S-STEM Scholar Kassandra Barrera's Blog

  Picture My college experience has been all over the place. I first started at Phoenix College, which was an amazing experience. After taking all the courses for an associate's degree, I transferred to ASU West campus. I can relate this transition to when someone is moving to another job and moving to another company. This transition at first was not easy for me. The change took some time to get used to, but I can only imagine how it feels when you move somewhere new or get a new job. Another college experience that I can relate to as an employer-desired experience is my specified classes that are in forensic science. For example, the first class I took when I first transferred was a principles in forensic science, and to this day, this has been one of my favorite classes. I learned so many forensics techniques that I know that I can apply to a work field. Lastly, another college experience would be using the techniques I used to meet new people and professors. I was able to build...

    How I think I want to use my degree and why  please submit the specific URL to this post. Picture The degree that I am getting is in Forensic Science, and I plan on getting a job in a future crime lab. However, because of COVID a lot of these positions are extremely hard to find, and finding a job in this field is going to be a little tricky. So right now, because my experience is so minimal I would like to get a job in a lab where I can do some research. I feel like for me that would be a good starting point because I do have undergraduate research, which will benefit me in a research tech job. Once I have a little bit more experience, I plan on applying to crime labs in the state and even in Washington state or Oregon. My goal is to one day work for a crime laboratory in either the DNA analysis section or firearms unit. However, like I said right now, that may not be an option and honestly, I am not too stressed out about it. I know once I get this bachelor's degree...

     Link to Picture I honestly feel like my online presence online is all over the place. I use social media for a lot of things. Most of my social media use is to connect with family members who live in another country that I have never met in person. The other part of social media usage is LinkedIn primarily, which I occasionally use to look for jobs and connect with my professors and other students on campus. It has been a while since I have looked up my name on google, but for the sake of this assignment, I went ahead and did it. To my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I thought that it would be. The first thing that popped up was my Linkedin, which I always keep very professional. I have a few profiles that I would like to keep more private, so now that I know, I will be modifying my preferences on these pages. However, overall it wasn't too bad, and I feel like my online presence is in good standing right now. Although there is room for improvement, which over time and...

We live in a world and generation where social media is everywhere, and almost everyone is currently using it. It has become more accessible to people because we all have the internet at the tip of our fingers. With one quick search of anyone's name, you are very likely to find at least one of their social media platforms. So it has become imperative to create a good presence of yourself, especially when you will soon be searching for a new job or trying to get into an educational program. Recently, I have noticed how important it is to upkeep my social media presence online, thanks to Dr. Silva and Dr. Ferry. I have always used platforms like Instagram and Facebook, but that is more for my personal life and not my professional life. That is why I like to use something more like Linkedin or Handshake for that. However, I recently have been open to improving my personal website because I can have a little more freedom, and I can add a lot of information to make it more personalized....

  1. What are your professional goals, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years into the future? What will accomplishing these goals let you do? How will accomplish these goals impact those around you and what will it make possible for those in your community?  I believe that in 10 years from now I will be working in a nice accredited crime laboratory for a while now. I also would love to help out my family and slowly start repaying everything that my parents have done for me. I also would love to be starting a family of my own. Something that I told myself that I would love to accomplish is, I would love to give back to Phoenix College and ASU. Throughout my education I had so much help from these schools that I feel the need to give back and help others who are barely starting their education journey. 2. What are societal challenges that matter to you that you think it's important to deal with now? What do you think are the challenges that will matter 10 years in the future, and 20 yea...

Picture  1. What did you know about your field 3 years ago, and what have you learned about that has 'wowed' you? (Supplemental questions: What did you use to think was an advanced topic in your subject, and what do you believe to be now? What was the experience that you feel you learned the most from?) Honestly, three years ago, I switched majors to what I am majoring in now, which is Forensic Science. When I first started my college journey straight out of high school, I enrolled in the biomedical program, and I wanted to become a biomedical engineer. For two years, I did that, and in the final semester, when it was time to transfer over to ASU in Lake Havasu, I decided that I was always interested in forensic science. I remember when I was a small kid, I would watch all the crime shows you can think of, and the idea of looking at a piece of evidence and creating a story and examining it was something so interesting to me. So I did the craziest thing, and I switched my major ...

