Goals and Beyond

Hello everyone,

This semester has been a trying one, but thankfully we’re at the last stretch with just a couple more weeks left of school. As we near the end, I wanted to reflect on the changes that I’ve made to my academic goals over time. When I first started at Phoenix College I was certain in pursuing a career in nursing. But as I started to take the pre-reqs such as BIO 156 or CHM 130, I grew inspired by the different aspects in the field of science. I asked questions and wondered about the world around me. This was when I realized that I wanted to do more than work in the medical field. Pursuing a career in the medical field would have fulfilled one of my goals in dedicating my life to helping others, but it wouldn’t fulfill a goal that I’ve had since I was younger. This goal has always been to be a scientist. I wanted to be someone who made discoveries, performed research and asked difficult questions about the way the world works. When I understood the importance of pursuing a career that fulfilled both, I shifted gears on my academic goals. By doing this, I was certain that I would live a life doing the things I love and have a meaningful career. 

Since changing my goals a couple of years ago, I’ve received an Associate in science and have transferred to Arizona state university. I was accepted to be a STEM/TRAIN scholar and also made a goal to pursue undergraduate research. This semester I’ve started working as an intern in Dr. Polidoro’s SWAT lab, where we perform research that may impact the lives of communities in the Philippines and American Samoa. Although I haven’t quite set myself with a career goal, I’m certain that I’ll find inspiration, just as I did the first time, by doing research and continuing to work towards my biology degree.