S-STEM Scholar Kassandra Barrera's Blog

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...