geekification:

Scooped

And I’m scooped. My project was published in another organism yesterday. Fuck me.

Just want to add that I’ve been working really hard to finish some experiments and we are beginning to write our manuscript now. Sometimes these things work out.

Scooped

And I’m scooped. My project was published in another organism yesterday. Fuck me.

I think that, for me, part of the appeal of data analytics / data science is the aspect of seeking structure in chaos. My executive functioning skills have been especially suffering during work-from-home times, but my graduate studies are helping me build the skills to take the chaos and disorder and translate it into an organized format that can then be analyzed, optimized, and used to better-understand the big picture.

Since I’m still floating around in survive-then-thrive mode, I don’t yet have the time to put together any helpful tips for others to consider; however, doing so is ultimately my major goal for this blog. Some topics I’ve already been learning and hope to address soon via new content are:

• Identifying reliable research via 6 key characteristics
• Building a strong hypothesis for a research study
• Designing effective research methods
• Understanding key concepts in beginner database management and design

Skills I haven’t learned yet but eventually want to share:

• Programming in R
• Programming in SQL
• …and likely SO much more

So… Throughout the last 6 months, I’ve been coordinating with a teaching faculty member on a BIG mandatory tutoring project that he began to support the subject of his dissertation. Today, he told me that my name will be included in any research he publishes for the dissertation! Holy cow, am I excited! I might even get to take part in writing the conclusion. This might be smol beans but I’m stoked nonetheless!

Well sh!t, I guess Tumblr still exists.

Life update: After a series of personal crises and years of being MIA from here, I actually now have my B.S. in Discrete Mathematics (as of December 2019) and am about to start grad school in Business / Data Analytics. So I might just actually start using this again… and perhaps even consistently for once. Only time will tell!

So, uh… sorry for the absence! We’ll see if this sticks.

When I get placed into a seminar with all school counselors, I’m just like

When a practicum student asks me for clinical advice, I’m just like

When a supervisor asks ‘what do you need right now?’, I’m just like 

When my supervisor asks how things are going, me and my triadic supervision partner are just like

It happened! I never would have thought this is where I would be in 2021 but I actually graduated from my dream school!

I finally finished the corset! Pictures to follow when I buy the lacings.

Anyone have success or experience with negotiating for increased scholarship funding and financial aid especially for a master’s program? Any tips or advice are very appreciated! 

Winter Studying Challenge

21st January - Stay warm or go outside in the cold?

Definitely go outside! It’s so refreshing but the best thing if all is coming back indoors. Today I’m working on an essay due Monday.

“If you want to be proud of yourself, then do things in which you can take pride.” – Karen Horney

29/07/2021, Thursday.

The past semester was a tough one! A string of lectures, laboratories and projects left no time for anything else.

The past academical year had been intense. I was excited to start and afraid to fail. It is over now, if I look back I could not be more proud of myself! I worked hard and passed every single exam with the maximum score, I would have never thought I could achieve these results.

Catching up:

✔ Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory: exam was on the 1st June. It was the third and last part of an annual course! I do not have to think about it anymore.

✔ Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory: my group and I had to make a presentation on the 2nd July, we focused on soil and water elemental analysis. It had been difficult to focus on the presentation having so much else to study! I do not know how, but we managed.

✔ Analytical Chemistry: Environments and Materials: it has been interesting to study environmental chemistry. Understanding the mechanisms nature uses to defend itself against changes offered me the opportunity to reflect upon the anthropogenic impact on earth. Exam was on the 21st June.

✔ Physical Chemistry: Catalysis and Materials: it was the hardest one. The amount of material was insane and I felt submerged by it! In addition to the regular study hours (6-9 h a day) I had to present a project. It consisted in a graphical abstract, the image summarised the development of a new material. I presented it on the 26th July.

I am on vacation till the new academical year, my mind is a swirl of thoughts on how I should spend my time… Should I rest 2 months? Should I prepare for next year revising old topics? Should I find a traineeship?

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” - William James

21/04/2021, Wednesday.

Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory ended on March 31st. My group and I decided to be done with the report by this Friday, April 23rd. To make the work more enjoyable, I write and review from the balcony on my @onyxboox Note Air e-ink tablet

Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory has stated on April 12th, I am enjoying it so far! We are running analysis on samples of our choice. My group picked: old tea cups, little paintings on gold supports, soils, almonds, a Bahamian banknote and a Coastal batik. It will be interesting to put it all together for the final presentation

Big news: lectures are held both on-line and in class. I cannot stat to express my joy

Studying home has its perks, but Italians lockdowns have been mentally difficult for me (and many others). Even though Piedmont (my region) is constantly shifting between slightly different restrictions, I have seen no difference in my day to day life; As my activities pre-pandemic were: attend university; workout at the gym (which has been closed from Novembre 2020, opening again who knows when); spend time with S. (thankfully I managed to keep doing it)

“The harder I work, the luckier I get” - Samuel Goldwyn

27/03/2021 , Saturday.

