Tag Archives: summer

Summer Lab Experiences

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When I went to talk to my chemistry professor about a test my very first semester in college, I never imagined that our conversation would be a segue into a discussion about potential research opportunities and a chance to do research over the summer. Once we had a more formal interview and I learned more about his work in the lab, I knew that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with him. I ended up working with Dr. Leconte for eight weeks this past summer along with five other girls from Scripps and CMC. I loved getting to know all the girls and fostering a relationship with Dr. Leconte, whom I now call by his first name. He treated us like graduate students and let us decide the course of our research which helped me learn valuable critical thinking skills, as well as how to think on my feet and manage my time well. At first, I felt somewhat out of place, unsure of whether or not I was cut out for the position and questioning my professor’s judgment of my potential. Working in the lab, designing my own protocols, and working mostly on my own, I gained a sense of confidence in myself and in my skills as a scientist, student, and learner, that will carry over into every other part of my life.

Picture1As in life, experiences in the lab rarely go as planned. Just like the adorable puppy has shown above, you can always be prepared, but I began to notice that even with protocols I had run multiple times, they often didn’t produce the results I expected. At first, this was extremely frustrating and it was hard not to become discouraged, but after talking with my lab mates and with my PI, I knew that it was very normal and a large part of life in the lab. I also found that because many experiments didn’t produce anticipated results, protocols ended up taking much longer than predicted. Similarly, I found this very frustrating, especially when executing an experiment for the first time. Oftentimes, I would only accomplish one or two things on my to-do list that initially had five or six items. What this taught me is that you never know how things are going to pan out, no matter how much you prepare or how experienced you are. The only thing you can control about those sorts of situations is how you react and how you choose to move forward. That was probably the single most important thing I learned and experienced this summer.

I have always been taught that worrying about things doesn’t make them any better, and this summer, I had the chance to not only get over that habit, but learn how to move forward, even when I was unsure of where I was going. What I realized is that starting to move forward is probably the most crucial step when deciding to move past your apprehension and keep going. Once I could assess situations thoughtfully, I was able to decide the next course of action and then execute those plans.

Learning to make quick decisions and follow through with plans is a lifelong skill that I know will help in future occupations and as a student. If you’re a worrier, how do you combat that apprehension? Have any advice for other readers? Questions about research at Keck? Comment below!

What to Take Away From an Internship You Loved/Hated

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frabz-Youre-telling-me-that-at-this-internship-I-dont-have-to-get-you-5d37aeEveryone can relate to the dreadful feeling that washes over you the morning before your first day at your new internship. The type of anxiety that twists your stomach into knots, forces beads of sweat to appear on your forehead, and makes you second-guess your first-day outfit choice one too many times. As you step foot into your new office, your mind runs at a million miles per minute, ridden with mixed emotions and most of all, fear. Unsure of what lies ahead, you deliberate: Will I enjoy my time at this company? Will I contribute and make a lasting impact? What happens if I hate it??

In reality, not only can we all relate to the anxious feeling leading up to our first day on the job, but we can also empathize with the disappointment or surprise when faced with the reality behind the position description you initially read on the job posting.

My personal experiences with internships in the past have taught me many valuable lessons on what to take away from an employment opportunity, regardless of whether my experience was positive or negative. After being accepted to a renowned company as their summer intern two summers ago, I was more excited than ever to begin summer. As the weeks flew by, and my initial anxiety faded, I came to realize that I hated everything about what I was doing. Nothing had prepared me for the fact that I would be stuck doing chores completely unrelated to the position description, feeling as if I was gaining no valuable skills, performing mindless and laborious tasks with no credit, and without pay to top it all off. It was almost tragic–the buildup and anticipation that I had held onto as I awaited summer because of this job came to a crashing halt, and I dreaded crossing the Golden Gate every morning to go to work.

