Yellow Butterflies

 The semester has ended, unremarkebly for most, but this is the end of my season as an undergraduate student at Griffith University.  My degree has ended, and all that’s left are the exams.  This semester, like the others before it, was a one of a kind.  There were times to remember during my three years here, and times to forget.  I’ve learned more than anatomy and biochemistry in this time, and I will take every lesson in my stride as I move onward.

Now all that’s left is for me to pass my exams; and medical school shines like a beacon in the future.

 On another note, the Gold Coast is currently in the midst of a plague, though I’m sure most plagues aren’t as beautiful as this.  Millions of pale white and yellow butterflies fill the air; they move north in a calm and meandering swarm, creating a tranquil mood as they flutter silently in the golden autumn sunset.

An omen of good things to come.

SAFFAR

I have a friend who studies a Bachelor of Popular Music at the same university as I study biomed.  While i’m not really sure what a B Pop Music really is (neither does she), I’m glad to have a friend like her who can let me be creative when I need to be. 

In typical uni-student fashion, it was the very last minute before Tahereh had to have her album finalised.  That’s right, her major assessment piece was to make an album!  Biomedical science doesn’t seem so attractive right now.

I was recruited to help-out with the album cover, and I’m so happy with the final result I figured I’d share it with my blog-family! 

We didn’t really have a plan for the album covers, but we knew we were short on time, and the only place we could do the photo shoot was at the university.  Because it’s exam week, there isn’t a square inch of campus with a bit of privacy.  So we did the only thing we could – broke into a lecture theatre. 
Tahereh arrived without hair clips, make-up remover, or even a hairbrush.  We dressed her up in record time, slapped some make-up on her and plopped her on a bench with a white wall behind it.  In an-hour-and-a-half, we were finished with taking the photos.    Another hour-and-a-half later, the ‘post-production editing’ was done, and we had a final product. 

All in all, a record three hours from start to finish.  What a nice study break!

‘SAFFAR’ Album Front Cover

 

 ’SAFFAR’ Album Back Cover

Lost Universes

 

It’s week 13.  Of 14 weeks.  Week 13, is feared by all university students.  It is the week where you realise you wasted weeks 1-12.  It is the week where you realise the truth – you are in deep shit.

Every student’s universe exists in the form of their USB.  Every document of value (assignments), every beacon of hope (lecture notes) and all the thousands of journal articles (‘Junk’ files) reside within.  Considering my student storage has blocked me from saving anything to the university system for months, everything of value in my life is contained within the confines of a little plastic stick.  It is a tenuous dependance, but it is reality for many a student.

The worst thing that could happen in week 13 (it has an ominous name for a reason) is losing said USB.  I’ve watched comrades fall under the stress of losing their tiny but powerful universe. I’ve seen the glint of fear in their eyes as they run home frantically in the hopes that they left it on the kitchen table.

So spare a thought for those students who’s Week 13 has been made immesurably harder.  And think of all of those lost universes that may or may not make their way home.

Why, Brain? Why Won’t You Work?

Ever since being accepted into medical school, procrastination has hit me hard.  I have assessment coming out of my ass, with: an infectious diseases essay on drug-resistant staphylococcus, a molecular medicine review on hypoxia-inducible genes in neuroprotection and novel drug development, a pharmacology report on drugs in Alzheimer’s, my research on HIF-1a and HSC70 to write-up and present, as well as preparation for the Annual Health & Medical Science Conference presentation in December.

But I can’t be bothered.  I just want to relax finally!