Lost in the PhD World: The Quest for Committee Members!!!

One of the most important things I will do as a PhD student is form my committee!!! Yet, I feel so confused on how the heck I should do this. My committee is the group of people that will guide me my entire PhD career as I complete experiments. They will advise me regularly and in the end… GRILL ME with questions in my Qualifying Exam and Dissertation. So basically they OWN ME!! Can I just put up an ad on Craigslists saying “Nice hardworking graduate student in NEED of available active and helpful committee members!!” That would be nice!!! So.. what do I do? How do I approach people that have no idea who I am? How do I make them want to be on my committee? Maybe I should bring them cookies/donuts…. mmmm…. Maybe!! I have found it to be one of the hardest things to determine who …

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You are Never Too “Poor” to Travel!

One of the things my friends or people in general comment on is the fact that traveling or adventure COST SO MUCH!!! I am here to tell you that is absolute BULL… Stop making excuses and change your MIND SET!! So, now you are thinking… “But my situation is different Dr. Wanderlust.” Excuses are all in the same… at the end of the day how you think is what holds you from what you are set out to accomplish. I was listening to an audiobook “What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” and it really made me think of all the LAME excuses I make as to why I don’t get things done. For some it is: “the gym is far away!” “another slice of pizza will be fine!” or “it’s not the right time!” Either way we all have excuses. This is how you can start changing your way of thinking (and yes, …

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My Little Sister’s Initiation into being an Adrenaline Junkie (World’s Tallest Slingshot)

  I have been an adrenaline junkie as far back as I can remember… having already gone skydiving, bungee jumping and hang gliding to name a few… I am still seeking my next rush!! My little sister has been asking me to come on an adventure for a while now, eager to one day skydive with me. I am however, not prepared to jump out of a plane with my sister just yet. So I brought her, as test, to the Worlds Tallest Slingshot in Orlando to see if she was really ready to roll with the “Big Dogs”!Looking at this slingshot, it really doesn’t seem too bad! However, being thrown into the air well… let’s just say that’s another story. I am pretty sure my eyes rolled into the back of my head, but overall it was an enjoyable experience for just 25 bucks!!!   After viewing the tape …

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8 Apps for the Organized Traveler’s Soul

I am one of those overly organized travelers… I even make itineraries.  I research everything in advance, find places I want to see, things I want to do, explore costs the best cost… but I still leave time for the “unexpected” fun I may encounter that my Google search just did not pick up. I have seen many apps out there that are the must haves, and I definitely agree on a few such as Dropbox, Kayak and Skype!!!! Seriously…. what do you do when living overseas for a few months, and just desiring to see your family and friends… but realistically, flying home is not an option…. get on Skype! So, I think if there is anyone out there like myself, that enjoys an organized travel life then here are some Free Apps for you!! I have separated my favorite apps into 3 categories below, and have shared how I use most of these …

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