Just an ordinary day. . .

Whenever, I go through everyone's blogs I'm so glad to be able to interact with some really cool sistahs. Although our hair has brought us together, its the beautiful personalities and williness to show love that makes me stay. Thanks y'all (:

I think I'm in my sixth week now. The front of my hair is starting to act right. Isn't it a wonder what our hair will do when we work with it and not against it? I guess that's the choleric in me, I want the best and I feel like my SL's are the best for me!

Peace!

Hey I'm purple! I mean that's my inner hair color...

Your Hair Should Be Purple

Intense, thoughtful, and unconventional. You're always philosophizing and inspiring others with your insights.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

I love these tests they're so fun.

You know, its funny how God works. Here I am, lamenting over my hazy future in academia and I learn about a mentorship program that is geared towards pairing minorities (at any stage of their career) with someone in industry. For anyone who has yet to try to break into a pharmaceutical company, let me tell you, you betta know somebody cuz it's not easy. So I found about this program by reading the Science Careers Forum that's moderated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science AAAS. Its 11PM on Wednesday, January 4th and the deadline (postmark thank goodness) is Friday January 6th! So what do I do? I take the plunge. I managed to finangle recommendation letters from my dean and my advisor (with one day's notice! ouch!) without raising a lot of ire. And then I put my experiments aside and get to work on my personal statement. As I wrote my statement today, I got my usual writer's block (of course) but then I started to verbalize innermost desires. I thought, "What the hey, what's the worst that could happen?" So I started to describe how I wanted to pursue research in Immunotherapy and develop a cell-based therapeutic with stem cells. As soon as I wrote these words, my excitement for science began to return. If you took away all the drama of academia (the grantwriting, the politics, etc. . .), all the things that make me want to avoid it, I would still choose to perform research in this area. Industry may be the way to have what I want without the drama of academia (although I'm sure industry has its own ills). Writing this statement helped me to really focus on what I want. I know that I want to do this because I can feel the passion in my bones. Wish me luck y'all I have a good feeling about this.

Thanks for the Temperment Test Jen, that was fun.

So I jumped on the bandwagon. I'm 100% choleric. But I'm not surprised. This comment: "Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life. You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation.", describes me to a T. I'm finishing my degree program this year (Pray for me y'all), and I want the best, I'm just not sure running a lab in academia is my passion anymore.

They (actually I don't know who "they" is) say that you only live once and I want to live my life to the fullest. I want to be passionate about my career and enjoy the challenges that it brings. Basic science research gives me this challenge but instead of enjoying it, I feel a war-torn and battle-weary. I do know that when I mentor undergrads or even explain my work to elementary school children, I get a buzz of excitement when I see their eyes light up with interest. I know that I need to work more with the community. So I'm thinking Science Policy with a focus on diplomacy. But there's still part of me that loves science and the possiblity of conducting research that will one day lead to a cure for cancer or HIV. So here I am, back on the fence. Only time and networking will tell.

You Have a Choleric Temperament

You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things. Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life. You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation. You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon. Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall. You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others. At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults. Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion. A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior.

What Temperment Are You?

Now, could this happy-go-lucky gal celebrating the new year be all of these bad things (said in a passive-aggresive, guilt inspiring tone made to make you feel sorry for her)? Don't know if I could be proud of my faults--seems kind of pompous to me. And I am a bit more flexible, but they did say "at your worst" and I usually try to present and feel my best (see the first paragraph). I can see the narcissist trait with my SL's. I just can't help lookin' at them! But maybe I'm just giving myself some much needed self love--there's nothing wrong with that(;

Peace!