| School is hard. It is time consuming. It is stressful. No matter what degree – bachelors, masters, or doctorate – you are working towards, it is a long road to that diploma. Involvement in school groups, community service, and research are becoming requirements to being a well-rounded student. So how does a student manage it all? One way is to combine several of the activities by being involved in your community and school with group outings such as hiking and volunteering. |
The Whisner Lab Group is made up of undergraduate and graduate students that all have various commitments beyond the activities of the lab. In order to become a closer knit group, we plan lab group activities outside of school and the lab, as a way for us to bond. These outings have included a group hike and volunteering in both our community and our school.
Exercise is a great stress reliever. It allows the opportunity to get away from the demands of life for a short amount of time while improving health. Being in Arizona, we are surrounded by gorgeous mountains and landscapes, especially during the fall and winter. As a lab group, we hiked Telegraph Pass Trail on South Mountain. This heavily trafficked trail was full of people – young and old – enjoying the year-round sunshine that Arizona offers. It was a great way for our group to get to know each other a little more.
Giving back to the community by volunteering is a passion that each lab member holds dear. It is also a great way to earn experiences for future higher education and career applications. The Whisner Lab Group provided a meal for families staying at one of the three Ronald McDonald Houses in Phoenix, AZ. The Ronald McDonald Cambridge House allows families to stay, for free, while their child is receiving care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. This house is located on the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Campus for easy access to the hospital. Their full time staff is amazing but the house (like many Ronald McDonald houses) depends on volunteers (like us!). We took a Friday evening to make a delicious fall dinner- turkey pumpkin chili and pumpkin cornbread – for the families. The experience was amazing and we definitely will be doing it again!
Community involvement is only one component to professional success. Networking with other professionals who hold similar goals and challenge new and existing ideas is also necessary. The Biodesign Institute at ASU is comprised of various centers, one being the Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics (CFAM). The Whisner Lab has been a part of this center since its inception which has provided numerous collaborative opportunities among different people, groups, and departments at ASU. The Town Hall and After Hours event is an opportunity for center scientists, scholars and students to get together for institute updates, learn about colleagues’ research, and celebrate accomplishments. The Whisner Lab Group volunteered to help with the After Hours event to ensure that it was successful. During the event we were also able to catch up with other students and researchers from different labs that are members of the CFAM. It was a great evening and an amazing way to spend time together.
Although we strived to forget about research and school for a little bit by participating in different activities. Our conversations naturally gravitated back to the topic of science. Catching up on how school was going, brainstorming ideas for improvements to our research, and talking about future aspirations and career goals were part of our conversations during these events. Science is a big part of our lives, and life in general. Whether it is our research, class, or state of health, as young scientists’ science transcends all aspects our lives.
Exercise is a great stress reliever. It allows the opportunity to get away from the demands of life for a short amount of time while improving health. Being in Arizona, we are surrounded by gorgeous mountains and landscapes, especially during the fall and winter. As a lab group, we hiked Telegraph Pass Trail on South Mountain. This heavily trafficked trail was full of people – young and old – enjoying the year-round sunshine that Arizona offers. It was a great way for our group to get to know each other a little more.
Giving back to the community by volunteering is a passion that each lab member holds dear. It is also a great way to earn experiences for future higher education and career applications. The Whisner Lab Group provided a meal for families staying at one of the three Ronald McDonald Houses in Phoenix, AZ. The Ronald McDonald Cambridge House allows families to stay, for free, while their child is receiving care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. This house is located on the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Campus for easy access to the hospital. Their full time staff is amazing but the house (like many Ronald McDonald houses) depends on volunteers (like us!). We took a Friday evening to make a delicious fall dinner- turkey pumpkin chili and pumpkin cornbread – for the families. The experience was amazing and we definitely will be doing it again!
Community involvement is only one component to professional success. Networking with other professionals who hold similar goals and challenge new and existing ideas is also necessary. The Biodesign Institute at ASU is comprised of various centers, one being the Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics (CFAM). The Whisner Lab has been a part of this center since its inception which has provided numerous collaborative opportunities among different people, groups, and departments at ASU. The Town Hall and After Hours event is an opportunity for center scientists, scholars and students to get together for institute updates, learn about colleagues’ research, and celebrate accomplishments. The Whisner Lab Group volunteered to help with the After Hours event to ensure that it was successful. During the event we were also able to catch up with other students and researchers from different labs that are members of the CFAM. It was a great evening and an amazing way to spend time together.
Although we strived to forget about research and school for a little bit by participating in different activities. Our conversations naturally gravitated back to the topic of science. Catching up on how school was going, brainstorming ideas for improvements to our research, and talking about future aspirations and career goals were part of our conversations during these events. Science is a big part of our lives, and life in general. Whether it is our research, class, or state of health, as young scientists’ science transcends all aspects our lives.