Health Science Reviews

By Lee Fredericks

Wow, where do I even begin?

This year has been a rollercoaster of emotion. By far the most intense year of studies I’ve ever experienced, but also the most insightful with regards to what life may be like from now onwards. I love that it feels more independent and like I am organising and instigating whatever tasks I take on, but at the same time that level of freedom is kind of anxiety inducing. Like, what if I’m making a mistake in which tasks I prioritise? What if I seem like I am not trying hard enough to learn new things? And OHHHH the learning curve? Yea, I couldn’t have even imagined how steep it was going to be when I started. BUT, the point is that I did start and I am learning and I think the best advice I could’ve given myself at the start is not to be scared of that. I am still learning, I am still a student, I don’t have to place these huge expectations on myself and instead I should focus on absorbing as much as I can while not losing the spark that made me choose this path. Be inquisitive, be curious, ask questions, these are the things about being a scientist that wasn’t necessarily taught in undergrad and learning them now can only make me better in the future.

Here’s to hoping this next part of the year is just as fruitful as the start (even if I have been warned it only gets worse from here on).