Blog

Transformation from 1st year PhD Student to "Doc"

This picture was taken on my first birthday in Dr. Cissy Ballen's lab, less than a month after starting a PhD program and conducting research in her lab. My mom sent me this box of cupcakes to celebrate! Today (May 5th, 2023), around four years later, Cissy sent this picture to me, as it is officially my last day as a PhD student. I started crying as it is bittersweet to end this chapter of my education. It is sweet because I achieved my life-long goal of earning a biology PhD and conducting biology education research to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion of students in post-secondary biology courses. However, it is also bitter because I am leaving a fantastic lab, led by one of the GREATEST ADVISORS OF ALL TIME (i.e., Cissy Ballen). However, I am excited for my next steps moving forward. 

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The "Speedy Weenie"

​I adore running, and this past weekend my advisor, Cissy Ballen, and her husband, Michael Smith, hosted a 3-5 km race called the Speedy Weenie. They describe is as "A Swabian Tradition, where people run while carrying 1kg of wieners (or sides), to a BBQ finish line." an As an avid runner, I was really excited to run this race for fun, but...

Then I heard the first place winner would receive a coffee mug with the Speedy Weenie emblem on it. It was at that moment that I knew this race would no longer be for fun because I just had to win that mug.

At the starting line, I had my dog Lou leashed to me and I had 2 kg (1 for me and one for Lou) of grapes and oranges in both of my hands. When the saxophone went off to start the race, me and Lou took off down the gravel path with one thing on our minds: the coveted speedy weenie coffee mug and the sweet drinks we would drink from it. 

​See below for the outcome.

A beautiful, cartoonized version of the picture taken of the speediest woman weenies. From left to right: Katie Eaton (2nd place), Emily and Lou Driessen (1st place), and Rebecca Aguilar (3rd place). 

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High Tea

Have you ever heard of a "high tea?" I first encountered this term when I was backpacking through Western Europe in the Summer of 2014. My friend and I had just arrived to London. As we were searching Trip Advisor (future sponsorship pending) for fun things to do in the area, I happened upon a high tea experience. Essentially, a person is to dress in their finest, arrive at a swanky tea parlor, and eat their weight in macaroons, finger sandwiches, scones, and other treats. Oh, and don't forget to drink loads of tea. 

My friend and I decided to make a reservation at a nice hotel in downtown district, and we had a fantastic time. I fell in love with the idea of eating this way every so often, so, recently during my "stay safe at home" restlessness, I decided to prepare a high tea with my roommate. We each picked one or two items to either (1) learn how to make or (2) perfect. I wish I could claim those perfect looking strawberry cheesecake macaroons you see below. However, those were a labor of love contributed by my roommate, Jenny. I chose to make the finger sandwiches pictured below those sweet, beautiful macaroons. These are called cucumber sandwiches. You may think to yourself, "cucumber sandwiches? yuck." Please rest assured, they are full of delicious cream cheese, fresh dill, fresh chives, garlic powder, and crisp cucumbers. 

After we prepared the delicacies, we plated them on a cute three-tiered serving platter and prepared some tea. We then relaxed and indulged. It was not as fancy as the London high tea I experienced, but it also didn't cost 100 pounds. 

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