Happy 2015! I haven't updated this blog in quite some time due to the hectic nature of my schedule these past few months. However, I update my photo blog more often that this one, so you should check that out!

2014.. oh 2014, how I am happy you are over. There have been distinct moments scattered throughout the year that made it an overall lackluster.. disappointment, (obviously some good still thrown in) but I have learned (cliche) a lot throughout this past year, namely, a lot about myself. (so b a n a l - I know!)

THE MOCK JOB SEARCH
I attend a school where experimental education is emphasized, so I started my first co-op search in the winter to place a job that would last from July to December. I was fairly confident when I started, because I had been tailoring my resume since freshman year with leadership roles, a research internship, volunteer work, a clinical internship, a competitive GPA, ETC. But getting interviews didn't happen easily for me.. As my friends were returning back from spring break with interviews lined up, I still hadn't heard back from anyone.

Weeks went on of complete silence, and I felt my sanity was slowly deteriorating. I ended up interviewing for a few places after a month, but nothing came of them. Two employers expressed interest in a second interview but never followed up with me after I asked for a date and a time. It was hard, and I went to my co-op advisor to pinpoint what was going on, but the only thing we could do was send out my resume to more employers.

I ended up interviewing at a lab that seemed like a perfect fit - I thought the research was incredibly fascinating and meaningful. During my interview, one of the PIs recommended a book for me to read and told me that he can show me some images of said research later. Anyways, after a pretty lengthy interview, I heard back shortly afterwards and found out they gave the position to someone else.
I was pretty heartbroken at that point. Throughout this entire co-op finding journey, I couldn't help but feel like this is what my life will be like when I am interviewing for dental school. It may have seemed overdramatic, but it's how I felt, and an experience that still plagues me today.

But here's the spin to this otherwise incredibly heartbreaking (sarcasm obviously) story. As I was reading my rejection e-mail, another one had popped up about an opportunity at a dental implant company. I contacted the supervisor, interviewed shortly afterwards, and got the job.

My past co-op was the most meaningful and indicative experience I have had that secured my drive and passion for dentistry. I learned an incredible amount and was faced with some challenges throughout the way (i.e. started in a department with 3 other people, those 3 people left, 1 new person who started a few weeks prior was the only person in that dept besides me..?)
I was offered part-time a few months into my co-op, which I was very excited about. Though my role has changed exponentially since I started, I'm excited to work there this semester and build a second co-op off of it with some research work I plan to do either at Forsyth or Tufts Dental.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Things are out of your control. You may think you have it altogether and figured out, but the circumstances and timing will play a large role in the overall outcome. They work out though, not in the way you had originally thought, but they do. And if at first they do not work out, they will.. eventually, I hope (for everyone - but that's not the case in reality).

IMPROVING THYSELF
One of my personal flaws is the lack of confidence I have in myself, which was even pointed out during my co-op evaluation (you know it's a problem when...). It's gotten to a point where I automatically assume that it was my fault or mistake when something goes wrong. You could probably ask my loved ones how often I say I am a failure on any given day, and they will kindly tell you how I drive them insane sometimes. But that's something I have pinpointed and hope to improve on this year. I hope to become comfortable with the decisions I make and be a more decisive, confident person with CONVICTION.

I also hope to balance my kind of extreme ways of being a hardcore nerd and making more time for others, namely my doting and awesome friends and beyond supportive parents, and for myself. I tend to fall off the grid when I'm busy, not looking at my phone for days because everything else takes precedence. But I think it's time for me to embrace the other things in my life and enjoy what's in store instead of running from place A to B, completing task C to D, planning for E to F, and being kind of neurotic on some off days.

2014 was a pretty dry year in terms of my hobbies, and unfortunately, I have maybe read 2 or 3 books for pleasure this year. I have an assortment of novels and architecture texts in my cart that I'm excited to finally purchase and read! I haven't been able to foster my interest in design/architecture in a very long time, but no more excuses. Time to learn and to relax and to just hang with the homies. Also, to not bail out on shows on the last minute and utilize StubHub as often as I did.. I miss going to show fairly frequently, and I hope to see some awesome sets this year.

LAST NOTE
Just don't forget to be kind to yourself throughout it all. When there are people you meet, have a lot of mutual interests with, and decide that you finally feel like you can handle a relationship, but they do not reciprocate these feelings, let it go! Oh man, if I could have been more attuned to that mindset, then some other issues would not have surfaced towards the end of the year.

So cheers to 2015! [ senior year, application season.. it's finally coming to an end, this so-called college journey ]

Sam Smith's album, In the Lonely Hour, will be released in the US in a few days. However, you can listen to it on NPR First Listen RIGHT NOW. With that being said, I have been hooked onto this album for a week now. Beginning with his hit single, Money on My Mind, Smith uses his strong, soulful vocals to declare that he "[does] it for the love" above everything else. This message is similar to Price Tag's, the hit single from fellow Brit Jessie J. Building off the money<love message, in Leave Your Lover, he croons that he doesn't "[he] doesn't care for gold, what use is money when you need someone to hold?"

