Fall 18 Semester Wrap-Up

Happy Thursday Y’all!

Bet you never thought you’d see that phrase again.. I’m so happy to be home for winter break and focused on the blog again. Even though I’m beyond bummed I didn’t get to curate some bomb.com holiday gift guides in time for the Christmas season, I still have some really fun winter OOTD posts planned (as well as a few other things) over the next few weeks. In the meantime, we’ll have to start off a little slow with an update.

As I’m sure you’re all aware, I am a senior Biotechnology major; however, this year has been a little different. My college has a 4+1 program for the Biotechs that allows us to also go for our Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine.

I hate complaining but because my advisor low-key screwed me over, I’ve basically been taking undergrad classes alongside the master’s classes, for a total of 18 credits this semester. Yeah, I’m talking like 6 classes, + research, + holding down 2 jobs, and still dancing with the dance team for the past 4 months straight. And it’s only just getting started.. next semester only turns up the intensity. But I digress, I really just wanted to give y’all the 411 on why I’ve been so MIA while also putting an end to my last fall semester as an undergrad.

Mold.. Yes, you read that right.

Okay so it’s bad enough that I had to go back to school a week earlier than everybody else, right? *cue dramatic eyeroll* But it gets better.. Because of all of the crazy rain we had this summer in PA and the poor design of the apartment building air conditioners mold basically took over every single room. After moving everything in one day, we had to move it all back out again for two weeks, displacing about 200 students.

Luckily, I was able to stay with my boyfriend during those two weeks, but it couldn’t have been worse timing. With all of the hectic-ness of a new semester, it was a difficult transition and commuting back and forth was not ideal.

Our new vice president was super on top of the issue and did everything he could to help us students out which was definitely appreciated. It’s kind of funny to look back on now, I mean I basically was using my car as a closet, but it was just the beginning of what would be a trying semester for pretty much everyone.

I wish I was kidding.. there was more packed in the seats too. 10/10 would NOT recommend the car/closet hybrid.

Not to mention, within those first two weeks, the school had random, unexplained power outages and I managed to land myself two parking tickets with campus security. It was a strange time.

Work, work, work, work, work, work. *Rihanna voice*

So I work for the college’s Office of Student Activities and I am one of a team of event programmers. I love my job because I feel like I get to organize and help provide really awesome opportunities for students to do over the weekend, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult. Because I definitely care too much, it always takes up so much of my time and stresses me more than I’d like to admit (even if it’s self-inflicted).

That being said, I got to organize 4 super successful events that included Celebrity Bingo (an idea I’ve been pitching for like a year and a half now) and an Office Trivia Night. Event planning never goes the way you expect it to, but it usually turns out to be worth it.

The best OSA team literally ever

I also work for a team in NYC working on insurance things. Luckily I’m able to do all of that work from home (A.K.A. my dorm room desk) but it’s a good 10 hours a week that I carve out to make it happen. Again, I love that job for a multitude of reasons but maybe take my advice (even though I don’t listen to my own) and pick one job, NOT two.

Master’s Classes

Okay, who’s tired of hearing about Master’s classes? Because I know I am.

I could have never anticipated what it would have been like to take these classes. Although I knew they were going to be ‘flipped classroom’ style, never in a million years could I have guessed the amount of time I would need to devote each week to all of the assignments and material we’re responsible for knowing.

I’m just going to throw it out there.. I’m a SLOW note taker. So after spending 2+ hours outside of the classroom just trying to get prepared for the class, then having to spend an additional 2 hours in class, and FINALLY spending another 2+ hours reviewing the material post-class to turn in weekly quizzes/written assignments, I was BEAT. And that’s just for one class… keep in mind I was taking 4 so you do the math.

Figuring out a schedule to make all of this possible was the most important part of my semester. So long free time, you could basically find me with my computer open 24/7 working on something biology related. It wasn’t always fun but I definitely learned to cope with everything and in the end it all turned out okay.

Also, if anyone has any advice.. I’m thinking about changing from Molecular Medicine to Infectious Disease next year.. good idea or s’not? Who really knows.

Research

Okay this cracks me up just thinking about it. I still don’t have a CLUE what I’m really doing. I just know it’s related to small heat shock proteins in hydra and that’s about as deep as it gets for me.

I mean, I guess I also know that the last few experiments I ran were successful so I’m glad I could end the semester on a positive.

Dance

So I’m not good at a lot in life, but I am a decent dancer. I’ve been a member of the college’s dance team for 3 years now and I got to choreograph a Harry Styles/Shawn Mendes mashup up with one of my favorite people on the team.

Even though I leave practice sometimes feeling a little crazy, I would not trade my dance family for the world. It’s pretty much the only thing that keeps me sane while I’m away.

Introducing the ECDT family for the first time to the blog (:

Bless your ears with this Sign of the Times/In my Blood mashup. Thank me later.

Stressin ‘Bout da Future

As a senior, I watched my roommates and closest friends stress about finding a job post graduation. Although I consider myself extremely lucky because of the major I chose, it still made me feel like I was always lagging behind everybody else.

I’m going to be honest. I don’t have a set path yet (both a blessing and a curse). I want to intern for Disney, move to New York, and eventually study fashion all at the same time. It’s confusing and difficult and a topic that might get an entire blog post devoted to it eventually because there is really just too much to unpack right now.

I CAN say quickly though that it is never too soon to be thinking seriously about the future. I got my resume together, attended career fairs, and spoke with both my college’s advisors and friends who had already graduated. I gathered valuable advice and am excited (but mostly nervous) to start seriously considering my options within the next few weeks, and that’s totally okay.

All-in-All

Even though this was really a difficult semester for pretty much everyone that I’ve talked to, it wasn’t all bad. I ended with a 3.8 GPA, got to see Niall in concert, travel to NYC a few times, and attend 3 weddings. Remembering that it’s all about the little things in life always helps.

How did all of your semesters go? Do you worry about some of the same things I’ve been stressin’ over? Let me know in the comments! Also let me know if there is anything specific you want to see while I’m home! I can’t wait to start putting together some OOTDs soon (:

And..

Until next time,

xx.Britani Skye

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