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21 November 2009
Life after Cal
Now that I am finally graduating (in a month or so!), I decided to revisit my
blog from 3 years ago regarding my future career goals. Honestly, not much have changed, but my focus has become much more focused from all of the experiences I've had.
Below are some answers to common questions I am receiving right now. But I want to emphasize this: pursue what you are passionate in. Yes, these are difficult times, and sometimes I wish I knew exactly what I wanted to pursue or if I just said that I wanted to pursue an MD (I like to explore all of my options before deciding, and I'm kind of slow). Be persistent. Do what you love. And don't feel pressured to know what you want to do. I certainly don't really know right now (and I'm panicking), but it's normal. Plus, people change their minds as their lives change. So don't feel like what you decide now is what you have to do in the future. Let your interests guide you.
Continue reading "Life after Cal" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 7:18 | Permalink
03 October 2009
Health and Wellness Tips
Of the many topics I have blogged about in the past years, I have never really touched upon the health issue. Especially since the H1N1 flu is going around, I thought that I would offer some websites and some of my personal tips to staying healthy. Please keep in mind that I'm not a health expert and that I have gotten sick many times.
Obviously, the first place I looked was the
University Health Center website. Despite stories about long waiting times (if you go in person) and other forms of inefficiency, the website does offer really great information on how to stay healthy. Plus, they have an online scheduling appointment so you don't have to call in or walk in (if it's not urgent).
Continue reading "Health and Wellness Tips" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:18 | Permalink
29 August 2009
Seminars Around Campus
First of all, I hope everyone had a good first week of classes! I'm taking a pretty light load this semester (comparatively) because I'm trying to use all of my time for doing research, among other things...
Anyway, I struck up a conversation with another PAL (Jenny, also a GPB major), just catching up and what not, and I mentioned seminars.
Seminars...what so great about them? First, it's not really a class, so you don't have to go to every single one of them. But the best thing is, you get to hear lectures from visiting scholars on certain topics and learn about things that you would have never encountered or learn about. Plus, you become more aware of the current research being done in that field. It's like going to a conference, but instead of 15 minute talks, you get 50 minutes to 1 hour talks (more in depth), and it's more spread out (so you can go to as many that fits your schedule throughout the year).
Continue reading "Seminars Around Campus" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:11 | Permalink
25 August 2009
Welcome to Berkeley and CNR!
Welcome back everyone! For the incoming freshman, may I first extend a huge welcome from the PALs to Berkeley, especially the CNR community. We are so excited that you've decided to come here - you won't regret it, I promise, even through the tough times, I am pretty sure you'll find something that excites you! But just a warning, these four years (or more) go by really fast, so take advantage of any opportunities that come your way!
For all of the returning students, a lot of you may be looking at it with excitement (finally taking classes that are related to your interests or starting some sort of research) or with dread. For me, it's always a mix of both, but the semester always proves to be filled with so many interesting surprises.
Continue reading "Welcome to Berkeley and CNR!" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 2:29 | Permalink
19 June 2009
Attending Professional Conferences
First of all, I can't believe it has almost been a month since the end of the semester, and already, the next semester seems to be looming not far ahead...where has the time gone!
I'm sure all of you are keeping busy, whether it is traveling with friends, taking classes, or participating in awesome programs and internships. Keeping busy is always good.
As for me, I am currently still doing research in
Chelsea Specht's lab on a topic that I never thought I would be working on (virus-induced gene silencing, a type of reverse genetics technique). It has been really exciting and frustrating, but overall, quite a satisfying experience. While I love talking about research (and I encourage all of you to try to get some research experience just to see if you'll enjoy it), another thing I find to be very important is attending professional conferences.
Continue reading "Attending Professional Conferences" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:26 | Permalink
09 February 2009
Thinking about the Summer
Even though it’s the beginning of the semester (okay, 4th week in, but it’s still the beginning), summer is looming ahead. Usually, summer is a time of relaxation and fun, and at times, it can be quite stressful to even think about summer. What am I going to do with my summer?!?