At that point, I knew I had to do something to change the course of where this suddenly grim summer was heading. After working my connections, I was given the opportunity to work with a company, alongside the company executive, that changed my life and point of view, and turned my summer around. I began working two jobs, knowing I needed an escape from my original position, but not wanting to quit as I had come too far already. The new perspectives and diversity of skills I gained as an employee of the agency (no intern title here!), made me recognize my true potential and the innate skills I already had, which I was able to refine. Not only was I compensated for my work here, but I also felt as if I was given the credit I deserved for my hard work, which had a clear, constructive impact shortly after I arrived. I found myself at my first job, thinking about my second job and using any spare time I had to contact my boss with updates, research brand development, and mentally map out the photo series I was planning to create that following weekend. Eventually, my cubicle at my first job became littered with pink and purple post-it notes crowded with ideas and sketches for my second job.

At the end of the summer, coming out of both these diverging experiences, I realized that I had gained so much, when I previously thought what I had been doing was a waste of time. What I learned from the internship I hated was the fact that I need to have agency and a voice in the company where I work, and simply put, that I would never work in that professional sphere again. I was proud of myself for not quitting, even when I was driven to the edge of my patience, and instead, pushed myself to find something that would occupy my mind and time positively. I took full advantage of my original internship by speaking one-on-one with my superiors and the different artists I encountered, as well as with my other interns. In the end, I was able to make connections and lasting friendships, as well as find out more about my desired career path and myself. Clearly, I gained more than I ever could have imagined from the internship I loved, even having the opportunity to work remotely and for the following summer, which turned out to be even better and more rewarding than the last. Reflecting on my time with this company, I notice that because I was able to wear so many hats and was given many responsibilities where I was able to use my creative perspective and drive to fulfill these goals, I flourished and grew as a young professional and young woman.

In the end, although the initial awe and glamour may wear off, even when you find yourself fetching coffee, spending three hours fixing an evil photocopy machine, or doing any other stereotypical, mind-numbing intern work, there can always be a positive outcome from any experience. Whether that is figuring out exactly where you don’t want to end up, calculating the next steps towards getting where you do want to be, or even making a new connection, you will gain something valuable if you make the best of your potentially despairing intern situation.

The Worst Summer Ever… Or Was It?

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Hi, my name is Isobel Whitcomb, and I have officially endured The Worst Summer Ever. All hyperboles aside, from any person’s objective standpoint, my summer does look pretty bad.

All year, I had been looking forward to studying abroad in Bhutan with the School for Field Studies (SFS), taking classes and conducting an independent research project at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and the Environment (UWICE). My time there was to be spent scaling the rough terrain of the Himalayas, collecting data in the field, and learning from both American and Bhutanese professors in ecology and forestry.

And then everything went awry.

UWICE, where I was meant to study this summer.

It all started during my first week at home. I should have been excited to be done with Junior year, for my 21st birthday, and most of all to take off for Bhutan. But I just couldn’t muster up the enthusiasm or energy. My mum kept saying “I didn’t look quite right,” (thanks, Mum), but I just chalked up the comments to her British bluntness. I felt tired and bedraggled. The simplest tasks zapped me of energy. I was sleeping all the time. But to be honest, who doesn’t feel a little wiped out after a long, hard semester and all the stress of finals week. It wasn’t until my face and neck erupted in huge, painful lumps and I got a high fever that I realized perhaps something was wrong.

Drawing a comparison between me and this chipmunk would be doing the chipmunk a disservice.

So I had mono. And strep throat. And a respiratory infection. I could probably soldier through that, right? Wrong, Isobel, very wrong. My doctor absolutely banned me from traveling, even though if her consent hadn’t been an issue I would have gone anyways.

I was forced abandon my entire plan for the summer. Not only was this incredibly disappointing for obvious reasons, but the decision came with a vast amount of guilt. Like all my fellow Scrippsies, I am a high achieving liberal arts student. Throughout my time in college, I’ve had it drilled into me that summers are a time of productivity meant for internships, research, or classes. Now, I was having the valuable summer before my senior year snatched from me.

