Graduation

Pre-Graduation Ceremony

Graduating SBCC this last Friday was a bittersweet moment. I'm happy to be moving on to the next chapter of my life, but it's hard saying goodbye to friends, former teachers, and just about everything else SBCC has to offer. The commencement ceremony was a nice way to end things: from walking side-by-side with my closest friends, listening to the inspiring guest speakers, getting called on stage and shaking hands with our school's president, to hugging my former teachers as I walked out of the stadium. All of these things helped me realize how fortunate I am to have had such an incredible experience. I couldn't ask to have spent the last three years of my life in any better place! I'm so grateful for the opportunities this school has provided me with and can confidently say that coming to SBCC has been the best decision of my life thus far. This is unfortunately my last blog post as a SBCC Student Blogger so I would like to thank all my readers for staying with me over this last year. It has been an honor sharing my experiences with all of you!!!

Had a full stadium to watch us graduate! 

Only Transcripts Will Tell

Dear Semester,

Why must our relationship always be so arduous. It pains me to exert so much effort while you do so little to reciprocate my time and dedication. Despite my compelling arguments and sound reasoning you always seem to be right, and me in the wrong. I thought I knew you, but you have been tremendously unforthcoming this last week. Your lack of communication has left me guessing where we stand, and what has become of our 16 week relationship. I'm writing this letter to inform you that we are done! The stunt you pulled this morning was the last straw! No longer will I stand by and let you rob me of a good night's rest or a meaningful social life. Maybe someday we can be friends, but I suppose that depends on how you respond to me over these next few days. If you so choose to bring good news, I may find it in me to forgive you. However, I must insist that we never again engage in such intimate relations. The next move is yours...

I've attached some photos of the things my friends and I have gone

through to uphold our end of this relationship. 

- Austin 

  

UCLA Bruin Day

Each tent had info on a particular club, campus resource, organization, department etc...

I may have lost an entire day of studying for finals, but yesterday I decided to drive down to UCLA for Bruin Day. This was an all day event designed to inform transfer students about the various resources and organizations that UCLA has to offer. There were multiple info sessions, faculty lectures, campus tours and Q&As with current UCLA students who were also transfers. Not only did I learn about some really great programs this school has to offer, but it was also really awesome meeting a bunch of other transfer students. I had been unsure about what to do for housing next year, but I finally made a decision after checking out my options and hearing from other transfer students. I decided to live in the transfer dorms next year for a few reasons: they are on campus so I'll be close to everything, and the dorms are also a great way to meet other transfer students. Overall, I'm really glad I went down there yesterday! I may have to pull some late nights studying to make up for lost time, but it's totally worth it. I also stopped by the campus store and decked myself out with some new UCLA gear! I'll most likely be sporting them around next time you see me.

Nerding Out

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet! I'm not sure if other people share the same excitement over whiteboards as I do (most likely not), but they're one of my favorite study aids. Unfortunately dry-erase boards can be expensive. So rather than spending a ton of money I found the next best thing. Home Depot has this white surface called "Thrifty White Hardboard Panel Board" that is only $15 for a 32 sq. ft. piece. I told them the dimensions I wanted and they cut it for me in the store. I used double stick velcro to hang a 4'X5' piece on one of my walls and I also lined the top of my desk with it, as you can see in the photo below. All this for a fraction of what it would've cost to get a name brand dry-erase board. I unfortunately couldn't find any photos, but when my whiteboards aren't covered with organic chemistry reactions my roommates never fail to draw or write something that provides comedic relief. 

My home desk. If you look close enough you can see my dead bonsai tree, airborne (can't be gettting sick with finals coming up), and several other random things. It's great having a desk that doubles as a whiteboard! 

A snapchat my friend took while I was measuring out the dimensions of my desk

Got My First Internship!

