I have recently started blogging for another site. The site is co-authored by another 2 brilliant scientists (well, almost!) and we hope to give you 3 different perspectives of life as a student pursuing scientific research.
Read my latest post here:
Monday, January 5, 2015
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Here's to zero one five
"Every year from now will past faster than the year before" - It has definitely felt this way since the start of 2013 for me. Time is so precious.
This year, I feel so awake. I feel in tuned with who I am and everything that I did felt right. Like a flower in full bloom with all its glory, beaming at the beautiful sun, standing tall and reaching towards the sky. Do you know how that feels? Is this part of growing older?
Every new year is a year older for me. I'll be twenty-three in ten days. Is age just a number? Because I don't want to be 23 and still have the mindset of an 18 year old. 2015 looks intimidating. The first few months will be madness, but if I can brave through that hurricane of a workload, the fulfilment after, is bliss.
On this new year's eve, I am alone. But. I am not lonely. I am content and relaxed. I have achieved all that I have wanted and surprisingly, received a lot more too. Can someone tell me, is this all part of growing up? My parents are happy and content because they've met all their life goals - I'm definitely not even close but I'm sure i've got my foot on the right path.
I can't wait to continue this beautiful journey towards achieving my wildest dreams. I am thankful for this opportunity to work for it. In 2015, I choose to maintain these 3 simple resolutions:
Be kind
Work hard
Be humble
A very blessed 2015 to everyone.
2014 has been a tough year with a lot of misfortunes happening throughout the world. With all my heart, I hope 2015 will be a great new beginning with lots of opportunities to be grateful for. Always appreciate all that you have around you. Love the ones that love you. Remember that all is impermanent - nothing lasts forever. But with every ending, there is a new beginning, a new page to turn, a new story to write. Make each story a beautiful one. x
"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend" - Theophrastus
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Best of Both Worlds; Medicine and Research
When I was a child, I'd tell everyone I'm going to be a paediatrician when I'm older.
It's strange how things worked out in the end. So much has changed and I'd daresay, I'll be content with just enough to live as long as I've got a career that I love.
I'm surrounded by paediatric surgeons everyday at the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Today, I performed my very first microsurgery!! I've been observing on the side the whole time. TODAY, I officially sheathed a catheter into the femoral artery in the hindlimb of a rat under a microscope and it was...
Using two pairs of forceps, one in each hand, tugging and pushing aside extra tissue. Lifting the pale blue arteriole and being careful not to puncture the blood shot vein right beside. The whole process was such a delicate procedure. I was not successful in my first try in putting the needle along the artery. It was so thin, my hand was trembling so much from being afraid of putting too much force and piercing right through the whole artery.
I went at it again, this time successfully putting the needle along the artery but my hand slipped and i accidentally pulled the needle back out - having to start over. It was important not to make too many tears in the artery, so I had to put the needle back through the same hole I made earlier.
Slowly but surely, I did it. On my first attempt of microsurgery.
"Do you love children?"
"No, I love money."
It's strange how things worked out in the end. So much has changed and I'd daresay, I'll be content with just enough to live as long as I've got a career that I love.
I'm surrounded by paediatric surgeons everyday at the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Today, I performed my very first microsurgery!! I've been observing on the side the whole time. TODAY, I officially sheathed a catheter into the femoral artery in the hindlimb of a rat under a microscope and it was...
BEAUTIFUL.
Using two pairs of forceps, one in each hand, tugging and pushing aside extra tissue. Lifting the pale blue arteriole and being careful not to puncture the blood shot vein right beside. The whole process was such a delicate procedure. I was not successful in my first try in putting the needle along the artery. It was so thin, my hand was trembling so much from being afraid of putting too much force and piercing right through the whole artery.
I went at it again, this time successfully putting the needle along the artery but my hand slipped and i accidentally pulled the needle back out - having to start over. It was important not to make too many tears in the artery, so I had to put the needle back through the same hole I made earlier.
Slowly but surely, I did it. On my first attempt of microsurgery.
 |
| A purple catheter with a transparent tubing is sheathed along the femoral artery in the left hindlimb of a Sprague-Dawley rat. |
The purple plastic attached to the end of the hindlimb is the catheter. At the tip of the catheter is a fine transparent tubing that is "sheathed" into the pale blue artery. If you look closely, you can see a transparent needle-like piece of plastic within the artery a bit awkwardly sticking upwards. The purpose of this catheter is to allow perfusion of solutions through this main artery which would eventually pass the solution throughout the entire hindlimb - which is useful for decellularisation purposes.
I am blogging about this because I am so proud of this tiny achievement, I want to be able to look back one day and be like
"AWWWW yeah!!! My first microsurgery!"