Senior Picture 1. Who are you grateful for who has helped you get to where you are today? (What was your situation? how did they help you? How did that help impact you now and how has it led to where you are today? If you have a picture you'd like to share please do so with their permission.) I am grateful for my family, which includes my dad, mom, and sister. Thanks to them, I can honestly say that I am where I am is because of them. I am a strong believer that support and motivation play a big part in people's success. Of course, many other people who have helped me with my education have been in my shoes and can actually give me advice. For example, my educational career's most influential person has to be my advisor Dr. Robin Cotter. Thanks to her, I have continued my studies and not worry too much about finances and worrying about how I will pay for my next semester. I just think back to when I first started college and how everything was out of pocket, and I was worki...

Well, it is finally that final week where finals are approaching and everything seems so close but so far. The TRAIN class that we are all in made us plan out how we are going to do for our to-do list/ study guide that will help us organize the last few weeks for school. This really helped me a lot because I was able to organize what I need to study and also what I should prioritize.  This has helped especially this week that it is finals week. I hope everyone good luck on their finals! And hopefully, I am able to do good on mine as well. 

Mindset Google Image I remember we had to read the book Mindest by Carol S. Dweck last semester too for this TRAIN class, however kind of skimming through it again there were some main key points that I didn't resonate with the first time I read it. I feel like the first time reading this book one of the main key points that I carelessly neglected to do, was to actually use the techniques on how to actually change a fixed mindset to a growing one. Like I knew what I had to do to get out of that fixed mindset I was in. Not going to lie, I wasn't really doing anything to help better my thoughts, and I really do believe that it was getting in the way of my education, and even my personal life. As cliche as it may sound, however, this pandemic and a lot of alone time being at home, along with other incidents that have happened recently, it has really made me think a lot more about what kind of life I want for myself. Getting closer to graduation, and going back to those long term g...

  One of the assignments that we had to do for the TRAIN course at ASU West was to take an Enneagram test.  For those of you that do not know what an enneagram test is, it's kind of like a personality test. The test asks you a series of questions, and based on your answers it evaluates you and places you in which out of the nine personality traits do you fall under. For me, I had a tie for my number one slot, and it was personality trait number 2 and 9, which are the Helper/Giver, and the Mediator/Peacemaker, respectively. With the results, I received also came a description that described what each individual trait means. So, as I was reading through my descriptions, I started to see why I got these two. I resonated a lot what it was saying like for 2, the helper, it mentioned how I have a nurturing need to help others, and that is very true for me. Whenever I see someone who is struggling I can't help myself and not help if I can at the moment. I just find it interesting how...

Now that we are near the end things are getting a little bit stressful. But I am glad that I feel a lot better this semester than the last one. This semester has definitely been very interesting, and I am sure that I can speak for everyone. Being forced to self isolate ourselves, and convert to online learning was very tough. Hopefully next semester we are able to go back to school and enjoy all the small things. if this quarantine has taught me anything its that I was taking the small things for granted. Next semester, I will be becoming a senior and completing my last year at ASU and I cannot wait to make memories. I just would love to congratulate all the graduates that have completed their studies this semester. And it is unfortunate that they will probably not have the celebration that they were hoping for but they all should be proud no matter what. I hope when all this is done that they will be able to celebrate like how they deserve.

What a crazy transition going from all in-person classes to it being all online. It is definitely a huge change and I can imagine that everyone is feeling the stress that comes with all this change. I am so glad that all the professors I have right are being so accomodating and on board with all this transition. I am just glad that people were able to take extra precautions and staying home. At this time isolation is very important because is going to be what helps contain this situation. I am so glad that we are still able to continue with our studies even if it is online. I hope that during this time everyone stays safe and healthy. Hopefully, see y'all in the Fall of 2020.

I have been going to so many conferences for the past two years, that last semester I wanted to take a small break and focus on my transfer to ASU. But I am glad to say that this semester I will be presenting my research at the Arizona/Nevada Conference. At Phoenix College, I work with Dr. Frank Marfai, and our goal this semester and last semester is to introduce undergraduate research to students. We know that it is very hard for students to find time outside of their already busy schedules to find an internship. So what we try to do, is build a CURE inside a statistics class. We have partnered with ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality). They kindly share their air and water quality data for our students and they are able to use it to perform statistical tests. In the end, they make a poster and they present it to our local industries. We had some students look at the Arsenic levels over different counties, and we also had another group look at how the ozone levels ca...