The good news has been pouring in lately; I recently found out that I landed a summer internship! My internship involves spending about 25 hours a week shadowing a psychiatrist. I'll be learning about prescribing psychotropic medications and how to work with people who have mental health needs. I'm also going to be working with the med support services administration to help process the paperwork that supports the psychiatrist. This isn't a paid internship, but I really don't mind since it's the experience that I'm interested in. I'm an aspiring psychiatrist so this will be an awesome opportunity for me to gain some insight into this line of work. It's a long road to becoming a psychiatrist but this is definitely a great milestone for me. My internship is only about an hour commute from my hometown so I'm excited to be living at my parents house for a few months. I haven't spent more than three weeks back home since I've graduated high school so it will be nice spending time with my family and friends. It's hard to top summertime in Santa Barbara but I'm confident Santa Cruz will be able to compete. Both of the photos below are taken in places that are within 20 minutes of my house so I really get the best of both worlds: awesome beaches and incredible redwood mountains!

Eagle Rock is one of my favorite lookout spots in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a short hike from the main road, and the tower hidden behind the tree used to serve a fire lookout since this is one of the highest peaks in the area.  

This is "Its Beach" located on the westside of Santa Cruz. 

UCLA Here I Come!

Seeing this letterhead marked the happiest day of my life thus far! I came to SBCC with goals of transferring to UCLA, and now I'm proud to say that my dream school has become my reality! It's great knowing that all my hard work over the last few years has paid off. I will be majoring in Psychobiology and I can't wait to start taking upper division classes! It's always nerve-racking moving to an unfamiliar place and starting something new, but I'm confident that my time at SBCC has prepared me for just about anything and that I'll excel wherever I go. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities SBCC has provided me with over the last three years! I may now be a Bruin, but I'll forever be a Vaquero!

One Last & Final Class at SBCC

I was under the impression I had completed all the general education classes required for an associates degree; however, after talking with an academic counselor I realized that I need to take one more class. I'm still able to participate in the graduation ceremony this May, but ended up having to enroll in one last class at SBCC before I transfer. Once completed, I will receive an associates degree in Chemistry, Biology, and a Liberal Arts A.A in Science and Math. This is the first Summer that SBCC is offering two different sessions, which is great for people who wanna finish up some classes. Despite being the poster boy for Summer Session 2, I decided to enroll in session 1 and will be taking "History and Appreciation of Rock and Pop Music" online since I'll be spending my Summer back home in Santa Cruz.

It's pretty funny seeing this poster of myself and fellow blogger, Hannah, all around campus. Apparently postcards were also sent out to the Santa Barbara area so don't be surprised if you get a picture of me in the mail! I guess the message to take away from this blog is to enroll in Summer classes, if necessary, and make sure you have completed all your required classes (hopefully before graduation) so you don't end up in my position.

Want to See Two SBCC Professors go Head to Head??

I usually blog about things I've already done, but today I'm gonna change it up and blog about something I'm going to be doing! Tomorrow afternoon (4/9/15) from 4:00-5:30 I'll be moderating a joint lecture/debate/Q&A/ between two SBCC professors in room PS101 (Physical Science Building on East Campus). Philosophy professor Marc Bobro and biology professor Blake Barron will be discussing/debating the Shifting Boundaries between biology and philosophy: think evolution, genetic modification, Darwin vs. Freud. This is the second ever Prof-Off hosted by the SBCC Honors Program and I'm glad to have had a role in making this event possible. It would be great to have as many people show up as possible so please stop by tomorrow if you're free! Questions from the audience are encouraged, and greatly appreciated by me since it will make my job as a moderator much easier! Hope to see you there! For more info on this event and future SBCC Honors Program events go to our website http://sbcchonorsprogram.org/

Successful Spring Break!

Where I Stayed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I was planning to keep everyone up to date on my Spring break adventures but I ended up not having internet access where I was staying in Mexico since I chose not to pay $20 a day for wifi. It ended up being really nice to disconnect from social media: no texts, emails, phone calls, snapchats, instagram etc... Without these obstructions I was way more relaxed during break! The only downside was sorting through 6 days worth of emails once I landed back in the States; it's scary how fast they accumulate! This was my first trip to Mexico but definitely not my last. My days consisted of hanging out beach side, paddle boarding, snorkeling, lounging by the pool, eating non-stop and trying my best to forget that I had to leave this paradise after my 5 day stay. I wish I was still there, but I had to come back to reality eventually. I hope everyone else had a great spring break as well!

