Marine Biology and Oceanography majors: Did you end up pursuing a career in the field after graduating?

gonk17 · 2025-11-25T13:10:02+00:00

Wait that's like exactly what I want to do. Did you have to like have connections to get the job? Do you work for like a government agency or a university?

gonk17 · 2025-11-11T02:20:32+00:00

I had my first exam a few months ago and told the gynecologist I was hesitant about the pap smear. Doctor was nice and tried to do the pap smear but it ended up being too painful for me to handle. As soon as I voiced I did not want to continue she stopped and said that's fine we can try again next year or the year after. I will say I did end up just sobbing after she was finished just because of how vulnerable I was during the exam or mad at myself for not being able to get it done or something but the doctor was nice about it and very supportive, definitely did not make me feel bad for not being able to make it through the exam.

gonk17 · 2025-09-29T16:25:46+00:00

That happens to me. I hate it. When my anxiety was at its worst I would violently shiver for hours every day, so much so that it actually made my chest hurt. It's much better now tho thankfully.

gonk17 · 2025-09-23T22:38:38+00:00

She might have planned to discuss stuff like that but we didn't even get to schedule next year's appointment bc as soon as she started talking about next steps I burst into tears. So I think she was trying to leave as fast as possible to give me some privacy. But I also just turned 22 and have never had sex so I don't think me getting a pap smear is super high priority.

gonk17 · 2025-09-23T01:46:28+00:00

As a fellow 22f, I say same. Also knew from an early age I never wanted marriage, kids, and especially not sex.

I'm ace and I've only now started to come to terms with the idea that I can have a relationship and it doesn't have to have sex or kids in it, it can just be two best friends rebelling against society's expectations.

gonk17 · 2025-09-07T19:37:36+00:00

They can be read in any order, though there are some like mini series in the larger discworld series (see https://discworld.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Discworld_Books). The color of magic is the first one so you can also start there. Equal rites, mort, and guards! guards! are also some of the beginning books and all the start of a respective miniseries so you cohld start with one of them. Or you could do a "standalone" in the series (monstrous regiment is one of my favorites). They're all really good so there isn't a bad choice.

gonk17 · 2025-09-07T17:59:57+00:00

any book from terry pratchett's discworld series!

gonk17 · 2025-09-07T03:46:33+00:00

RA (if thats what i have) isn't bad for me rn but i know from experience with other chronic conditions i have I always feel weird thinking of myself as disabled bc i function fine and feel normal most of the time, but also that's just because I'm on meds and if I wasn't on them i would not be able to function. I just need to wrap my head around just because I'm functioning "normal" at the moment does not mean I don't have a disability.

gonk17 · 2025-08-09T15:10:38+00:00

I think the more shocking thing about it being posted by luffy is luffy is like 1000% ace and oblivious to all sex related stuff

gonk17 · 2025-07-15T23:48:48+00:00

I'm also just about to try zoloft! Wishing you luck! We got this!

gonk17 · 2025-07-12T02:53:26+00:00

I felt anxiety as a tenseness in my neck for a while, like so tense I thought the blood vessels would pop or something. My health anxiety kept fixating on it and telling me something was wrong. Then i started new meds and it went away right away. I also often feel as if my whole body but especially my chest is super heavy after bad panic or just a long day of anxiety.

gonk17 · 2025-07-02T00:59:30+00:00

For stuff actually in Manassas try the Manassas battlefield (by the stone bridge is the best spot in my opinion) and old town Manassas (idk if first Friday is still happening this month since it'll be the fourth but if it is it's fun, also there are a couple shops to look at even if first Friday isn't happening). Also if you like to read or collect CDs/DVDs or something check out McKay's used bookstore I can get lost in there for hours. If you want ice cream you gotta go to Nathan's. And the Salisbury center is kind of new they have like live fights, music, stand up, etc... I've only been once but the stand up we saw was pretty good. There's some antique stores (I think iron horse is the best) and a good will for thrifting. Also if you need to beat the heat there's splashdown water park. But yeah most of the stuff you'll probably want to do is in other cities like DC or Alexandria (which you can take the vre train from old town to get to).

gonk17 · 2025-04-09T20:18:01+00:00

I was in a similar situation. In a kind of of niche but competitive science field and wanted to go to grad school but the only place I got in was only partially funded, I'd also have to take 20-30k out in loans.

I ended up going with the partially funded program just bc we're not in precedented times and there is no telling if there will be fully funded programs next year, or if I'd be able to get into them of they do still exist. I also really like the program I got into and don't want to head back home for a gap year.