Especially in college, summer is the perfect time for opportunities – to take classes you couldn’t take during the school year or to gain experience in a different field or even to travel and explore! Below is a listing of places to look for research or internships for the summer; right after is a brief summary of what I did during my summers since freshman year
So here’s a small list of websites to check out if you haven’t already. Most of them are research oriented, so I hope it helps if you are interested in research. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the mailing lists from the
Career Center – you never know what you may run into. Look through Cal Jobs (I never really did it, but I know several people who have found great opportunities for the summer via Cal Jobs) and attend some career fairs, especially the Internships fair. You can give them your resume, and some places might even send you e-mails requesting more information (but you really get more information about where to apply online and get to ask questions). And actually skim through the e-mails our major advisors send us!
My small list:
Cal Undergraduate Research website – generally a good listing of stuff at Berkeley and for Berkeley students
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) – a LARGE listing. I spent a good portion of my winter semester weeding through all the experiences, but it’s amazing what kinds of stuff are out there. So many universities offer great experiences, so look through them and see what interests you. Bookmark them. Oh, and I think there might be a Facebook Group for this.
Research Training Program – I loved this program. You get to work in a museum, so if it interests you, consider it! Just not for this summer. There is also a Facebook Group too.
CNR
SPUR and
URAP
Biology Fellows Program
David Scholars Program
Haas Scholars Program
Bodega Marine Laboratory
QB3-Berkeley Undergraduate Internship
Amgen Scholars Program – at many universities, not just at Berkeley
The Leadership Alliance – you can apply to many programs, some specifically geared towards MD/PhD intended students, at one go. You just have to choose your top 3 though. If you don’t apply via this program, you can also apply through the university I believe, but this will require more research.
Continue reading "Thinking about the Summer" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:34 | Permalink
19 June 2008
Summer Fun in DC
In reality, summer hasn't started yet (summer solstice begins on June 20, 23:59 according to Wikipedia and its source), but as for all of us, it started right after we took our last final. I hope that everyone survived and everything didn't turn out as badly as you thought.
Over at the
Fresh Faces blog (I hope you guys are keeping up with it!), students are updating with what they plan to do and what they are doing. I especially like Joel's blog - I can't believe he has time to write everything! It's really awesome reading about his experiences in Korea.
As for me, I am having a blast at Washington D.C. Actually, I'm an intern at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History; how cool is that!?! It's has been an awesome, awesome experience; not only do I get to go on behind-the-scenes tours and see collections that the general public do not have access to, but I get to work on a research project with top researchers in their respective fields. Specifically, I'm part of the
Research Training Program (otherwise known as RTP), Check out the website for more information. It's a really great program, and you get to learn so much and meet so many people...I can't believe the fourth week is almost over! Time really goes by fast.
Even though it's a bit late to be applying to internships (I probably should have given some tips as to where to find information about internships earlier last semester), it's never too late to find out about opportunities for future summers. The Career Center often sends e-mails - even though you might feel like they are spamming your inbox, try to skim over them and see what catches your eye. A lot of opportunities go unnoticed, mainly because most opportunities are passed by word-of-mouth. Truthfully, I wouldn't have known about RTP if I didn't know someone who participated in the program last year. If you have particular interests, try to ask professors that study whatever you are interested in exploring - they usually have a general idea of any programs or opportunities (because they get e-mails of these types of programs from other program coordinators). If you are interested in research programs, check out the
REU site to see what opportunities they have. It takes a while to go through them, but you might find something you like.
Anyway, I hope all of you are having a good summer! Enjoy it while it lasts!
Continue reading "Summer Fun in DC" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:04 | Permalink
16 March 2008
Events, Seminars, Performances Galore
With your busy schedule, who has time to go attend events, performances, or lectures? Well, first of all, these events are usually a once in a lifetime event. I mean, when are you ever going to be able to see Richard Dawkins? Or be able to watch a ballet for 50% of the ticket price? Take advantage of these events that come to Berkeley! Take a break, have fun, and be amazed (or disappointed). Either way, these events will enrich your life.
