Mami me hizo empezar este blog

Translation: My mom made me start this blog.

Greeting and salutations,

The first blog post is always a tricky one. Do I state my name, where I'm from, and a random fact about me? Or do I just jump right in? This post will most likely be a little bit of both.

Hi! I am Mariella, a second-year PhD student in a STEM graduate program in Midwest, USA. I was born, raised, and got my BS in Molecular Biology in Puerto Rico, where most of my family still is. I have been working in my official lab since March when I finished lab rotations, as per required by my grad program, and I haven't regretted the choice I made yet, which I find to be a great sign.

I look back on little ol' sad me when I finished moving into the single dorm on campus that I was able to snag (ain't no way I was going to be able to afford a 1 bedroom apartment all by my lonesome), trying to convince myself that this is really what I wanted and yearned for in the face of my heartbreak at leaving my family behind. I wish I could say something to her, but I've never been very good at advice.

Even so, I know I'm on the path to greatness (maybe?), and learning a lot on my way there.

I'll write again soon.