I've been fairly inactive lately, but I made some comics to explain why I've been so quiet/useless for a while.
So this past summer was quite a frustrating time for me, what with getting rejected from med schools and finding myself without a backup plan. The only plan I had was to get a position in research since I had really bad luck with research in the past--this was an area in my application that was definitely lacking since I had absolutely no research experience whatsoever.
As a result, I found myself applying to (literally) a hundred different research positions in a month.
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| Figure 1. Before it all began. |
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| Figure 2. Why applications for anything anywhere generally suck all the time. |
Of course, I didn't get a single callback. Not only did I have no experience in research, I also didn't have any legitimate employment experience either (just a couple of "self-employed" positions that really holds no value).
In the second month, I applied as a volunteer research assistant to dozens of labs. I received one reply, had an interview, and was accepted into a lab. Even though what I did was very basic, I worked ridiculously hard considering I was a volunteer. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity since this position gave me what was needed to get my first research position, as well as my first legit paid job.
After two months of volunteering, an opening for a paid research position opened up in the same hospital I was volunteering at. I applied, and somehow got an interview.
This is how the interview went (slightly dramatized):
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| Figure 3. Getting a job with sheer will and eagerness. |
...and that's what I've been doing for a few weeks now, living up to my promise of insane work ethics. I'm having a lot of fun so far but still working like a lunatic, hoping for a publication. Although,
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| Figure 4. At the end of the day. |
...but this really is the best opportunity I've ever had and I've learnt some ridiculous amounts of stuff since I started. Persistence really does pay off.
On another note, I will be posting some stuff that are actually useful in the near future. Stay tuned.
Matt