One of the best resources for events coming up is the
events page on the Berkeley website. They have a pretty good listing of everything happening at Cal from lectures to exhibits and performances. Sometimes, you have to find out by ear or e-mail. Just last week, I listened to
Michael Pollan talk about his most recent book,
In Defense of Food, which was a very good and interesting talk just about food in general. Later that week, listened to
Richard Dawkins talk about his new book
The God Delusion, which was quite enlightening given that I never heard of him before, given that I research the evolutionary relationships of plants.
As for seminars, I encourage any student who is really interested in a particular topic and has time in his/her class schedule to attend seminars. Some of these are actual class seminars that you can sign up for units, but there are other ones that usually happen once every week at a certain time. Here are some websites that might interest you. I actually try to attend Botany Lunches every week, and if given the chance, the IB ones. Most of them are quite interesting, even if you don't understand what they are talking about.
Listing of
Biology Seminars
Microbial Biology Seminars
PMB Seminars
Listing of
Environmental Seminars
ESPM Colloquium Seminars
Wildlife & Conservation Biology Seminars Continue reading "Events, Seminars, Performances Galore" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 2:48 | Permalink
06 February 2008
Tips for Success in Classes
To all of those celebrating new years, Happy New Year!
So classes officially began two weeks ago, and it has been busy since. Here’s a few tips to keep up in those general chemistry, biology, and physics classes, all of which were difficult to conquer, but I did survive my first two years of college.
1. Attend lectures, whether in person or via webcast. Webcast is such a great tool (except it’s on Real Player, but the EST people are working on it), but you have to have enough discipline to watch them. Watch it with a friend or try setting a specific time in the day to watch them. Just try not to cram it into the final hours before an exam, but if that works for you, go for it.
Continue reading "Tips for Success in Classes" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:58 | Permalink
05 November 2007
Little Treasures in CNR
CNR has so much to offer, all of which I have found to enrich my college experience at Cal. As a small college, the faculty and staff pride itself on its ability to offer students the attention and resources that students need.
First of all, check out Liz’s blog about the CNR community, which describes everything that you need to know about being part of CNR. We get so many benefits! And I absolutely love the couches in the Student Resource Center; they are so comfortable! The resource center is what it says it is – you can start your search to everything you need to know about current events, programs, internship, research, and job opportunities all in one place. Plus, the PALs are located here!
Continue reading "Little Treasures in CNR" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:15 | Permalink
26 September 2007
Buckle Up and Study!
By this time, most of you have had your first midterm (or studying for your second, or even not have taken your first like me!). Once the first midterm rolls around, a continuous cycle of midterms just keep coming and coming until finals week. So how do you study and where do you study?
Continue reading "Buckle Up and Study!" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:02 | Permalink
If it hasn’t become evident from my rather long blog posts, I like to think a lot (and thus ramble and write a lot). So it comes time to reflect on the events of my sophomore year, the highs and lows, and everything that I hope for the future.
This past year has been quite interesting, filled with so many joys and challenges. I am so glad I survived Chem 3B and lab because those two classes basically took up all of my time. Bio 1A and lab are also proving to be very challenging classes, but as I discovered, no matter how tough the lab is, I have to say that it is one of my favorite classes of all time. I had a great UGSI, and an amazing GSI. Plus, my lab itself was really hilarious. I’ve never laughed so hard during lab; the people and the environment they created helped me through the night lab. Oh, and I didn’t think I would enjoy dissecting a rat, crayfish, etc. and holding snakes, a chinchilla, a tarantula, and all of these cool organisms!!!
Continue reading "Reflections" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:59 | Permalink
28 April 2007
Food and Entertainment in Berkeley
Berkeley is just an amazing place to be. Although I don’t have much of a social life, I appreciate all the textures the city has to offer. So what do I mean by that?
