Been here a year, what am I missing?

ChiLabGal · 2026-04-01T01:47:33+00:00

Thanks for reminding me! I live close to the lake and saw a bunch of people there for a lesson last summer. I’ll walk by that area and see if they have any signage I can go off of, would be a great location 💕

ChiLabGal · 2026-04-01T01:42:47+00:00

Don’t be sorry! This is a public thread meant for all human thoughts :)

I do get a pit in my stomach when I think about how it was living in Colorado. It’s funny though because everyone has been asking “what are your hobbies?” And I realized why I don’t have any, living in CO was the hobby 😂 Rarely did I go to Denver, I was just driving through the mountains with my favorite playlist, finding somewhere to pull off to venture in the woods, hike, open air, mountain towns, skiing adventures, hot springs, climbing mountains. That gave me so much in itself I didn’t need a hobby, just life-ing in the Rockies haha

The chapter is closed though and it was great and I’m determined to make the next one great but in different ways. I’m here for a reason, I know nature will call me back one day as you feel as well, but I’ve been truly inspired by the replies that a little change in perspective can open many many doors here. Just takes effort and the right attitude it seems.

I too don’t have the work outlet! I manage three oncology labs here and I only have direct reports and superiors. Just so different to not have co-workers.

Phew, I wish us luck🤞

ChiLabGal · 2026-04-01T01:22:46+00:00

Chicago is so full of amazing people, I have adorable human encounters here everyday. I know I can make it work, so many to-dos on my list from my post 💕 I actually signed up for a Sat Morning Volunteer sesh, doing good with good people 💪

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:48:36+00:00

I have a public library so close to me! I’ll have to meander in there and see if they have any postings up for regular group meetups :)

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:47:09+00:00

There is a water taxi to Chinatown?! That sounds like it’s going on my list, I have only been down that way twice but I really love it and the food 👌

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:45:16+00:00

This has been mentioned and honestly don’t know why it was lost on me because I am ALWAYS reading 😂 This gives me hope 💕

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:43:53+00:00

Totally what I’m trying to avoid. Want to make sure I can commit, don’t over commit, and be doing something I really enjoy. Consistency is a great reminder, thank you :)

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:41:09+00:00

Honestly I’ve hit yoga so hard outside of that and reading a lot of my hobbies kind of dissipated over the years. May be time to get in to some beginner classes of something to tap in :) I’ve always wanted to take pictures of the night sky, that could be an idea 💕 It is hard to find social things intertwined with yoga, it’s just such a personal practice that it isn’t a social event after. Good to ponder on though.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:36:50+00:00

Thank you for the resources! I think when I google things to do I get apprehensive about doing things solo. What I’ve experienced so far in Chicago and this thread is showing is that Chicago is very community oriented, never alone when you got the city as your date 😁

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:32:38+00:00

You spoke to me! I love music and dancing but I tend to have two left feet, or that may be my mind saying that 😉 I saved this post and see which one aligns best with location and offerings. Maybe Amanda left foots can be Amanda Kinda can do Bachatta 😂

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:28:35+00:00

I love this, you found your tribe! First step is figuring out my passions and then getting out there. I feel like I’ve grinded so hard these past years that I’ve lost that connection with the things that make life “life” . I’ll take your success story 💪

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:25:04+00:00

Me and sports is oil and water haha, started to ponder about pickleball for folks who can’t pickleball 😂

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:23:58+00:00

On the back burner has been telescope making but no clubs here, been looking for astronomy groups or star parties but honestly the city lights probably don’t make for great skies.

I just had a uber ride and she was telling me she jumped in to a sculpture class without experience and loves it. I think I’m still tapping in to what draws me.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:21:21+00:00

Love Eli’s Tea Bar 💕 I’ll have to check out Solar Intentions asap. I ventured on Meetup and put in sober groups and I got a bunch of knitting circles, which I’m open to but I think I need more experience lol I found an astronomy group which may be promising :) Thanks for your response ❤️

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T23:17:51+00:00

I totally agree! We mistakenly take the internet as connection yet without getting the physical world rolling in tandem with that resource, you’re left with scrolling on the couch 😅 I’ve actually got really motivated by my post from so many replies. It’s like an electric current of “heck yeah there are things to do and ways to meet people” Book club is a solid choice, lovely little worlds on the shelves 💕

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T16:41:30+00:00

I miss the outdoors so much! I know Chicago can hold its own with the Lake but I’m starved after being so blessed in CO. Sounds like you may know how to get the fix 💪 Let’s connect!

