So one of the cool things about having a Weebly blog is that I can see "stats" of how many people are reading my stuff on the reg (thanks for that, you rock if you are reading this right now. Hi!)
I noticed a trend lately: my page view numbers are quite boosted compared to my number of unique visitors (see blue charts below). My lab mates and I have hypothesized that this odd pattern correlates to around the same time that the PSU interview requests were sent out to potential grad students. Or, you know, maybe it's just my parents and boyfriend reading it all because they feel like they have to, but I prefer to think that people considering graduate school, or higher ed in general, are reading my blog. If that is the case, then this post is for you (and good luck with your interviews!!!)
I noticed a trend lately: my page view numbers are quite boosted compared to my number of unique visitors (see blue charts below). My lab mates and I have hypothesized that this odd pattern correlates to around the same time that the PSU interview requests were sent out to potential grad students. Or, you know, maybe it's just my parents and boyfriend reading it all because they feel like they have to, but I prefer to think that people considering graduate school, or higher ed in general, are reading my blog. If that is the case, then this post is for you (and good luck with your interviews!!!)
One thing my parents have often said to me is "I wonder where you came from". No, I'm not an alien from outer space who came to Earth on a shooting star. No, I'm not adopted either (I had my DNA sequenced, and inherited exactly half from my dad, so there). When you look at me, I am an exact 50:50 mix of my mother and father (literally). But my whole family has always told me that I was a little bit different.
I was different because I liked reading more than I liked talking to people most of the time. I was a little bit odd because at 5 years old I wanted to be a marine biologist, not at all like my sister's goal of becoming a mermaid (true story). My family has always been quick to point out how quirky and unusual my interests are to them, and it's all stemmed from my lifelong aim to be a scientist. My reason is a simple one: there's just too much in the universe for my curiosity to ever be satisfied.
I was different because I liked reading more than I liked talking to people most of the time. I was a little bit odd because at 5 years old I wanted to be a marine biologist, not at all like my sister's goal of becoming a mermaid (true story). My family has always been quick to point out how quirky and unusual my interests are to them, and it's all stemmed from my lifelong aim to be a scientist. My reason is a simple one: there's just too much in the universe for my curiosity to ever be satisfied.
One of the many steps required to earn the scientist title was acquiring an education suited for my interests. It was one of my fifth grade teachers that told me of a seemingly magical high school about 30 minutes drive from my house where the students learned how to become marine biologists. I was privileged to grow up within the bounds of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). | MCVSD Mission Statement "The Monmouth County Vocational School District prepares students for an evolving workplace, lifelong learning and further education through specialized academics, career and technical programs and achievement of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards." |
The MCVSD is composed of five magnet high schools, called "career academies", that students could attend for no personal cost to gain skills in either Allied Health and Science, Biotechnology, Communications, High Technology (engineering), and Marine Science and Technology. I sent in an application, sat an exam, and eventually was permitted to attend MAST (check out map below - my high school was in the middle of the bay!).
My four years of high school were absolutely amazing! I played field hockey for my hometown high school because MCVSD schools didn't have sports teams. I was enrolled in a curriculum where I not only was guided by the scientific method and acquiring skills for conducting research projects, but where I was also enlisted in a Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). |
I'll dedicate whole posts to my high school years, but will say that it was one of my most favorite teachers in high school that suggested I broaden my mind during my undergraduate years. To use words that are probably remarkably close to her actual ones: Yes, marine biology is wicked cool, but there is so much more out there to discover in the world of soft, squishy things.