First of all, a wide, diverse range of food options. Good food is not really hard to find, and there are all kinds of foods from Italian to Japanese to Thai to Indian. Also, many of them are within a decent price range, so the food is quite affordable. I usually try a new restaurant once every week with a couple of friends. And it’s not just Berkeley, although a lot of good food exists locally that you don’t need to travel to San Francisco (and of course San Francisco has some of the best dim summing places).
Continue reading "Food and Entertainment in Berkeley" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 8:17 | Permalink
20 April 2007
Tribulations of Choosing a Major
Choosing a major can be a difficult process, but luckily for me, I knew what I was going to major in. The problem was if I wanted to switch majors because of other interests, making sure I wanted to be in the major, or double majoring. Read about why I choose to major in Genetics and Plant Biology in this
post.
Continue reading "Tribulations of Choosing a Major" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 2:18 | Permalink
13 April 2007
An Update on My Extracurriculars
Previously, I wrote a
blog about what I do besides studying and going to classes. Many of those activities have not changed, but I’ll update on some. I’ve also participated in a few other clubs, but I haven’t been keeping up with them.
Habitat for Humanity: a wonderful club to get to know new people and help out not just with building affordable houses, but also helping at food banks, street meals, conservation projects, and retirement homes around the East Bay. Being a part of this club also introduced me to
Berkeley Thai Brunch.
Continue reading "An Update on My Extracurriculars" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:07 | Permalink
08 April 2007
Coming to CNR
When I applied for college, I did not quite understand the whole “college within a university” idea. I had only thought that one school did that, but apparently I did not do my homework (nor did UCSD’s college system help). But I applied into the College of Natural Resources (CNR) because 1) it had my major (GPB) and 2) it had other majors I was also considering of applying into. Little did I know about the small college size and opportunities a small college can offer. Frankly, I thought my chances of getting into Cal were very slim, so why bother finding more about it?
Continue reading "Coming to CNR" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:45 | Permalink
23 March 2007
It's Finally Spring Break!
Ah, spring break – it's both a good and a bad thing (and in light of that, I will keep this short). Good thing – I get to go home! I can't wait to see my family again, see friends who are also on spring break, and just feel comfortable because it's home. And of course, I get to eat yummy food. Bad thing – I've basically decided to postpone all of my work and studying for this break (not really, but kind of), so I'll be really busy, and can't be distracted. I don't know how much I'll be able to accomplish (memories of last year studying o-chem – wasn't "productive" enough), but I hope I can do a lot because I have more things happening right after spring break this year.
Continue reading "It's Finally Spring Break!" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:34 | Permalink
23 March 2007
Upcoming Midterms
So how do you prepare for the next round of midterms? I believe all the PALs had really good things to say, and I'll can do is reiterate some of the suggestions they had.
First of all, don't stress out! It's really easy to and maybe I'm not the best person to say this because I tend to freak out and make other people nervous because…well, I have "bad energy" around me. Music, especially classical and instrumental music, is particularly relaxing, and I listen to it while I study so that I will feel calmer and more in focus. Other strategies include remembering to breathe and doing exercises – walking around, dancing, or just giving yourself a break. Sleeping is always good.
Continue reading "Upcoming Midterms" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:29 | Permalink
10 March 2007
Favorites of all Time
So I’m sure everyone has his or her favorites. My favorites, I have to say, all have some sort or romantic theme associated to it because I happen to be a romantic at heart. But being at Cal, I have really begun to expand my likes and dislikes. So here goes!
Continue reading "Favorites of all Time" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 7:06 | Permalink
03 March 2007
Influences in My Life
As with many people, my parents are my biggest role models. They have taught me many essential skills in life, how to appreciate life, and how to set my priorities.
My mom is just so great. She is always there for me, listening to my problems, caring for me when I am sick. She just does everything for my sister and I. From her, I have learned how to be a good listener, to work hard, and to be optimistic.
Continue reading "Influences in My Life" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 8:00 | Permalink
09 February 2007
Interesting Classes
Berkeley has so many different classes to choose from that it can be overwhelming when it comes time to sign up for classes. I tend to like all of my classes in some shape or form because I always learn something new or come to some sort of realization.