Catching up:

Winter exam session was brilliant. I passed three exams -Advanced Analytical Chemistry, Advanced Macromolecules Chemistry and Advanced Physical Chemistry- with the highest grade possible

It was difficult in the beginning, I thought I would not make it! I never passed more than two exams each session, and it never occurred to me to score this high. I am proud!

Exams ended on March 1st. On March 8th I was already projected in the new semester.

Courses:

• Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory;
• Advanced Analytical Chemistry Laboratory;
• Analytical Chemistry: Environments and Materials;
• Physical Chemistry: Catalysis and Materials.

The labs are strictly linked to previous semester courses, while the remaining two I chose (I reached the point, I can finally customize my academical curriculum) ‍

At present:

I am currently attending Advanced Physical Chemistry Lab. Although I am not fond of the subject itself, I enjoy being back at university! ⚗️

In Italy it is still not permitted to attend lectures first person. I continue to spend most of my time on the computer. The situation is better than few month ago thanks to @onyxboox Note Air! I can’t do everything on it, but it hugely helps. I recently bought a bluetooth keyboard (Logitech, K380) and my e-ink tablet turned nearly into a computer ⌨

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

24/01/2021, Sunday.

Catching up:

• On the 23rd December I had Advanced Macromolecules Laboratory exam, passed it super good;
• I spent winter holidays at my parents house. Due to anxiety, I studied! But it was excellent to have good surrounding;
• Returned home on the 4th January and studied ever since.
• Helas, S. And I don’t live together any more… After our region downgraded to “orange zone”, he went back at his parents house.

Due dates:

• 24th January, Advanced Analytical Chemistry exam… Only two days left! How am I supposed to feel calm
• 3rd February, Advanced Macromolecules Chemistry exam. in one week I have to master all the exercises and the theory, I do not think I can make it! But I’ll try anyway

In the past year I had to study from home, which ment spending an insane amount of time on the computer… My eyes were screaming! As a Christmas gift I got @onyxboox Note Air. A life saver

I’ve been studying with it for four weeks and I’m in love!

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value” - Albert Einstein

22/11/2020, Sunday.

University shifted to online classes two weeks ago, I am sad because I love attending lectures and the general university atmosphere! I am trying to study in advance and keep up with the program as we do it. Not anxious enough to be productive 24/7, but I am working way more than I was used to do in my undergrad.

The good news is: Laboratories are allowed! They are the most important and enjoyable part of the courses, only have 6 afternoons though… Better than nothing! 2 done, 4 to go

Personal life: S. moved in temporarily. It is the best option to keep seing each other during lockdown 2.0. Life with a “roommate” is going smoothly. I thought it would have been harder! It is to be considered that he keeps going at university in order to finish his traineeship, he’s out of the house during office hours (I still have my alone time)

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” - Walt Disney

02/11/2020, Wednesday.

I started my laurea magistrale on the 28th September. Till now, I have been able to attend my lectures. The university has created an app to reserve your seat, it gives you a QR code to access the structure! ☺️

I do not know for how long we are allowed to go there! There has to be an announcement tonight/tomorrow. Worst scenario: everyone goes back to online mode! I fear I won’t be able to attend my lab this semester (6 afternoons! Just 6, let me do them!)

So far, I am attending three courses:

• Advanced macromolecular chemistry;
• Advanced physical chemistry;
• Advanced analytical chemistry.

I decided to attend fewer courses than the average student. My hope is to better focus on these and get rid of them as soon as possible (winter exam period: late January -> early March) with the highest grade I can achieve

After 5 years, I finally have a proper desk! Before I studied in the dining room (luckily it was rare I had something left to do at home, I managed to finish everything at university)… I am creating my study space, it was about time! It is important to me, especially because I’ll be doing most of my work at home

“Starting is not most people’s problem, staying, continuing and finishing is.” - Darren Hardy

09/09/2020, Wednesday.

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: yesterday I got the result, 28/30 it is a remarkable grade, especially with this professor. I am satisfied!

Passing the exam means I am free from university till the beginning of the lectures (it seems on the 28th September). I finally can rest, without worrying about my next step or study session or exam

It is the first time I relax for real after graduation! Bonus point: it’ll be the first birthday without working (25th September)

I know it may sound strange (considering the global situation), but I believe 2020 is my year! I graduated, passed two exams with excellents grades (gaining time during the actual master degree or laurea magistrale), had improvements done in the house (fells more mine now), kept up with training (I never look this good and never felt this healthy and energetic!) and my relation with S. is still solid

Dropping out of my PhD program to write fanfic I am ~very~ confident in this decision.