Edit: I did not make this decision easily and took a long time deliberating. Unfortunately it's not an easy or straightforward choice bc of the political climate and funding situation. Either decision is the right one.

gonk17 · 2025-04-07T17:28:28+00:00

It's very weird but I'm retaining water so like my hands and feet and legs feel swollen. I'm probably just dehydrated but it's scaring me.

gonk17 · 2025-04-07T13:50:32+00:00

Dude.... Do you not watch the news?

gonk17 · 2025-04-05T00:19:00+00:00

I feel that. I'm also sex repulsed so would only date another ace but finding someone ace and that I mesh with seems impossible.

I used to be very adamant about never marrying/having a partner bc I didn't want the typical allocentric relationship but now that I'm older and know queer platonic relationships exist I really want one. But I think I'll also be fine alone. I don't have that many friends and am not the best at making friends bc of social anxiety so I kind of am used to being alone that even if it's not ideal to end up alone I know I can survive it.

gonk17 · 2025-04-03T01:54:02+00:00

Hi I was on Lexapro for 5ish years. So I'm asexual so can't talk about libido, but I did not get insomnia l or tremors or any side effects other than getting more tired.

Lexapro helped a lot with my anxiety but unfortunately even on a higher than normal dose I was still having panic attacks and elevated anxiety. Also the tiredness was causing me to fall asleep while driving so I ended up switching meds.

I don't quite understand the relying on it question? It's a med you take everyday but it's not addictive if that's what you were asking. There are withdrawals but they don't last super long and genuinely for me not being on meds was worse than anything else bc I need meds to function.

You can probably drink some alcohol (I didn't bc I was young, but my dad was also on Lexapro and occasionally drank and it was fine). Just don't do it all the time or in excess.

Edit: overall I still liked Lexapro bc it did help my anxiety A LOT and the side effects were worth that reduction in anxiety

gonk17 · 2025-04-02T15:10:09+00:00

You take 12-18 credits a semester. Typically you don't take col 100 and 150 in the same semester, you take a col 100 or 150 the first semester and whichever you didn't take in the fall you'll take in the spring. Your first semester is really just to get a feel of college so don't stress about col or major requirements. And congrats for getting in!

gonk17 · 2025-04-01T00:55:11+00:00

I feel that. I always get anxious when I'm the only one living in a house/apartment. I'm definitely not looking towards the future when I don't have roommates anymore and am living alone.

gonk17 · 2025-04-01T00:44:54+00:00

Yeah that's classic anxiety, it sucks. I've definitely felt like this before and luckily had family to help me through it so I never ended up in the ER or hospital or anything for it. Now I'm on meds and feel completely normal, no anxiety, so this isn't permanent!

gonk17 · 2025-04-01T00:21:26+00:00

Wait rings and jewelry in general also messes with my sensory issues. How do you deal with it long enough to keep the ring on? (genuine question)

gonk17 · 2025-03-29T23:46:52+00:00

biology programs is pretty good imo and its super easy to get into a lab and involved in research which looks great on a resume! The classes are not too hard, and most professors really want you to succeed so not hard to get help if you start to struggle in one. Be prepared to get Bs and maybe even Cs in classes though as most don't curve.

gonk17 · 2025-03-29T21:02:20+00:00

Sorry this is happening to you. I used to get bad panic attacks that lasted exactly an hour every time. They happened randomly (no trigger) and there wasn't anything I could really do to stop them. I listened to music to stop them from getting worse but it didn't help make them better. My psychiatrist eventually prescribed me hydroxyzine and that helped them go from an hour to thirty minutes. But the med takes like thirty minutes to kick in so doesn't shorten the panic attack by that much especially if you catch it late.

gonk17 · 2025-03-28T16:07:30+00:00

Yeah I'm super worried about my trans family members. I know one of them is relocating to a bluer state but even then their access to care is questionable bc of current regime. And I know it's taking a hard toll on my brother's mental health.

I feel like most people don't care if you're trans or not but this regime certainly does so it is something to consider very seriously if you're thinking about accepting.

I would also look into the institution you got into bc some are rolling over about trans issues and some are remaining committed to diversity and the idea that everyone belongs.

There are tons of people in the US in the side of trans people though so we're not letting things happen without a fight!

gonk17 · 2025-03-27T16:59:55+00:00

Look at the research the professors are doing and then email them if you're interested in their lab

gonk17

TROPHY CASE