Or so I thought. After three weeks of resting in bed, either sleeping, watching netflix, or trying to figure out how to get food and liquids into me without feeling even more sick, I began to feel slightly better. Now, “better” is entirely relative. By “better” I mean that I was able to sit out on my back porch and do a low key activity, like reading, writing, and painting. I was able to walk around the block once or twice. As it turned out, this time for self-reflection was exactly what I needed, not only physically, but mentally.

If I were to print a novelty calendar for my year, this would be the background for June.

College is stressful. Not only is it a time when success is defined by good grades and time spent doing research or running clubs, but it’s also a developmentally formative time when we’re trying to figure out once and for all who we are, who our people are, and what exactly we’re supposed to do with the rest of our lives.

Now, I don’t want to give the impression that I haven’t totally appreciated my three plus years at Scripps. I’ve made friends with some of the brightest, most genuine women I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I’ve taken life-changing courses. I’ve spent hours reading Foucault while lying in the sun on Jacqua quad. But I’ve also struggled to find my niche academically, to decide on the career to pursue, and of course I have struggled with comparing myself to the bright, accomplished young women I just mentioned.

I found that as I rested my body, I gained mental clarity. I began to tease out my priorities. No path immediately appeared through the murky mire of what I wanted to do in life, but my values did quickly reveal themselves. For instance, I realized that I wasn’t willing to give up writing, and that any career I pursued would need to allow for a touch of creativity. As the summer went on, I began venturing onto the internet to explore my options for jobs and for grad school. For years I’ve entertained the idea of going into Science writing without really understanding how I might get there. Over the summer, I finally had the time, and mental energy to seriously look into these options. I called alumni, emailed program directors.

For the first time, I began to feel excited for life after graduation. Even more than that, I absolutely couldn’t wait.

Coming back to school last week, I was asked countless times “How was your summer?” Some people hadn’t heard, or else had forgotten that I spend half the summer recovering from three illnesses. Nevertheless, whenever I’m met with this question, I smile and answer with ease “It was my best summer yet.” Because sometimes the events in life that we least expect are the most valuable, and formative of our lives.

Once I’m established as a science writer, I’ll have mono to thank.

Discussion: If you have stories of mishaps or unexpected events that ended up leading to significant change or decision in life, leave it in the comments! I’d love to hear them.

Getting the Job

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There is nothing worse than the weeks of anxiety that come after having applied to a job, and knowing that you’ll get some sort of response at some point, but not knowing when. Our modern age makes this time particularly volatile, as I can check my emails incessantly, an action that undoubtedly increases my anxiety. During college acceptance season last year, I often joked to my friends that it felt like we were living during the Cold War, waiting for the bomb to drop at any time. It was not uncommon to see kids break down during class, having peeked at their phones under their desk only to see that they had gotten rejected from a school. Waiting for this job to get back to me brought back those feelings of anxiety.

The job I applied for told me they would get back to me by the end of the week, but if I didn’t get a response, not to panic (as if that was something I could control). I had sent them a follow-up email after my interview, as the Gods who wrote the Career Services Guide had directed me to do, and when I hadn’t heard a response by the next week, I sent another quick email asking whether or not a decision had been made.

The reply I received was worse than rejection: “A decision has been made, and you will hear from us shortly.”

