Grad School - Year One

Done with midterms! And the advisor search!

Wow, it's been quite a crazy week already.

First things first - we're finally done with our first round of midterms! I'm glad we finished (at least, we get a week break before the next ones start), and it's even better to know that you've started the semester with a really solid footing...which means that now I can go out drinking more often!

Speaking of drinking, it seems like we've added tuesday as another drinking day. Monday nights are still some of the best, but on tuesdays the chem department has a massive gathering at Big 10 where we take full advantage of the $1.50 pitchers happy hour. Oh yeah.

Last friday I made a huge decision that'll follow me for the next 5 years and beyond - I finally settled on a research group and an advisor! Her name is Shana Sturla, a prof over at pharmacy school, with a specialty area devoted to cancer research. It's gonna be great! Right now we're finalizing the details of my first project, and the good thing is that is gonna involve plenty of organic synthesis....heheheh. Here's the link (although unfortunately the homepage hasn't been updated in a bit it seems) - http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/faculty/sturla_shana/home.html

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I also bought my tickets to florida for thanksgiving - I can't wait for it! I'm visiting three cousins I haven't seen forever, we're gonna have so much fun!

Everything seems to point out to a very relaxed and work-free weekend. I'll be sure to take advantage and make some big plans.

And another week goes by...

...which means that now we're well into midterms. Just had my first test this monday and it went reasonably well, but now I have to deal with the fact that I also have three more tests lined up for the next several mondays and that my weekends will be partially ruined. Such is life as a grad student.

Everything doesn't look so bleak though, seriously. I've met with several potential advisors at this stage and now I'm 95% sure that I'm sticking with one - it's gonna be great!! This means that a huge stress factor will be gone by next week. Also, I've finally arranged for my trip to florida during thanksgiving and I bought my ticket yesterday. Yeah! Can't wait to escape the blizzard and enjoy a couple of days at the beach!!

Yesterday I went to the bars for a bit. It had actually been a while since I had hit the Saloon, but I had a really good time and now I have more clubbing buddies than I've ever had. Something good will come out of it all.

No weekend plans as of yet, but I'm sure that's gonna change real soon. Relax, relax, and party hard before next week starts.

Couldn't pass up this one

No surprises here :)

You are an Atheist

When it comes to religion, you're a non-believer (simple as that). You prefer to think about what's known and proven. You don't need religion to solve life's problems. Instead, you tend to work things out with logic and philosophy.