Final Week of Term :)

It's officially the final week of term and I just can't wait to go home and spend a few days relaxing and spending time with family/friends before I crack on with the revision. This week hasn't been as hectic as the last two weeks I must admit! This week, as I mentioned in my previous blog, is revision week - on Monday we had a  Medical Biochemistry revision lecture; the lecture for the other two modules were cancelled for self-study. As for labs, well, I only need to go in for two days this week to finish off the final series for the NMR experiments. So in the spirit of Christmas, we decided to throw a Christmas party at my friend's flat which was really fun! My secret Santa this year was one of my close friends...so she knew exactly what I love and hate (pretty lucky for me I guess!) And as expected I loved my present...a chocolate fondue set...which I just can't wait to use! :)

It has been a very busy first term...but I do have exams coming up in January...so regardless of the festive fun I am bound to get caught up in...here's my 'MUST DO' ( not 'To Do') checklist for the next three weeks:

1. Revise all lectures and attempt all past paper questions for the Biochemistry exam; go through all lectures and the designated text book for the Cancer Biology exam.

2. Start writing up my final year project (i.e. the 10-15 page introduction)...which means reading...reading...and dare I say it...READING as many journals as I can!

And this shouldn't really be something that should go on the checklist...but something I still need to do...Purchase all my Christmas gifts/ wrap them up in time for Christmas!!! (And maybe I'll make a promise to myself right now that if I make a start on number 1. and 2. of the checklist sooner rather than later... maybe I can take a day off from revision and go shopping on Boxing Day to find some treasures for myself in the Boxing Day Sales...retail therapy helps relieve stress right? ;) )

So all that's left for me to say is: GOOD LUCK to those of you who also have January exams coming up... for those lucky few who don't have exams...well...here's hoping you have a well deserved rest!

And of course...

"MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!" :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The Christmas season has officially begun!!! The Christmas lights are up in town, the Christmas tree has been put up at home (this year….a Winter Wonderland themed tree... covered with white, sky blue and silver decorations) and preparations for the Christmas party (both with friends at uni and family at home) is well underway! All that’s left to do now is purchase all the gifts, wrap them up beautifully and leave them under the tree… but what with all the uni work that I've been buried under recently… I’m beginning to think Christmas Eve is the one chance I’ll get to do some last minute shopping!

Source: a wonderful tree from theinspiredroom.net

Nearing the end of term, I'm sure you'll all be able to relate to just a little too well, means finding that last bit of energy and motivation buried deep within ourselves to finish off all that needs to be done, before the long-awaited break. So that's exactly what I've been trying to do all week! Except what makes it just that little bit harder than usual is the thought of having exams straight after the break! I've been going to labs every day this week so that I can finish preparing the samples for the NMR experiments. As well as preparing these samples, I have had to repeat the experiment for an entire series I prepared last week as it hadn't produced the results that was expected. After all the hard work  I've put into labs recently, I'm really hoping I won't have to repeat any more series...

Apart from that, I've had two timed online phase tests recently... one on Microbiology and another on Medical Biochemistry. I did revise a lot for these two tests and there were no 'big' surprises as such during the test itself, so I'm quite confident that I've done well in both of them (let's just hope I haven't jinxed anything now that I've actually said this!) And as for the phase test on Cancer Biology I mentioned in my last blog... well the results were put online just yesterday and I'm happy to say I passed with a 2.1!

Next week is officially the last week of lectures and then the following week will be purely revision lectures. Although I've enjoyed learning all three modules this term, I will particularly miss the lectures on Cancer Biology as it's one area of science I really am interested in! Let's hope the modules taught next term will be equally as interesting!

Exams :(

This month is flying past so fast I can't believe there's only a few more weeks left until we officially break up for the Christmas holidays!!! Well, I say Christmas holidays but it's more like a three week study leave because I have two exams...one on Cancer Biology and another on Medical Biochemistry straight after the break which I am soooo not looking forward to right now!!!

The final year project has been taking up most of my time lately. You might think this is nothing to be shocked about, but when you have had so much free time in your hands just last month and now so busy you don't even have time to go through lectures taught that week and make notes just to ease off the pressure closer to exam time, it won't be just me who would feel worried right??? But enough about the complaining and more about how amazing labs have actually been ( honestly)!!! So far I've been working in the NMR labs, preparing the NMR samples and learning how to use the NMR machine in order to gain the NMR spectra for each sample. So far, so good!!! I have obtained really good data for one of the amino acid families...just another three to go now!!! I did however find the solubility of the second group of amino acids I worked on today quite difficult so I need to do a bit of reading around this before my next lab on Friday...