Link to ASU Picture Well, I am back to another semester at ASU WEST. I can really say that I am really excited to start this semester and give it my all. Last semester was a bit of a challenge having to commute all the way to campus. At first, it seemed the most eternal drive ever, but now it seems very close. I am starting to become more familiar with where everything is and I am way more comfortable. I am so happy for the support of the TRAIN program and their faculty that have given us support to become successful. My classes right now seem very interesting and I love them all. I am taking Cell Biology which so far has been amazing. I am also taking moral dilemmas which is a philosophy class and that is very interesting, it makes me think outside the box. which is very interesting class that I am taking is Sociology of Murder and looking at the fundamentals of homicide and murder. Overall I am feeling more comfortable with everything and I have a feeling this semester is going...

https://www.google.com/search?q=tardis+going+through+time+vortex&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CZ3ZTSb0MAzKImADSS-iQPnFlScFumVDQ0nPbbIIxN- If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your "freshman self" or your "first-day-at-ASU self"? This is a question that I always ask myself. I still remember being a scared little freshman straight out of high school with such high expectations, and I was terrified. I remember my first semester had to be one of the most stressful times of my life. I was taking college algebra, reading so many books and writing essays for my English 101 class. And to top it all off I was taking a psychology class with so many group projects. Then I also wanted to join a lot of clubs and get involved because people told me that was the best way to meet people on campus. I was in like 5 clubs and I wanted to do it all at once. My adrenaline was always super high and I wanted to be the best at everything. It got very exhausting very ...

     How have your goals changed over the time since you started school until now?  Have the changes been big or small? https://www.yourtango.com/2019324469/list-inspirational-quotes-college-students When I first started college my plans and goals have been changing drastically. I could still remember coming straight out of high school, terrified to start college at Phoenix College. Teachers in high school tell you, "oh, in college it will be harder", "we are more lenient with you guys, then they are." So in my head, that was "what to expect." Going in I was terrified and I thought I was not able to survive even just the first semester. But as time went on, I met amazing professors and they helped give me gain the confidence to even consider a STEM field. I am glad I am getting a career in the STEM field because I am really enjoying everything I am learning. That is when I met my mentor and she helped me gain undergraduate research skills for over tw...

Who can really say they wake up every morning, they get ready for work and they actually want to go to work? Well, that is something that I wish I am able to do in the future as soon as I am done with my degree at ASU. My future job would be to be a forensic scientist in a crime lab. The field that I would like to focus on is forensic biology and work on DNA analysis. This has always been my goal from the start. I knew forensics was such an interesting subject and I was always so interested when I would watch forensic files. I would look at those cases where they would catch a suspect by using just one blood spatter and they were able to get justice for a family who was mourning. Or my favorite when they dig up a cold case that still has not been solved for a long time and they are able to find the person who committed the crime years ago. Every day as I am getting closer and closer I feel like I have selected the correct career for me. There are so many fields in the fore...

https://opendoor.asu.edu/west/forensic-science-frenzy Why did I chose the STEM life? Or  should  I say did the STEM life choose me. Choosing a STEM field is something I knew that I will always do. Every step of my educational journey was leading me to where I am today. All the people I have met along the way have pitched in and helped me get where I am now.  Yes, there were times where I believed it was too much and it got a little bit overwhelming. But honestly that come with the job and I have decided to push through and continue. I am so happy that I am doing something that I am passionate about because that is my motivation to keep on going. Now that I am at ASU West, and I am so close to finishing my degree is very exciting and I cannot wait to see what I will be able to do in the future. 

Wow, what a bittersweet moment. I can say that I have enjoyed my last 2 years being an intern in the TRAIN program for the PC Biosciences Department. Every moment spent here I have learned something very important. Working under Dr. Robin Cotter as my mentor has been an unforgettable experience. Working with her on the microplastics project has taught me so much about how to view this as an emerging issue. I also find myself more efficient working in a lab setting and I have enjoyed working with all of my colleagues that have worked on the project with me these past 2 years. Every single individual I have encountered has made me feel welcome and I have a special connection with them. Another great quality that I am so glad I have gained is, I felt in the past I was extremely shy. This program definitely has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, and it has allowed me to get up in front of an audience and present my research. I am super excited to be going into ASU West and to ...

This evening I had the opportunity to attend the 17th Annual URSA Major Awards. I was nominated by my amazing mentor Dr. Robin Cotter. It was a very bittersweet moment because I realized that I will be graduating from Phoenix College and moving on to ASU for more bigger and better things. Two years working by her side has really taught me a lot about who I am and what my goals are.  I also got the great opportunity to share the stage with Amanda, and Maria which I will really miss working with. It was such a great feeling getting recognized by this award. I am forever grateful for everyone in my path that made this possible.