Hey y’all, long time no write. So, some news: this Friday I officially graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago (can’t believe I’m officially a biologist!!!). With much effort, gusto, and possibly a lack of sanity, I managed to do this in three years, and I’m quite proud of myself. I also completed my Honors Capstone Thesis (Vector-Borne Disease and Climate Change) and won the Honors College Award of Distinction from my presentation at the UIC 2021 Impact and Research Week.

So often in my life I’ve been told that I can’t do things or that I’m not taking the usual route, and as I’ve grown (and continue to grow), I’ve learned to stop caring as much about what others think in this regard. I’m carving my own path, and even if I’m not always sure where the end destination will be, nobody can take from me that sense of ownership and self. Not to say this manner relieves any stress, actually, it tends to do the opposite, but it is more sincere to who I am. I think for this reason I’m proud of myself from stepping away from medicine, as sad it is to waste my MCAT score and all the other preparations I made.

What comes next, you ask? Well, I’ll be heading to Honduras in July and a lot of what comes after will depend on my experience there. I’m going to be volunteer teaching English, but I’m also going to try to write/publish something of the academic sort while I have the location and the time away. After, I’ll be looking into graduate programs, preferably something funded, unless I find my calling in teaching English. I’m open to throwing myself at whatever fulfills me, although I must admit that getting a doctorate is high on my to-do list. So yeah, I am going to end this post here, but I just felt this update was necessary as I take my next big steps out into the world.

Happy reading,
-Beppa