My favorite classes so far have been from the Theater, Dance, and Performance (T, D, &P) Department. I have an interest in the arts, especially dance, so I hope to minor in Dance and Performance Studies. One of them is T, D, &P 52AC, which has a really long title, but all in all, it’s a dance history class. If you have an interest in dance, it’s a really easy class, in which you watch examples of dance and analyze different aspects of dance, including race, gender, and ethnicity. I also love T, D, &P 40 Beginning Modern Dance, which is a technique class. I have missed having a dance class everyday, so I absolutely love it! Plus, it makes me feel more awake afterwards.
Continue reading "Interesting Classes" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:14 | Permalink
26 January 2007
Goals for the Year
Welcome back to school everyone! Okay, so I wasn’t really excited to go back to school after my incredibly wonderful break, but everything seems to go okay so far. Classes are good, meeting up with friends is good, and taking advantage of opportunities is good, too.
So resolutions. . I’ve already written down most of mine, many of them having to do with tasks I should do like reading certain books and other pretty big craft projects I have in mind. Doing well in school is always something I hope to continue to do.
Continue reading "Goals for the Year" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 6:23 | Permalink
08 December 2006
A Nice Long Break
Winter break is just around the corner…well, after you get through all of those finals, of course. I can’t wait for it to come!!! So much to look forward to…And for once, I’m going to keep this blog short! :D
Home…means good food, family, and catching up with friends from all different universities. Shopping, spending time with my sister, watching TV, reading books, doing crafts (hopefully knit a scarf or something) and just keeping myself busy with small little things that I don’t necessarily have time for. And I can’t wait to watch my high school’s Charity Dance Show! It’s bound to be great, as it is every year, with guest performers and pieces from our school’s Orchesis Dance Company.
Continue reading "A Nice Long Break" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:51 | Permalink
28 November 2006
Into the Future
In my mind, anytime is a good time to think about the future, whether it’s just to see a concert, preparing for a test, or even something long term, especially your career goals. What are you going to do after college and for the rest of your life? What if your plans don’t go the way you want them to?
To be frank, I don’t know exactly what I want to do as a career. My imagination runs wild every time I think about what I want to do, and it started ever since I was a little kid: a concert flutist, a dancer, a teacher, a lawyer, a perfumer-maker/creator, a wine-maker, a landscaping architect, a marine biologist, an architect…
Continue reading "Into the Future" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 6:52 | Permalink
18 November 2006
Importance of Friendships
Friends are essential in life. They help you when you need it, listen to whatever you have to say (funny, annoying, sad, embarrassing, serious, and so on), laugh with you, talk with you….they are the people you choose to spend your time with, share your secrets with, and just have fun with.
Yet sometimes, friendships can be hard to form and to maintain, especially when coming to college. I was fortunate enough to have several good friends from high school come to Cal so that I wouldn’t feel like I was lonely. At the same time, I worried how I would maintain friendships with many of my other friends and develop new friendships.
Continue reading "Importance of Friendships" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:21 | Permalink
03 November 2006
The Place of My Childhood
So where exactly do I come from? If you ask me this question, I would generally reply LA so that I don’t have to explain exactly where I’m from to people who don’t know SoCal cities. In actuality, I am from Arcadia, which is a suburb of LA, bordered by Monrovia, Pasadena, and Temple City to name a few.
When I think about Arcadia, I think of several things: the trees and nice neighborhoods, the large Westfield Shopping Center, the Arboretum, the Santa Anita Racetrack, and our high school. It has about a 60% Asian population with most of the people being upper middle class. The housing, especially during the housing boom, is quite outrageous, but I guess it doesn’t compare to NorCal. Since it is known as the “Community of Homes,” it’s not too surprising to see really nice houses with landscaping as well as new housing developments. The shopping mall has…well, almost everything that one needs (especially with the new expansions). It’s quite convenient, and it’s also a popular hangout spot for students. One of the downsides to the mall is the traffic, the lack of parking (it can take 15-30 min to find a spot), and just that it can be overcrowded.