Apart from starting labs, uni has been the usual... a 9am start  every Monday morning, lectures throughout the week and plenty of coursework to get on with. Next Thursday is our in-class phase test on Cancer Biology! We have to review a journal, based on a cancerous gene, which was set by our lecturer and prepare ourselves for an exam based on this journal. When I first looked at the journal...I must admit I thought I was reading another language...but now that I have read through the journal several times...I feel I understand it a lot more...I'm actually quite optimistic about it (not that I want to jinx anything!) We also have an on-line MCQ style phase test on Medical Biochemistry in a few weeks time...so once I get this Cancer Biology exam out of the way...it hurts me to say...there is no rest at all...maybe a day of relaxation at the most and straight back to the books...and of course labs! It's the final year...the last lap of the race...and I want to get the gold!!!

Final Year Project!

Hey guys!

Hope you’re all well! :)

I’m sure you will all be just as relieved as I am to hear that I’ve finnaalllyyyy sorted out my final year project this week! It all feels so real now that the dates for when I can go to labs and actually start collecting my data have been booked...I just can’t wait to begin!!!

I have been assigned a Biochemistry based project, I’ve been told to have had very little work done on in the past, so is all very new and exciting stuff in the field of Biochemistry! To explain it in short, the project focuses on the study of specific families of amino acids (i.e. amino acids as a single monomer, as a dipeptide and in their cyclic form) in order to gain a better understanding of their chemical properties and potential uses in industry. It involves a lot of new techniques I have never used before, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Hot Stage Microscopy. As the project is heavily based on concepts in chemistry which are either very new to me or what I have learnt three years ago during my A levels (so bound to be a little rusty in) and involves techniques which I know I've already mentioned are very new to me, I do feel  completely out of my comfort zone! I am really lucky to have a wonderful project supervisor who will no doubt support me throughout the project and a good friend of mine who is currently doing her PhD in the same field who will be helping me in labs, so I know I'm in very good hands! I just need to stop being so nervous!

I haven’t quite decided on what the exact title of my project should be yet…but I guess I’ll be in a better position to think of the perfect title once I am well underway with it all. In the mean time, I better prepare myself for an exciting week of labs ahead...research  around the topic and the techniques involved a little more...and make a start on the intro of the actual write-up (the earlier the better right?)

Wish me luck! 

October

October is my favourite month of the year!!! Why I hear you ask??? Well… October is the month of many celebrations!!! My birthday for a start! And then there’s Navarthri…Diwali… Halloween… and so many more!  Last Monday was my birthday and turning 22 sure makes me feel reeaaallllly old! L My friends threw me what was meant to be a ‘surprise’ party (bless them for trying to keep it a secret but I’m sorry to say their Spielberg performance really wasn't up to scratch!) Who would create a whatsapp group entitled ‘surprise’ …include you…’The Birthday Girl’ in it by accident… and then delete you from the group??? But all jokes apart, I do know how lucky I am to have such amazing friends…and I really did have a great time…so thankssss guys!!! J

Aside from all the celebrations that have been happening this month, I’ve been trying to keep up to date with all the lectures and make a start on my coursework. We only have three lectures a week now, so there is plenty of time during the week to do all the work.  For Medical Biochemistry, I have been trying to find relevant journals to discuss current concepts and mechanisms of atherosclerosis (a risk factor of cardiovascular disease where the arteries become clogged with fatty substances such as cholesterol).  For Medical Microbiology, I have been completing regular online quizzes on topics discussed in the lecture and currently in the process of completing a case study based group project. As for Cancer Biology, I have yet to read and understand a journal set by the lecturer for an in-class phase test in mid-November. Not to mention the final year project, which I am still to be given…

I also volunteered as a STEM Ambassador at a careers fair held at the university this month. My friends and I set up a stall called ‘ Life as a Science Student’ in order to educate A level students about science degrees they can work towards, career options they will have once they obtain a science degree and university life in general. And what with all the freebies available only when the students answered the questions to our science-based card game correctly, our stall was busy busy busy from the minute we set up! As much as the students benefited from such a successful event, I too was able to develop many of my interpersonal skills (something I will definitely not forget to mention on my CV!)

Bring on the Third and Final Year!

