growing my hair out for about a year now and I still have more to go. I hope to have my hair down to my middle/ lower back by the time I donate it (1-1.5 years from now).

As I’ve mentioned before, using this method helped me determine if I was taking the right steps toward my goal. I encourage you all to do the same! :)

Figure 1. The logo for Children With Hair Loss, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and donating wigs to children with diseases that affect their hair ("Donate Your Hair", n.d.). 

Citation
“Donate Your Hair.” Children with Hair Loss, https://childrenwithhairloss.us/donate/donate-your-hair/.