Continue reading "The Place of My Childhood" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 2:04 | Permalink
27 October 2006
Favorite Places On and Around Cal
Every so often when I walk to class, I look around me and can’t believe I’m actually here. It’s strange because this is my second year, but it’s just a wonderful feeling to be part of this campus with its history and prestige. The beauty of the campus (although some of my friends in UCLA would argue otherwise) is just incredible, from the seemingly everlasting towering redwoods to the London Plane trees at the Campanile that indicate the changing of seasons.
Continue reading "Favorite Places On and Around Cal" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 1:39 | Permalink
17 October 2006
After the Midterm...
By this time, you are probably done with the first round of midterms (or even preparing for the second round, especially for those Chem 1A people – hope you did well!). Some of you may have done extremely well on your midterms (Good Job!) while others, not as well as you thought. It is during those moments that you feel like admitting defeat, wanting to quit college, forgetting about your plans for being a doctor…
Continue reading "After the Midterm..." »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:29 | Permalink
07 October 2006
Handling and Overcoming Stress
Did you know that stress is the leading cause of aging? Well, I don’t know much about that, but I remember watching the 20/20 on the myths concerning health, and they mentioned that stress, not the sun, ages you faster. Also, stress slows down the time it takes you to heal. Check this site a bit more for that little factoid:
'20/20' Busts 10 Body Myths. It’s something to consider whenever you feel stressed.
Continue reading "Handling and Overcoming Stress" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 0:01 | Permalink
22 September 2006
Time! Where does it go...
Time management continues to be a long struggle for me even after being at Berkeley for a year. However, in many ways, I have learned more about my study habits and what limits I need to set for myself.
I think the trick to time management is planning and definitely knowing your weaknesses, especially how you waste the most time. A lot of it also has to do with being realistic; you can definitely plan to do a certain amount of work, but I think in the back of your mind, you have to know that you probably won’t achieve the amount you set out (or if you do reach that goal, it’s always a great surprise). But it isn’t all about work. It’s also about having time to just have fun and do stuff you enjoy. (All of this seems vague, so I guess I’ll have to use myself as an example, though I’m not very good at time management stuff).
Continue reading "Time! Where does it go..." »
Posted by Irene Liao at 2:06 | Permalink
14 September 2006
Activities Outside Classes
So many different opportunites and activities are offered at Cal that it is difficult to figure what to do. I remember when I looked through the clubs on campus and checked off all of the ones that interested me. Plus, I didn't realize all the other activities that were also off campus.
From all the clubs offered, I chose to join Cal Habitat for Humanity mainly because I wanted to help build houses. Never did I imagine that hammering wasn't the only skill and knowledge I acquired. First, my arm was aching for at least two days after I helped frame a house. But regardless of that pain, I knew I helped a family build their home. Being part of Habitat is being part of a community. The families chosen for the houses are extremely friendly and wonderful to be around (you actually meet them when you go to the worksite). The organization also isn't about just building houses; it's about offering affordable housing and giving back to the community in all aspects, such as spending time with some seniors in a nursing home. It is a really wonderful club to be a part of.
Continue reading "Activities Outside Classes" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 9:51 | Permalink
08 September 2006
Why I am a GPB major
So many reasons explain my decision to study Genetics and Plant Biology. First of all, it is all one major (just to clarify it). Secondly, I am focusing on the plant biology part of the major title, but I am discovering how much genetics is a part of plant biology in general.
I knew I wanted to do something related to plants for a really long time ever since I developed a love and appreciation for nature and the environment. I played around with the idea of becoming an environmentalist or a zoologist or a marine biologist, but as I discovered more about the environment, I noticed a lack of attention to plants. Ever since then, I knew I was going to study plants in some way or form.
Continue reading "Why I am a GPB major" »
Posted by Irene Liao at 3:42 | Permalink
