Dearest gentle reader, you may be here because you love science, Billy Joel, or perhaps both. As Billy Joel once sang, “Slow down, you’re doing fine. You can’t be everything you want to be before your time.” Let me tell you why that message has come to define my research journey at Cal.
For much of college, I felt as though I were running a race—and losing. Or so I thought.
One of the privileges and challenges of attending a university like UC Berkeley is being surrounded by people who are talented, driven, successful, thoughtful, and involved in what can sometimes feel like everything. During my first year, conversations about internships, research positions, and academic opportunities seemed to grow louder everywhere I went. I quickly learned that many summer opportunities required students to apply at least one semester in advance.
Meanwhile, I had my classes and a job that was unrelated to my career interests. I began to worry that I was already behind. However, not having a research position or internship during my first year did not mean that my dream of becoming a researcher had disappeared.
I am now an incoming senior, and I could not be more grateful for the academic opportunities and achievements that have become part of my college experience. Dear reader, you may be wondering when it is appropriate to press the big red panic button labeled “academic failure.” My advice is simple: everyone is on their own timeline.
I eventually began applying to opportunities and joining organizations connected to my interests, but I also learned to prioritize the joy of being in college. Eat good food, talk to new people, build meaningful relationships, and do not be afraid to say yes to unfamiliar opportunities. College is not only about creating the perfect résumé. It is also about discovering who you are and what genuinely interests you.
I did not begin growing into the title of “scientist” until my junior year, when I joined a fellowship and began conducting independent research on indoor microplastics. That project has since become an important part of my academic journey, and I will continue developing it for my senior thesis. Through the project, I have learned how to design a study, work through unexpected challenges, present research, and communicate why environmental health research matters.
I have also been fortunate to receive an independent research grant through the Sponsored Projects for Undergraduate Research program. Most importantly, I have found wonderful mentors, including Rosie and Alex, who have supported both my research and my growth as a student. Their guidance has reminded me that becoming a researcher is not something anyone has to do alone.
Hopefully, I will become a published scientist by the time I graduate. Still, I have learned that research is not only about reaching a final result or adding another accomplishment to your résumé. It is also about asking meaningful questions, accepting that progress can be slow, and continuing even when you are uncertain about where your work will lead.
This is all a long-winded way of saying that becoming more seriously involved during your junior or senior year is not too late. Some students may begin college with internships, research experience, and several academic involvements, but that is not everyone’s story—and it does not need to be yours.
College is just as much about relationships, exploration, and personal growth as it is about academics. Explore who you are. Change your mind. Adapt. Grow. Say yes to the experiences that excite you, even when they are not part of your original plan.
After all, what fun is it to present a research poster if you have no one you are excited to invite?
Just remember: Vienna waits for you.