Winter break was four weeks of binge-watching my favorite TV shows (Jane the Virgin and Greys Anatomy), suntanning on beautiful beaches, and catching up with family and friends. It was great time to recharge for the second semester!
This spring, I am taking an electrical engineering course (EE 202) and a biomedical engineering course (BME 210). EE 202 is all about circuits and converting theoretical knowledge from physics to real-life applications. I’m excited to learn how circuits are configured for medical devices. BME 210 is about biomedical computer simulation methods. Wait, what? As it is just the first couple weeks of school, I actually don’t understand the title completely either. I know we will be using MATLAB, a programming language, to create computerized models for cardiac output, diagnostic imaging, drug delivery, and the spread of disease. So cool!
I am also taking a sociology course called “changing family forms.” I will be learning about how family structures have changed from the 1950s to today, investigating gender, race, and interpersonal relationships along the way. After only a couple days of lecture, I can tell this course is going to be really relevant for many future conversations at the dinner table.
The final course I am taking is organic chemistry (CHEM 322a). I recently decided to declare pre-med, and this course is required for a lot of medical schools. Organic chemistry is the study of compounds with carbon in them. Since there are many molecules with carbon in the world, most of which are useful in our everyday lives, this course is going to be comprehensive!
One particular event that I am excited about is the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering annual Makeathon in February. This is a 30-hour design competition for undergraduate students of any engineering major (though most commonly biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering). The objective is to create a device that solves a specific health challenge. Working in teams of four or five, students begin with 3D-modeling their design on CAD software to present to the judges. After the initial review, the judges choose the top five teams to 3D-print their prototypes. On the last day, all teams present their final designs, and the winning team is announced!
I know this semester is going to be busy, but I’m hopeful that it will be the best one yet!