The theme of this album focuses on the unrequited nature of love, from not being able to obtain it because the person you're in love with is unavailable to the inability to find love yourself. I was not surprised by the theme because of Smith's comment stating that this album revolved around his personal struggle of falling in love with a dude who didn't love him back, but I was pleasantly surprised by the overall tone of this album. From his features in Disclosure's Latch to La La La, I was expecting it to be more upbeat and heavy with vocal tweaking.

Some of the lyrics get a bit lazy throughout the album, but the choruses are generally nice and put together. There weren't many vocal embellishments that triggered any grievances besides the siren wailings in the first track.

Money on My Mind is my least favorite track on the album; it's heavy on voice alteration that doesn't suit Smith's natural voice - by that, why does his voice sound like a siren? The other songs are A+ beautiful, ending with Lay Me Down, my favorite track from his EP. I would say this version of the song is a pretty balanced mix between the origin and the acoustic versions found on his EP. Also, my favorite track from this album is Not in That Way.


WILL LOVE BE MUTUAL FOR SMITH? Maybe in his next album. On a more personal note, I feel like a broken person when I listen to this album, being fully able to grasp his lyrics and the milieu set off by his voice. I'm very excited to hear what his future albums will sound like, though I am very please with his debut.

I've mentioned previously the connection between oral health and overall health - your nutrition is extremely importantly for the maintenance of both. It's easy to eat whatever you want, especially if you live in a dorm and the cafeteria is your oyster. If you're the type of person who exercises in order to cancel out the amount of calories you ate, then you probably justify eating whatever you want in order to feel great and look great. I was in that same boat until I decided that being healthy means exercise, nutrition, and productivity; don't let exercise replace nutrition! I swear eating healthy and exercising makes you feel great/look great as well!

Here are some food options to keep in mind when you're deciding what to snack on/eat for meal. Do this for your health, and do it for your teeth!

The best food choices for your mouth include: cheese, chicken (meat), nuts, and milk. These are thought to protect the enamel of your tooth by providing CALCIUM and PHOSPHOROUS needed to remineralize the teeth. As a vegetarian, the meat option is out, and I'm not much of a milk drinker, but I'm trying to change... for my teeth. I've always been a huge carbohydrate/starch person, but I'm trying to cut down on the amount of pasta and potatoes I eat...for my teeth.

Other food choices: firm/crunchy fruit (apples/pears/etc) and vegetables. These foods are high in water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugar that they contain + they stimulate the flow of saliva! Citric fruits (tomatoes/lemons) are to be eaten in moderation with other foods to minimize the acid from them that wear away the enamel.

Avoid: candy, cookies, cakes, pies, breads ( :( ) , muffins, potato chips, pretzels, french fries, bananas, raisin, and other dried fruits. These foods have a large content of sugar, catalyzing ample residences for bacteria which lead to cavities.

DRINKS: h2o, milk, and unsweetened tea. Be sure to minimize the amount of sugar you add into your tea/coffee your teeth or go black! Try it first and then gradually build up from there. I've been drinking black coffee/unsweetened tea my entire life, and maybe it's just my preference because I don't like sweet drinks, but it gets the job done. I drink coffee purely for the caffeine, though tea is more of an enjoyable experience for me.

ALSO, remember continuous drinking/eating is worse than one-time drinking/eating when it comes to sugar-y foods, because you're prolonging the time that your teeth are exposed to bacteria. So, if you're going to eat sugar-y things, binge binge binge once, wait thirty minutes, and then brush your teeth! Okay, so that's probably not the best advice, but if you're going to do it.. might as well do it right? Am I right?

Avoid artificial sweeteners. Here's more taken from Delta Dental! 

The “good guys” in fighting tooth decay

• Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables: Foods with fiber stimulate saliva flow, which is a natural defense against cavities. Not only does saliva wash away food particles and clean your mouth, about 20 minutes after you eat something, saliva begins to neutralize the acids attacking your teeth. Crisp fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots and celery not only help stimulate saliva flow, but also help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.
• Cheese, milk, plain yogurt and other dairy products: The calcium, phosphates and vitamin D in cheese, milk and other dairy products are important minerals for the health of your teeth. Your teeth are made mostly of calcium, and without enough in your diet, you risk developing tooth decay and other problems. An added benefit is that the calcium in these foods mixes with plaque and sticks to teeth, protecting them from acids that cause decay and helping to rebuild tooth enamel on the spot. Worried you won’t get enough calcium because you are allergic to milk or just don’t like the taste? There are many calcium-fortified juices, soy milks and other foods available that can supply as much calcium to your diet as milk does.
• Sugarless chewing gum: Chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can help rinse harmful acid off your teeth to help you preserve tooth enamel. But be sure it’s sugarless! Chewing gum containing sugar may actually increase your chances of developing a cavity. Sugarless gum containing xylitol, which has been shown to have decay-preventive qualities, may even have an added benefit. Research indicates that xylitol most likely inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the oral bacteria that cause cavities.
• Green and black teas: Tea contains compounds that interact with plaque and either kill or suppress bacteria, preventing them from growing or producing tooth-attacking acid. This not only helps to prevent cavities, but also reduces inflammation and the chances of gum disease. Depending on the type of water you use to brew your tea, a cup of tea can also be a source of fluoride. Just remember: don’t add sugar to your tea.
• Water with fluoride: Fluoridated drinking water, or any product you make with fluoridated water, helps your teeth. This includes powdered juices (as long as they don’t contain a lot of sugar) and dehydrated soups. Bottled drinking water may not contain as much fluoride as water from the tap, so if this is your main source of water, be sure that you use fluoridated toothpaste and ask your dentist about fluoride supplementation.