One of the most incredible sunsets I've seen!

Rooftop Infinity Pool 

 

   Attempting a Headstand

while Paddle Boarding 

Spring Break is Almost Here!

Spring break is right around the corner! Only 4 more days of school, 1 midterm, and 3 assignments to go until I'm off for a week. Every year I go on a family vacation during break: two years ago it was Houston & New Orleans, last year we went to Portland, and this year my parents, sister, and I will be heading down to Puerto Vallarta for a few days. This is going to be my first trip to Mexico so I'm pretty excited! I'm also looking forward to spending some time with the Fam; now that my sister and I are older, and no longer live in the parental's nest it's became increasingly harder to find a time where all of us can get together. This is also my first spring break not having an exam, paper, or project due immediately after I return. It will be nice not worrying too much about school over break. Unfortunately, I have an O-chem and physics exam the following week so won't be completely off the hook.  Hopefully I'll get some beach and pool-side studying done while lounging in Mexico (No guarantees though)! I obviously don't have any pictures to show for this trip yet, but I'll make sure to take plenty and share them on my blog! Instead, I'll post a picture of what I'm leaving behind while on break plus some photos from previous spring breaks. It's funny that as I leave, there are gonna be tons of tourists flooding Santa Barbara to vacation here. I'm lucky to live in a place where many people only get to visit while on vacation, such as the people on this cruise ship.

The Cruise Ship that regularly passes through Santa Barbara

     

Downtown Houston 2 years Ago                        

My Sister and I in New Orleans

Hanging out on Bourbon St. in New Orleans 

My Sister and I in Portland Last Year

Portland 

Japanese Garden in Portland 

Morning Rituals

Sunset is cool and all, but sunrise is something that is much less frequently talked about. Santa Barbara is one of the few places where it's possible to see the sun rise and set over the ocean because of the direction it faces. Lately I've been waking up early to catch the sunrise during my morning runs. It's nice starting my days off like this especially since the mornings have been so warm lately. One of the best parts about sunrise is that I'm able to avoid the crowds; as you can imagine there's very few people awake at this time, especially in a college town. The photos below were taken during one of my recent morning runs in Isla Vista!

Admitted!

One admittance letter down with one more to go! I'm stoked on my first acceptance letter after five months of waiting! If I end up going to UCSB I would be majoring in pharmacology with an emphasis in neurobiology and behavior. From what I hear this is a pretty rigorous major, but I've looked into the upper division classes and it seems like something I'm extremely interested in. I'm still waiting to hear back from UCLA and unfortunately am going to have to wait until the end of April. UCLA is notorious for waiting till the very last day possible to inform their applicants. Lets hope UCLA, like UCSB, brings me good news!

Hidden Treasures of the Humanities Building

Newly Built Humanities Building on East Campus

The Humanities Building is one of my favorite buildings on campus. It just got finished being built under a year ago and came equipped with some cool attractions. Though I've never had a class in here I still find time to wonder through every now and again for a couple different reasons. The Atkinson Gallery is the first of these reasons. Every month a new artist's collection cycles through this gallery. Currently Maria Rendon's artwork from her Missing Rib collection is on display. The photos below are a preview of the gallery, but I recommend checking it out for yourself to see her artwork up close.

Another perk of this building are the views once you step outside. The photo below, of the mountains, was taken from the patio of the Atkinson Gallery. If you face the other way there is a great view of the harbor. When I have a gap between classes or need a break from studying this is usually where I like to come relax for a bit.

The artist who's work is currently
 on display in the Atkinson Gallery 

Accidental Virtue is the piece spanning an entire wall of the gallery 

View of the mountains from the Atkinson Gallery patio

Accidental Virtue

Bovine Malaise 

Tea with a Professor

As Co-President of the SBCC Honors Program one of the new things my counterparts and I decided to implement this year was “Tea with a Professor.” This is an opportunity for students to sit down with one of the Honors Program professors and get to know them outside of the classroom. I should also mention that this is a great time to meet other students. In addition to snacks, the Honors Program also pays for students’ drink of choice from the Buzzshack (Tea is great and all, but I’m more of a coffee guy myself). This week, political science teacher, Dr. Manou Eskandari was the guest professor and in a couple weeks, philosophy professor, Dr. Marc Bobro will be joining us. Out of the many events the Honors Program hosts throughout the year this is one of my favorites! I would like to encourage interested students to check out all the great things this program has to offer. Here is the link to the website for anyone wanting to learn more about the 

SBCC Honors Program http://www.sbcc.edu/honors/.

