My TRIP’s End by Sharizoda Farmonova

Right now, I find myself sitting here writing my blog on a Friday night, which was typical with many of my TRIP assignments. The only difference now is that tomorrow, on Saturday, the lab that was formerly brimming with energy will be empty. It almost feels as though TRIP ended when it feels as though before it even barely began. This is not to say that each day was not eventful; it was quite the opposite. Between sorting the pesky fruit flies, conducting assays, and, best of all, interacting with your peers and instructors, everyday in TRIP was memorable. I can almost feel the vacancy in my life; when something used to take up so much time within your life, to the point that it feels like a routine, abruptly cuts off, an empty, lingering aftertaste emerges in its place. That sums up what I feel about TRIP ending after about 4 months of sessions and lab time. Although I can now fill in the time it took with other activities and plans, it’s sad to think that the people who were once so integrated with my day won’t be there. 

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From that, it is clear to say that out of all the things I enjoyed about TRIP, the people were the best part. Although I initially applied believing I would gain relevant experience in a laboratory setting, TRIP ended up being much more than that. I was overjoyed to meet so many nice and inquisitive people that shared so much of the passions I held. The small chats we engaged in within laboratory time lightened the mood and certainly reduced the stress I felt whenever an assay did not go well. I'm sure that everyone felt the same, between the temperature-finicky fruit flies and planning of the independent projects, hiccups were bound to arise. Having skilled instructors, such as Dr. Austria, Dr. Nick, and Dr. Valdes, along with  supportive TAs, such as Sabina, Hannah, and Martie, was very helpful; however, there is a different comfort found between shared stress and troubles among peers. I’m beyond glad we were all able to rise to the occasion and successfully conduct our independent projects. 

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To take a closer look at the independent projects, I was surprised to learn about the level of flexibility there was when choosing what to research and how to design your experiment. The general experiment would be designed by yourself, which may seem overwhelming, but the discussion that follows with the instructors stabilizes the foundation that you established. As for me, my independent research was based upon how exposure to green light may potentially mitigate the effects of blue light. I did not know how exactly I would implement this, but after a discussion with Dr. Nick, it was determined that I would code circuits with different daylight cycles for my flies. This decision left me pleasantly surprised as my interests in engineering were integrated into my experiment. I do not know if this was on purpose or simply a happy accident; nonetheless, I was delighted to establish connections between TRIP and the future career I want to pursue.

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Now, with the end, I will find myself questioning what to do on Saturdays with my newfound liberty, wondering what my fellow peers and instructors are engaged in at the moment. TRIP has had a substantial impact on me, teaching me new skills in research and experimental design, as well as enabled me to forge new friendships and connections for the future. I will certainly miss everyone and hope I can see them again at some point!

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