Shortly? Shortly?! I thought that meant by the end of the day- or the next day, when I still hadn’t received a response. In reality, it meant three days, during which time I busied myself with friends and schoolwork, trying to get the uncertain nature of my future off my mind. But at the end of three days, I got the best news possible- I had gotten the job!

broadcityyas

I so excited, that I ran into Mallott at brunch without swiping in, having seen my friends in there (I got yelled at and had to go back). I immediately texted my family, who told me they were so proud. I am still so relieved to have a set plan for the summer, and that I no longer have to worry about waitressing, because…

igotmoneynow

I still have a far way to go before becoming a full-fledged career woman- I’m texting my dad tomorrow to help me fill out all the paperwork for the job. But I’m glad I was able to take the first step in getting an actual job, at an actual organization. I’m a bit nervous due to the sheer amount I’ll have to work- the job is 9-5, Monday through Friday, working with young children. It’s more hours than I’ve ever worked before, and I have to get up early to go into New York with my dad, too. Talking to a volunteer there, I heard it was the most professional environment that they had ever worked in. Still, I know that I will get plenty of training before actually starting my job, and I’m excited for all the new challenges to come.

 

 

 

What Taylor Swift and Anne Hathaway Didn’t Tell Me: Interning in NYC Edition

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In her “Welcome to New York” ballad, Taylor Swift speaks of bright lights and bustling streets. In The Devils Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway’s character enters magazine publishing with wide eyes, a vulnerable heart, and a lumpy khaki blazer. What, you may ask, connects the two? Well first off, the city that Swift glamorizes and the city that Hathaway tries to navigate is the same place: New York City. Their second connection? I listened to and watched both on my way to NYC this summer. I was equally as sparkly as Swift’s lyrics and equally as optimistic as Hathaway. I was envisioning all possible scenarios, dreaming big, but also completely naïve. I had no idea what to expect. But luckily, everything worked out for the best. I didn’t turn into Hathaway (thankfully), I didn’t transform into the glamorous Swift-ian city-goer (darn), but I did learn more about magazines and myself than I ever imagined possible. If you’re interested in knowing what Taylor Swift and Anne Hathaway didn’t prepare me for this summer, but what I actually managed to learn on my own, read on:

  1. People are great
    Specifically, networking with people is great. One of the most fulfilling experiences I had this summer was meeting with alumnae, going to lunch with the people I worked with, and making genuine connections with professionals. Not only does networking get SO MUCH EASIER with practice, you will also find yourself wanting to network at any given chance. The key, I learned, to networking is to never doubt yourself. It’s hard to say “be yourself” because chances are a lot of us don’t really know who we are just yet. But what I did, and what you can do too, is silence that voice in your head that is making you apprehensive. You are worthy of anyone’s time, now go for it.
  2. Asking questions is a learned skill
    Start with what you know, then follow with a question. The best thing I improved upon this summer was how I asked questions. For example, I would say “I know that we receive RFPs from advertisers first, but my question now is – what work then needs to be done on our end?” You’ll let the person know how brilliant you are, but that you also want to learn more. But don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know anything. For instance, I asked on multiple occasions: “What’s an RFP?”
  3. Business casual is cool, even when the weather is not
    Yes, I wear business casual on a daily basis. I love a good ballet flat, ask any of my friends. But Claremont weather is much, much different than NYC weather. The key to living in hot, humid weather while also being on a budget? Creativity. I brought a grand total of three pencil skirts, two button-down blouses, and a variety of other professional-ish clothes with me. And I still managed to dress myself for 10 weeks. I realized that I didn’t need a huge salary to keep my outfits interesting and different. I even snuck in a crop top to work (shh, don’t tell my supervisors).
  4. A Scripps degree (or any liberal arts degree) is actually pragmatic
    I felt smart this summer. Like genuinely intelligent. Although I was primarily assisting in client relations from the advertising sales side of ELLE DECOR Magazine, many of the things I’ve learned at Scripps came into play. As an English major, it’s my job to write goodly. But from the interdisciplinary and analytic thinking skills I’ve acquired over the years, I was able to easily adapt, learn, and process information this summer. I was assigned a final project that had me connect interior design to banking. Say whaaat? But due to Scripps’ challenging courses and encouragement to actually think, I had no problem doing my job. And I am so thankful for that.
  5. Bagels are better in NYC
    This has absolutely no connection to anything career related, but it’s true. And you know Ms. Swift doesn’t eat bagels, so take it from me.