/***** natalie podrazik *****/

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

goals
 

well, the summer is over.  let's see what i've accomplished!


research oriented...

Goal Result?
Perform ongoing research and make a presentation to lab; create both written and oral reports My final presentation is here, and my final paper will go here.  Yep, I did plenty of research.
Strive for clarity and conciseness when working with medical processes (in research cases) I learned how important clarity truly is, but I might have learned that lesson a little late in the summer.  I'd like to think that I got a little better with it.
Improve writing skills I'll continue to improve my paper with Professor Clarke, so this goal isn't quite complete yet.
Make a great website! Hmm...what do you think? ;)

 

looking towards the future...

Goal Result?
Study for the GRE test; sign up for test My roommate, the lovely Kate Laskowski, and I plan to take the General GRE test on the same day.  My plans on taking the CS GRE Subject test are still up in the air; they're "highly recommended" for a few schools, so I don't know if I should take them or not.
Discuss career plans with Dr. Clarke; alternatives to Grad School Dr. Clarke was really great in talking about grad school happenings with me.  I have a much better idea of what actions I need to take to apply, the general timelines of things...and the alternatives seem a little dull.  Either way, I'll be applying to grad schools and jobs in the next few months.
Create a timeline for the Applying to Grad School process I created a rough outline for the things I need to do to apply.  Studying for the GRE's, taking the GRE's, asking for letters of recommendation, writing my personal statement...those kinds of things...all on my list of Things To Do.
Make a list of companies/agencies to apply for work Got it:  NSA, CIA, FBI, DoD...possibly others, but these are at the top of the list.
Make a list of graduate schools to apply Still working on that list.
Learn about graduate school as a whole + life as a graduate student Well, I pretended to be a grad student all summer, and I think I pulled it off pretty well, except that I usually came in around 9 or 9:30 every day.  But I worked on graduate research with other grad students and didn't really feel TOO much like an undergraduate...just like a Southerner.



personally...

Goal Result?
Become adjusted to Massachusetts culture (because it is  different from my own) Becoming adjusted to Mass culture was a little bit difficult.  The weather was colder, most people were concerned with politics or social issues, and I couldn't find any regular inorganic eggs.  It was fine in the beginning of the summer when the Orioles had a better record than the Red Sox, but that quickly changed, and I held a grudge against the entire state from then on.  Overall, I'd say the Amherst area is probably not my city or place of my dreams, but it was fun and educational just for the summer.
Stay healthy (by eating right, exercising, being optimistic) I did that!  I only ate Taco Bell a couple of times.  And I had a membership at the UMass gym, so I swam 50 laps 2 or 3 times a week.  Optimism was key.  I got a little homesick, but I can say I never really had a "bad" day in Mass.
Cook dinner for myself at least once a week Yep, I was all over that.  The Quesadilla Maker helped, of course.
Work hard at every task I worked hard at my assignments, but I feel like I could have done a little bit more.  I could have read more papers, or started my final presentation and paper earlier in the summer.  And I could have bought computer parts to perform surgery on my dying box, but I just let it go, and now I'm computerless at school.
Remain motivated towards goals My motivation grew stronger towards the end of the summer as I learned more about the project.  Knowing the importance of the projects and its ramifications for hospitals and the LASER lab, I really wanted to organize something people could work with, since I'd only be there for a few months.  And my goal of learning about grad school was fulfilled.
Visit Boston Well, I didn't get to do this one.  Maybe one day.  The main reason was because I didn't want to drive my car into a big city all by myself with the world's worst drivers...sorry, I'm a wuss.
Go to a New England beach I went to Newport...does that count?
Read books, including the end of the Harry Potter series, Brown's Angels and Demons, and the Dune series I read the fourth Harry Potter book and it was AWESOME!  I didn't get a chance to read any other books, although I studied some GRE vocab words.
Wash the car at least once a week I really wanted to do this, but I didn't have the resources.  My house didn't have a house, and there was always glass in the driveway, so I was pretty scared to walk out there barefoot to wash my car.  So I washed it at my brother's house instead.
Call parents every day I tried my best to call my parents every day.  I usually had little to report, but I know they just like hearing that I'm doing okay so far away from home on my own.  And they always tried to send me money!  I told them no every time.
Visit older brother in Navy and provide emotional support He was about 2 hours away from Amherst, so I visited him probably half of the weekends out of the summer.  So fun!
Take younger brother in Army out to lunch whenever possible He didn't have too much time off, but I did get to see him on a day off when he was at Camp Buckner (see my pictures here).  My dad and I took him out to lunch in West Point on the way back down to Maryland.
Rewrite Candidate Education for my sorority I wrote some of it on the way to the National Convention in Kentucky the first weekend of August.
Play the piano Yep!  Only brought 2 books with me though.
Learn how to play a new musical instrument (drums, guitar, or bass) Nope, I didn't get to do this...but I DID take flight lessons in Northampton!  It was the most fun thing I did all summer, and I plan to take more lessons in the spring after I've applied to all my grad schools and jobs.  I highly recommend it.
 

Last updated 15 September 2005

contact me: natalie2@umbc.edu