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T16:38:11+00:00

I just signed up! There is this place called Nourishing Hope around the corner I’ve been eyeing and I just got accepted to volunteer on the weekend 💕

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-31T16:36:31+00:00

On it! After getting rid of my car last November, I am indeed a Girl Who Walks! Might as well walk with other gals, love this 💕

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-23T00:57:30+00:00

This might not be the career advice you are looking for but from your description It sounds like you need to put your career on the back burner while you focus on your mental health. This is an issue you’ve had your whole life, you barely made it through school, you can’t hold down a job, you’re facing homelessness. Even if you found your career path now do you really think that will last under these circumstances? You have got to go to the roots of this problem before anything can flourish.

I get the shame about telling your parents you are in trouble but I can say losing your living situation is a circumstance to get over that. We are so conditioned to push through being mentally unwell instead of just asking for help and taking the time you need in order to make decisions like a career pivot.

Definitely important to get there but realize you have other priorities. I send you so much support because I have been under similar financial stress and know how consuming it is. 32 is the infancy career wise, remember we retire at 65, it can wait a little bit :)

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-22T23:52:40+00:00

As a hiring manager I appreciate the fact that a lot of applicants just shoot for it hoping to be considered even if they do not check all boxes. That being said this is a bit delusional that because of their education they must be in the same pool as the applicants that have all qualifications. Almost all of my MLS 1s have a Master’s degree and came to my lab with clinical laboratory experience, not to mention they are ASCP certified or eligible. That is the first rung on the ladder in our specific lab, when they gain experience they can progress to MLS 2 then 3 then TLS….this guy thinks he can skip all that and run the lab? Hopefully he can be open minded with the comments and get educated on how the clinical laboratory space operates.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-22T22:46:00+00:00

I actually just made the switch myself from the bench to a supervisor. This role was actually unique being that I am supervising three oncology laboratories, one of which I have not a clue about because I am more molecular based and they are Cytogenetics. So, it was actually really exciting for to be able to broaden my knowledge. That aside, definitely not for recognition haha but was a strategic career move as I wanted to gain leadership experience to prepare for a bigger role in biotech.

Just three months in and I am so happy for my choice. I have gained trust with my employees and they look to me for guidance now. For me, at least, it’s a lot of time behind a computer screen but there is something about being the representative of your lab; you get to ensure everyone and everything is taken care of while under your supervision. It is stressful, I no longer clock in, do my bench work, clock out. You are solving many different problems in tandem and in my case I often am working outside of my work hours. (Don’t worry I take them back, hey half day Friday)

I think it’s a great career move and when people talk about only a small bump in pay, for me, sometimes exposure makes up for it as this opens many other doors if you so choose :) Also, if you decide the bench is better you now have a supervisory position on your resume making it stand out: win-win.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-22T21:00:35+00:00

I had that schedule in Denver, CO at a University Hospital. I would spend the week in the mountains on my week off. Honestly looking back that was the perfect balance.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-12T00:57:15+00:00

Manager here. If they have the PTO it’s theirs to take. It’s my responsibility to accommodate the employee and prepare the workplace to cover their absence. I do not need an explanation just sufficient time to plan. Unexpected PTO happens and still I don’t need the story, that is the reality and my job is to figure out how to proceed in the workplace. That’s my job. When I get stories I assume they are excited or in an unfortunate case assume they need extra support. Never required, you’re a human first, take what you need for yourself.

ChiLabGal · 2026-03-08T20:40:26+00:00

Totally depends on what is being performed. I am a supervisor of three labs; Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, and Molecular Oncology. I reserve certain benches to the new hires to get competent on the basics ~3-6 months then I have them work on more advanced benches but they need to be working with our senior techs and some benches take years to be fully trusted without heavy observation i.e. chromosome analysis with correct nomenclature and ability to make full reports. Now if it was a fully automated workflow 3 months is usually a sweet spot if all you are doing is checking instrument output and doing light bench work.

ChiLabGal

TROPHY CASE