So my background doesn’t exactly point to the likelihood of becoming a travel blogger, at least not in an obvious way. I graduated with a Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in Bioengineering from Stanford University, taking the minimum amount of writing courses necessary to do so. My undergraduate degree required two “writing intensive” classes and I chose: The English Department’s freshmen Expository 101 class, and the School of Engineering’s Scientific Writing class. In September 2013, I’m going to start a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, where I’m looking forward to running reactions, balancing math equations, or other nerdy activities with the goal of developing novel biomaterials.
I traveled quite a bit when I was in college. The summer after my sophomore year, I received a Vredenburg Scholarship from Johns Hopkins to do research at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. My junior year, despite the common misconception that engineering students don't have time to study abroad, I spent a semester at the University of Technology – Sydney in Sydney, Australia. After these experiences, I knew that traveling was important to me and I wanted it to always be a part of my life.
When I graduated from Stanford in 2010, I returned to Sydney to work, supported by a Whitaker International Fellowship. Some of my professors wondered why I was going to Australia, with opportunities in Silicon Valley right in front of me, but it seemed like a great idea to me. In Sydney, I worked at an academic research lab as well as a medical device startup, got my first taste of the “real world,” and lived much more like a local compared to when I was studying abroad. My fellowship sponsored a trip to Budapest, Hungary, and I took some time off to explore nearby Vienna, Austria. I was nervous about doing Vienna and part of Budapest alone as a young female, but discovered it wasn't scary at all. When my fellowship ended, I celebrated with a trip to New Zealand, and then found a job at a biotechnology startup in the San Francisco Bay Area. Again, I really enjoyed traveling and want to continue exploring the world.
Although I’m an engineer who took the minimum amount of writing courses to graduate, I love to write as a hobby. No joke, I actually enjoy writing research and development reports to explain difficult concepts as clearly as possible. I also enjoy traveling, and wanted to expand my writing beyond writing science and engineering, so I’ve decided to give this whole travel blogging thing a go. I can’t wait to see where this journey will take me!
I traveled quite a bit when I was in college. The summer after my sophomore year, I received a Vredenburg Scholarship from Johns Hopkins to do research at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. My junior year, despite the common misconception that engineering students don't have time to study abroad, I spent a semester at the University of Technology – Sydney in Sydney, Australia. After these experiences, I knew that traveling was important to me and I wanted it to always be a part of my life.
When I graduated from Stanford in 2010, I returned to Sydney to work, supported by a Whitaker International Fellowship. Some of my professors wondered why I was going to Australia, with opportunities in Silicon Valley right in front of me, but it seemed like a great idea to me. In Sydney, I worked at an academic research lab as well as a medical device startup, got my first taste of the “real world,” and lived much more like a local compared to when I was studying abroad. My fellowship sponsored a trip to Budapest, Hungary, and I took some time off to explore nearby Vienna, Austria. I was nervous about doing Vienna and part of Budapest alone as a young female, but discovered it wasn't scary at all. When my fellowship ended, I celebrated with a trip to New Zealand, and then found a job at a biotechnology startup in the San Francisco Bay Area. Again, I really enjoyed traveling and want to continue exploring the world.
Although I’m an engineer who took the minimum amount of writing courses to graduate, I love to write as a hobby. No joke, I actually enjoy writing research and development reports to explain difficult concepts as clearly as possible. I also enjoy traveling, and wanted to expand my writing beyond writing science and engineering, so I’ve decided to give this whole travel blogging thing a go. I can’t wait to see where this journey will take me!