The “bad guys” in fighting tooth decay

• Sugary candies and sweets that stay in your mouth: If you eat sweets, go for those that clear out of your mouth quickly. Those that stick around — lollipops, caramels, jelly beans and hard candies — make it difficult for saliva to wash the sugar away. Snacks like cookies, cakes or other desserts contain a high amount of sugar, which can cause tooth decay. If you eat foods like these, it's best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals. Whenever you eat sweets — in any meal or snack — brush your teeth well with fluoride toothpaste afterward.
• Starchy, refined carbohydrates: Foods such as chips, bread, pasta or crackers can be as harmful to the teeth as candy. Starches made from white flour are simple carbohydrates and can linger in your mouth and then break down into simple sugars. Bacteria feed on these sugars and produce acid, which causes tooth decay.
• Carbonated soft drinks: Not only does regular soda contain a high amount of sugar, both regular and diet sodas also contain phosphorous and carbonation, which wear away the enamel on your teeth (causing them to become stained and brown). Many energy drinks and bottled iced teas and lemonades also contain high amounts of sugar and may contain acids that wear away tooth enamel. If you regularly consume soda, you should use a straw to keep it from having too much contact with your teeth.
• Fruit juice: Although fruit is an important part of a healthy diet, fruit juice can cause problems for your teeth. Whole fruits have fiber and are a less concentrated source of sugar (and sometimes acids). In addition, juices sometimes have sugar added to them, which can be even more damaging to your teeth. If you regularly drink fruit juices, you should use a straw to keep them from having too much contact with your teeth.
• Lemons, citrus fruits and other acidic foods: It’s OK to eat these kinds of foods, but don’t suck on them or keep them in your mouth for a long period of time. The acidic juice in these foods can erode the enamel of your teeth. Citrus fruits and foods with tomatoes (including pizza, soup and pasta sauce), pickles, honey and wine can all be damaging to your teeth if they are consumed too often or held in the mouth for too long.

1. Staedtler 10-pack Triplus Fineliners 
I am one of those people who strongly advocate for a good quality pen. Pens are so disposable nowadays and can be bought at different prices, but I have always enjoyed spending a bit more on a good set of pens that last me throughout the year. I always purchase a full set of Pilot G2 pens before the school year, because my primary method of studying is study guide making.

 I have this really odd, borderline (not borderline- downright embarrassing) level of narcissism when it comes to my study guides, even though they are often viewed as cluttered and disorganized by my friends. Anyways, that's just how I function and I enjoy a bit of chaos and disorganization sometimes? I'm not sure, but I am a huge advocate of these pens. I've tried a lot of different brands and types, ranking Zebra and Sharpie on my top list. Unlike Pilot G2s, they do not smear or bleed through paper. I've been using them regularly for around a week now, and I'm so obsessed to the point where I look forward to my daily treks to the library in order to study.. At $10, I think it's a fair price to pay for such quality and precision.

2. Takeya Ice Green Glass Water Bottle
I have a really unhealthy obsession with glass water bottles. I really enjoy the sleek, modern design of many of them, and I've tried around 3 now (other 2 were gifted - I swear my problem isn't that severe). I've been using this Takeya bottle for ONE YEAR, and it's still my favorite. I could list you out the reasons why you should switch to use a reusable water bottle instead of relying on plastic water bottles, but I'll save the lecture for next time and advise you to consider switching over for your health (BPA exposure!), finances (cheaper to use bottle than continuously buy plastic!), and for the environment.

There are so many options available nowadays at many different prices (this one is pricey for "just a water bottle" at $18 + shipping), but I do strongly recommend this bottle if you're into the design of things. Many people have asked me, "why would you use glass? don't they break easily?" I haven't had this problem at all, so I don't think this is really a con, but there are other BPA free plastic options, so start exploring!

 P.S. it's sort of large and heavier than most conventional water bottles, but.. come on, check out that celadon green.

OTHER GLASS OPTIONS: More options

3. Bodum Assam Tea Press

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