Lately, I’ve been thinking about the goals I want to work towards this semester, and the things I want to achieve by the time May comes around. When developing goals, I think it’s important to write them down so that every day, I can remind myself of the things I set out to accomplish.
One of my top priorities for the semester is to succeed academically. My course load for this semester is a bit lighter than it has been in the past; therefore, I expect to earn a high GPA for the semester. Now that I’m a junior, I’m taking upper-level classes in my biology major, and the classes have been incredibly interesting thus far (I’m especially excited about BIOL 416 – The Biology of Cancer). I will also begin the process of writing my honors thesis this semester. I joined my neuroscience lab during the fall semester of my freshman year, and it’s been remarkable to see the progress I have made since I began. In particular, my thesis involves creating an in-vitro assay using cultured neurons from mouse embryos to study how ketamine (an anesthetic drug) produces anti-depressant effects in the brain. If successful, this model will have the ability to let researchers know whether a given compound suspected of treating depression can actually act as an anti-depressant.
Aside from the academically-related aspirations I have for the semester, I also want to do more to absorb and take in the experience of being a student at Penn State. Each day, I’m inevitably getting closer to the day I graduate and have to enter the “real world.” Personally, it feels like I’m beginning to take my time at Penn State for granted, and I’m a bit upset at myself for it. However, I will definitely work to change that mentality this semester. I’ll also try out new things that I haven’t experienced before, whether it’s attending my first ice hockey game or eating at the restaurant I’ve avoided thus far. Above all, I’ll cherish the time I have left at Penn State, and I will try my best to make the most of it.
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