One of the things you inevitably learn in college, outside of the classroom that is, is how to take care of yourself when you’re sick. It’s one of those things that comes with independence. You have to make the calls for yourself: do I go to class today or not? You’re staring down the rows of cold medicine at CVS and you have to choose what you need. Welcome to my week.
Getting a nasty cold and being in the midst of a place as academically intense as Wellesley…the two do not go well together. It’s especially rough as a science major, because logistically, one does not miss lab. Missing lab means a make up lab, and a make up lab means finding a specific four-hour block free in your schedule that same week. With the craziness that is the typical Wellesley student’s schedule, it’s just not a thing that happens often. I, of course, have three labs in a row this semester.
I’m going to tell you the things that got me through column chromatography on three hours of sleep.
What’s dripping more, that column or my nose? (Sorry that was borderline gross, apologies to my friends and family)
- Making concessions. Health comes first. Health comes first. Those readings, that pre-lab discussion, they can wait. You should not have to feel anxious about this decision, but I did a little. So let me reassure Monday-me, that even as I submitted my pre-lab discussions for bio ten minutes before the deadline, I was glad I put my health first and got some sleep.
- Shout out to Ricola cough drops and Emergen-C. You the real MVPs.
- There’s only so far you can push your body when it’s sick. Pay attention to how you’re feeling and know when you’ve crossed that line.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Mine was just a cold, and so over the counter medications cleared it up over a few days, but don’t feel like going to health services or a doctor is some kind of intimidating thing. Get the help you need to feel better.
- Know that being sick, while inconvenient, will pass. It’s not your fault.
Anyways, I’m feeling a lot better now. Even though I wasn’t feeling too great, I got to do some pretty cool “real science” this week, with a line up of column chromatography, my first weevil DNA extraction, and protein purification of Beta-galactosidase from E. coli. And I did a pretty good job handling them, if I do say so myself. Like there were multiple times I corrected my mistakes before they even happened.
Things are winding down to a three day weekend, with…dare I say it…some actual fun going on! Today happens to be Charles Darwin’s birthday, and so the whole bio department threw him a birthday party, complete with selfies with “Darwin” himself and cake. Taking a selfie with Darwin felt a little bit visiting Santa Claus. There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write. And Darwin’s isn’t the only birthday celebration coming up. That’s right, I’m turning 20 on Monday. To celebrate, I’ve bought myself tickets to the Boston Symphony tonight, and we’re going to Providence, RI on Monday for museums, good food, and possibly a trampoline park. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Darwin cake
Ever lovely yours,
Eleanor
