COUNTDOWN TO THESIS DEFENSE: DAY 41

Re-stripping blot to incubate a new antibody of interest!

Since my last post, I tried catching up on two experiments that I have either been slacking on or have had trouble getting results from. Those two experiments are a Western Blot and cloning of a short hairpin RNA into a plasmid respectively. Needless to say, I didn't see any bands after re-stripping my blot the other day. And my cloning experiment is still a failure. I know these two procedures should be fairly simple, but tasks are usually difficult when you lack experience. Although these experiments aren't as easy as I had hoped, I'm learning from my mistakes. 

Sometimes it takes stepping away from a problem to view it at a different angle. Taking time to think about the process, has helped me better understand the problem at hand. With my thesis defense approaching next month, my mind is all over the place and lately, I find that I am not enjoying my research project because I'm so focused on getting data. I have to reset my mindset, go back to the drawing board and remember why I started. 

I have to evaluate every step I've made up until this point. This journey has been TOUGH, but I would have never expected to meet the woman I am today 4 years ago. I have to keep working smarter, not harder and finish this last quarter off strong! 

If you're also struggling to meet a deadline, or are having a difficult time keeping up with work or are just hitting a wall each time, try to take a step back, breathe, and start again. Things will go much smoother when your mind is decluttered!