I graduated 1.5 years ago, and am still working in a lab.
I'm no longer volunteering at the juvenile detention, but that was really interesting. I've learned I really LOVE and need to do the volunteering/mentoring thins, so I have been helping some kids I I met online. man, i just can NOT imagine living like the girl I mentor.... she gets beat up at school every other day, and heck more I just can not imagine having to go through.
I've finally, after a bit over a year in chicago, started to accept this place as "home'. I'm always moving, so I know there is no such thing as a "place" call home. But, i'm feeling a bit more like i belong here, and less sick of always moving around.
A few weeks ago (maybe a month), i met this AWESOME boy. He's a grad student. We have had so many awesome conversations/debates. Like most good friends, we have a lot in common, but a lot starkly different. We just really get along and have a good time together. He lives off in the suburbs, about 40 miles away from me, so that kindof sucks. but, you know the song "this is how you remind me of who I really am...". It TOTALLY applies here. 🙂
so, i'm still doing secondaries, chasing schools, and so far one interview. other then that, i'm poking cells and doing re search.
so far lab has NOT worked out for me. It's not like I think (my PI really wishes I would, and I really wish there was a NEED for me to). and the only places there are to think, i'm incapable to that (i've never done that kindof stuff before, defining a project/goal, so I have no idea how to begin). So, quite naturally i get stuck with stupid projects that even I know don't have direction.. yeah, my project needs direction. but, i don't have e nough exprience to give it direction... oh well, a lot would be helped if I tolk my PI something to this effect. instead, i just sit here gather data (which I sortof feel like is what I am supposed to be doing). I try to remind myself this is my last chance for real in depth research, so I should make somehting good out of it. buti don't. oh well. I DO try to develop new techniques, but that is Soooo aside to our project.
Sonya