I know this sounds so cliché but it feels like only yesterday when I was accepted onto the BSc Biomedical  Science course at the university, I was sorting out my student finance, I had moved into halls and I had actually started the course. And now? Well...I really can't believe I've just started my third and final year of university! Pinch me please...because this really doesn't feel real!

Last week was moving- in weekend, so  just like all the other students, I did some last minute shopping,  packed my suitcases and headed off to Medway. As always, the Resident Assistants at the university were very welcoming and helped us with the moving in process. Seeing all the first year students, some I must admit who seemed very nervous...others more excited, with their parents by their side and a car full of what must have been everything they  possibly owned, really did bring back memories of my first moving-in weekend! I was really lucky this year because I was able to choose the flat/room I wanted and who I wanted to share the flat with! And after spending a long time thoroughly cleaning my room and unpacking, I can now say I have officially put my stamp onto the place and finally settled in!

Induction day was last Friday and we were informed of everything wonderful (that was sarcasm...in case some of you didn't realise) in store for us this year! The timetable seems to be much more relaxed this year- I have a 9am-12pm lecture on Medical Microbiology and a 2pm-4pm lecture on Medical Biochemistry on Mondays and then a 1pm-4pm lecture on Cancer Biology on Thursdays- although I'm sure our arch nemesis... THE FINAL YEAR PROJECT... will pretty much take up the rest of the week. I have been assigned a lab based project on Biochemistry so I can't wait to get started on that! And as for coursework this year, well we've been hit with them already... our first piece of coursework is due in just over a week's time...I better get started on that soon!

So to end... for those of you who are in the same boat as I am,  I'd just like to share a few pearls of wisdoms  I've been advised of by several members of staff at the university...my family...friends...pretty much everyone I know who have completed their degree... " The third year is by far the most intense, difficult and important year of your entire degree. Take it seriously. Manage your time well. Keep on top of all your work (especially your final year project). And don't leave things until the last minute!" ( Is anyone else as scared as I am right now?)

Good Luck Guys!

And I almost forgot to mention...Team April came a respectable second place in the 'Theme your Team' competition...if only if it wasn't for Team Spencer who stole the glory of first place from us! ;)

Clearing and GOOOO Grease Lightening!!!

So it’s officially nearing the end of August… time really does fly by when you’re on holiday (well… when you’re not in term time anyway… as technically I’m not on holiday… I’m at work). It feels so good to be reunited with everyone in the Enquiry Unit at the university (I hope the feeling is mutual!) and of course to be working alongside the newbies that have joined us for the Clearing period! The office has been busy busy busy from the very first day of Clearing and the phones just haven’t stopped ringing since!

Clearing can be a very stressful time of year for students (especially for those who didn't quite expect to end up in Clearing and so didn't prepare themselves for it, like me). As daunting as Clearing may sound, it is a rather straight forward, pain-free experience (well…our university aims for this anyway). I've had a wide variety of calls over these past few weeks: from making Clearing applications, checking the status of applications, solving accommodation and finance queries and more recently, queries regarding online registration. Many people think that Clearing only runs for a short period of time, straight after the exam results are published, but in fact it is on-going until late September! So long as the course is available and the entry requirements to get onto the course are met, a place is pretty much guaranteed! Another common misconception people have is that they often think Clearing is only for students who haven’t met the grades required to be accepted onto their firm or insurance university choice.  From all the calls I have taken during the last two Clearing cycles, I can definitely say that yes…we do get a lot of calls from students in this situation but we also get calls from late applicants who didn't think of going to university until now, students who have excelled in their exams so are eligible for adjustment and students who want to transfer from one university to another. One thing I've definitely learnt from working at the Enquiry Unit is that you need to be able to think fast on your feet… every person ringing the office has a different query…it is our duty to understand their problem and solve it as best as we can… this can be really difficult when the office is exceptionally busy (like on results day)…

But I’m sure you’ll all be relieved to know…it is not all ‘blood, sweat and tears’ at the office…last Friday was our ‘Theme your Team’ challenge! This year’s theme was ‘A Night at the Movies’… so what other movie were my team ‘Team April’ going to do but GREASE!!! We decorated our bay with lights, records and pictures of the 50’s…and of course there was plenty of 50’s style food such as apple pie, popcorn, cola etc. And as for our team performance… there was a lot of dancing, singing , acting and plenty more food! There was some very tight competition from the other teams I must admit, but I’m still hopeful Team April have got this one in the bag! Fingers crossed and I’ll keep you posted on which team came out top real soon!