Hello again! I’m Shiloh and I can finally say that this summer I interned in the Briney Lab at Scripps Research Institute: intern in the past tense because my time in San Diego has come to an end. I’m so so glad that it happened at all though, I’ve learned so much and made some of the best memories these past six weeks. I’ll be honest; it’s really hard to say goodbye to it all.
Azari and I singing to Albert. RIP lil guy.
I spent my last few days in the lab finishing up my final presentation and made the rounds when it came to disposing of cell cultures, returning lab coats, the whole-shebang. We also witnessed the euthanization of a Syrian hamster we named Albert. We sung to him as he died and it was super sad (that sounds like a joke but I’m being completely serious). On my last day, Azari’s final presentation was scheduled; originally she was the only one meant to present but I ended up presenting again as well since Sean missed my first run-through and wanted to see it. We went to Cane’s before-hand and we baked cookies and I invited basically the entirety of Briney/Burton Laboratory to watch before I realized I would also have to present in front of them. It was actually really fun though; and it was really nice that the lab had an opportunity to gather all together before I left. Every person here has been so genuinely kind and welcoming; not to mention they’re some of the funniest and also most intelligent people I’ve ever met. I actually adore each and every one of them (and there are a lot of them) which only made it harder to leave. I handed out thank you cards and a few gifts and said a lot of goodbyes. It was beyond sad to have to leave but I count myself lucky for having had an experience here that makes that very act so difficult. I won’t lie though: I did cry a bit walking out those doors and going back to what’s become a second home for the last time. I’ll probably cry even more if I think too hard about it.
Ice Cream from Handel’s! this place is so so so good
On Monday, Jennie took us out for group dessert and we all got different things and tried a bit of each. They were all super good. On my last day though, the girls and I went to Handel’s, our favorite ice cream place, and I took one last walk around the block with Azari. We found a little free library we had some how missed on all our other walks and we decided to pick up a pair of books and agreed to exchange them when we were done reading. We’d walked around those same neighborhoods for weeks and I think us finding it the night before I left was a little bit of luck and a small part fate. Now we have extra reasons to stay in touch back at home. I woke up the next morning at four to catch my flight out and all my girls woke up too just to say goodbye one last time. I had to leave a bit earlier than them, on Wednesday rather than Friday, and leaving them behind was definitely difficult. I’ll miss them all so much, but we’re already planning reunions so this won’t be the last time we’ll see each other just yet. I somehow made it through the nightmare that is TSA, boarded my plane, and then I was on my way home. Watching the city get smaller and smaller as we took off was so bittersweet.
throwback to our very first day together!! It’s so crazy to think we’ve only known one another for 6 weeks
This internship has run my future plans completely through a dishwasher and scrubbed them clean. I’ve fallen a little bit in love with immunology and virology and I think it’s going to stick. Arriving in California back in June I didn’t know what to expect but I’ve gotten everything I could’ve hoped for and more from this experience; the reality of it all extends beyond anything I had dreamed it would be. I’ll forever be grateful for this experience and everyone who has made it possible. Sarah Holbrooke. Trang Pham. Bryan Briney. Sean Callaghan, Nathan Liendo, Nathan Buetler, Ben Nemoz, Yen-Chung Lai, Morgan Harris, Iszac Burton, Terrence Messmer, Charlotte, Shelby, and all the members of the lab who are too many to count. You all are so amazing, thank you so much for welcoming me into your labs. Not to mention the entirety of Pinhead: Team San Diego, my favorite group of girls who I’ve grown to absolutely adore. It’s been good and it’s been a time; I’d even dare to say it’s been a good time. Thanks for reading everybody!
Great work Shiloh! Although I wasn’t your primary mentor, it was a pleasure to work with you whenever you tagged along on my malaria work. It was inspiring to see the spark of excitement you got everytime we taught you something new. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for your scientific career!