Self reflection 

Being able to assess my own skills and recognise when and how to apply them in different laboratory contexts is an essential part of working effectively in this field.

What employment in my field of research is like 

My degree, the Bachelor of Medical Biotechnology (Honours), leads to employment in a relatively specialised area within the broader field of science. To gain a clearer understanding of what it is like to work in this environment, I spoke with people who have first-hand experience in laboratory settings.

In particular, I interviewed my mother, Sue Curtis,  who has spent many years working in various laboratory roles. She shared valuable insights into the realities of laboratory work and the skills that have contributed to her success.

Question: How has working in a laboratory been beneficial for your career, and what skills have you found invaluable?

Response:
“Working in laboratories has been the foundation of my entire career, and what’s made it so rewarding is how transferable the skills have been across such a diverse range of fields. I’ve worked in commercial diagnostics, hospital research, environmental science, veterinary laboratories, and now teaching — all of which share a common core of scientific thinking, precision, and problem-solving.”

 

Honours information session 

In order to better understand the opportunities available through my degree and what the Honours program involves, I attended the Honours Information Session held in Building 43. During the session, I heard from previous Honours students who shared their experiences and insights into the challenges and rewards of the program. I also had the opportunity to speak with several academics who are leading the available Honours projects, which helped me gain a clearer idea of the types of research areas I could pursue in the future.

What inspired me to self reflect 

Trying to improve upon my self I looked for some ways that people have expressed their methods of self reflection and how it helped them to imrpove them self. This TED talk from a university student Emma Myers really showed me the importance of self reflection after recieveing feedback and how it can be used to change yourself with new life values. 

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom" 

Aristotle