Tea with a Professor meets at the West Campus Snack Shop 1-2 times a month. If you ever see me out there please stop by to say hello and join us for free drinks, snacks, and great conversation!

Last weeks Tea with a Professor with Dr. Eskandari 

Transfer Update!

The Inverted Fountain at UCLA

Now that my college apps for Fall 2015 transfer are submitted all I can do is stand by and wait to hear back from the schools I applied to; I should hopefully hear back by late April. I had originally planned on applying to several private and public schools across the country, but after further consideration that list of schools drastically shrunk. I couldn't justify paying out of state or private school tuition when there are awesome public schools in California (my home state) so I ended up crossing those off my list. Then it came down to deciding what in-state public schools I would like to transfer to. Since I'm wanting to get involved in undergraduate research I set my sights on one of the UC's. Out of all the Ca. Universities I ended up applying to UCLA and UCSB based on the programs offered for my desired major and the location of each school. I applied to UCLA as a psychobiology major and UCSB as a pharmacology major with an emphasis in neurobiology and behavior.

It's comforting to know that I'm guaranteed admission to UCSB because of the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program through SBCC. The TAG program ensures acceptance to a wide range of schools usually on the basis of GPA and the number of units completed. UCLA doesn't have a TAG agreement with SBCC, but by completing the SBCC Honors Program I became eligible for UCLA's Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). Being TAP certified grants me priority consideration for admission to UCLA in addition to a few other benefits. It's no guarantee but hopefully I've done what it takes to get admitted! I'll make sure to keep everyone updated on the status of my apps along with my decision process down the line...

Me Exploring the area around the UCSB Lagoon 

I Love My School

The view from the 3rd floor of the Earth & Biological Sciences Building

I don't think I'll ever get tired of this view! Even though I've been here for nearly three years, every time I walk onto campus I still find it hard to believe that this is where I go to school. It's comforting to know that I have this scenery waiting for me every time I get out of class. I don't know of many other schools that can compete with the location of SBCC. This is my last semester at CC and it's gonna be hard to say goodbye not only to this view but to all the great faculty, staff and classmates I've met over the years. This semester isn't anywhere close to being over, but lately I've been reminiscing on the awesome experiences I've had while at this school. It's kinda funny how I ended up coming here; I was planning on going to a Cal. State College, but at the last second I changed my mind and decided to attend SBCC with a couple of my good friends from high school. Needless to say it was probably the best sporadic decision I've made and have never once regretted it! 

One of the views from a patio on West Campus

This was also taken from the 3rd floor of the Bio Building  

Another one from the lawn on West Campus

Organic Chemistry Shenanigans

Fractional Distillation Apparatus 

I feel like organic chemistry has taken over my life now that I have two 4 hour labs and 3 hours of lecture each week on top of the countless hours I spend studying for this class. But for some odd reason I can't help but love O-chem. Aside from the brutal work load I get to do some pretty fun things in lab. The other day I made ethanol from sucrose (in other words I was making some booze). The fermentation process took about two weeks and after that came the distillation. The picture to the left is the macroscale fractional distillation apparatus I set up to distill my product. I'll avoid rambling about the interesting chemistry behind this, but it's experiments like this that remind me why I like this class. I wonder how many people can say they've made alcohol at school... Of course none of us drank our final products, which is probably a good thing after finding out what a horrible moonshiner I would've made. My final product was only about 70% pure ethanol, which is nothing to brag about when some of my classmates had products that were over 90% pure. In my case, it's unfortunate that the labs are graded on purity but I promise not all of my experiments turn out this bad.

Here are some of the other toys (equipment) I have in my laboratory locker.