This past week I was in Memphis, TN at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital giving a talk, presenting a poster, and talking with the faculty as part of the National Graduate Student Symposium. It was a truly humbling experience to be there with some of the smartest graduate students and faculty that I have ever come in contact with. By far the most memorable thing about this trip, however, was seeing the children. Each day as I walked through the halls I saw children with cancer or other diseases. Each of them were surrounded by their families and while so sick, they were still kind enough to smile back when you smiled at them. I feel that this would be a great atmosphere in which to work in the future. Everyone there clearly had one goal and that was to improve the lives of these children and eventually cure pediatric cancer. I had a very good time at St. Jude.

My Upcoming Trips

A couple of months ago, I was contacted by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital about applying for a National Graduate Student Symposium. Considering it was a great opportunity, I did just that. Well, long story short, I was selected to participate which means I will be flying to Memphis, TN to present a talk and a poster summarizing the research that I am currently doing. While there, I will be interviewing with faculty, touring the city, and looking at housing with the possibility of a fellowship opportunity there when I graduate (hopefully this fall). I am very excited, and also a bit nervous, about this trip which I will be making in two weeks.

After I get back, I am here a couple weeks before leaving to the American Association for Cancer Research national meeting in San Diego. This trip will be a lot more fun and a lot less stressful than the one to St. Jude. Emily and I will be going for almost a week. I have to be at the conference most of the time, but she gets to stay in the nice hotel room as well as go see some sights. It should be a lot of fun going to the Padres game, going to the wild animal park, and going to Sea World, along with seeing Tyler, Stacy, and family while we are there.

Well, that is what is going in the next little bit. My little sis is coming to visit next week and we are going to go watch some Spring Training games. If anyone wants to see some good baseball and enjoy the 80 degree weather that we are experiencing right now, come on down and visit.