I was so embarrassed after my successful microsurgery because everyone else there has done way more complicated procedures but everyone congratulated me. And suddenly, the two paediatric surgeons in the room told me that it looks like I have to do a medical course and specialise in surgery because i've got good hands.
Here I was thinking I'd never be any good at surgery because I've got the world's shakiest pair of hands...
The microsurgeon in the lab is so proud of my work he says he wants to teach me to sheath the jugular vein (in the neck region usually used for blood testing in mice) next and I am so so soooo excited!
Today has been a great day! :)
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Help me make this a reality.
At this very moment, I know exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life and every step I have taken towards achieving my life goals has only fuelled me, and reassured my choice.
I have not always been this sure - I only found my strength, my drive and my passion in September of last year. Before this, I used to float around thinking "Yeah, I kinda liked learning about that so maybe i could live with it." Not anymore.
Since Friday, the 31st of October (coincidentally Halloween), I have not felt more enthused in my life. There is nothing I want more than to continue with stem cells and tissue engineering for the rest of my life. And I am willing to give up so much, and cross oceans to be able to do this for eternity.
I want to be a part of the team or even lead a team to transplant a perfectly recellularized organ to save a child suffering from congenital malformations. I want to help the children I see everyday at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, and give them the chance to attain full potential like the rest of us who have been so lucky.
I wish there was a simple way to express the fiery feeling in me. If you could see me talk about what I have been taught, the skills that I have gained that could change the world, and my visions, you'd see the bright flame in my soul dancing through my eyes. Those who have seen me talk about my passion would know exactly what I mean.
I want to be involved in translational research and clinical trials. I dream to see the evidence of my work improving lives. Fortunately, I am in the exact position where I am perfectly capable of fulfilling my dreams.
I am currently doing a year of research at the Paediatric Surgery Unit of the UCL Institute of Child Health. So far, I have been taught how to decellularize a mouse liver and a human treachea. I have also learnt to isolate single muscle fibres from mice which can be further broken down to obtain muscle stem cells for recellularization of a diaphragm. I am so blessed to be shown so much in such a short duration of time and I feel so humbled by this experience. Everyone I have met in scientific research has been so kind to me and has taught me so much.
For example, when I am sitting in the office waiting for a 3 hour perfusion, a PhD student approaches me and asks me if I would like to learn something while I am waiting. They have been so patient with my questions and have explained every single step along the way. All these kindness has just inspired me to want to spread my knowledge further and pass on the kindness.
The first paper that I read that got me excited on the idea of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering is the possibility of generating off-the-shelf heart valves. From that article on, I knew that it would be an absolute dream for me to eliminate immune rejections from organ transplants. To be able to create off-the-shelf organs that is accessible to anyone from any background could save so many lives. This includes congenital malformations, organ failures, organ damage due to accidents and cancer. This could change the world.
I am presently applying for PhD studentships to continue with my career in scientific research. I have had one interview thus far and despite my successful interview, the interviewer told me that I would make a great candidate but he decided to choose someone else with a first author name in a publication. Despite my relevant laboratory skills and passion, the competition is indeed tough and the lack of such a publication has deterred my chances. I want people to know that even though I may lack a certain set of skills or have not shown my knowledge sufficiently, I am willing to learn as long as you're willing to teach, and I will not disappoint.
I have not always been this sure - I only found my strength, my drive and my passion in September of last year. Before this, I used to float around thinking "Yeah, I kinda liked learning about that so maybe i could live with it." Not anymore.
Since Friday, the 31st of October (coincidentally Halloween), I have not felt more enthused in my life. There is nothing I want more than to continue with stem cells and tissue engineering for the rest of my life. And I am willing to give up so much, and cross oceans to be able to do this for eternity.
I want to be a part of the team or even lead a team to transplant a perfectly recellularized organ to save a child suffering from congenital malformations. I want to help the children I see everyday at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, and give them the chance to attain full potential like the rest of us who have been so lucky.
I wish there was a simple way to express the fiery feeling in me. If you could see me talk about what I have been taught, the skills that I have gained that could change the world, and my visions, you'd see the bright flame in my soul dancing through my eyes. Those who have seen me talk about my passion would know exactly what I mean.
I want to be involved in translational research and clinical trials. I dream to see the evidence of my work improving lives. Fortunately, I am in the exact position where I am perfectly capable of fulfilling my dreams.
I am currently doing a year of research at the Paediatric Surgery Unit of the UCL Institute of Child Health. So far, I have been taught how to decellularize a mouse liver and a human treachea. I have also learnt to isolate single muscle fibres from mice which can be further broken down to obtain muscle stem cells for recellularization of a diaphragm. I am so blessed to be shown so much in such a short duration of time and I feel so humbled by this experience. Everyone I have met in scientific research has been so kind to me and has taught me so much.
For example, when I am sitting in the office waiting for a 3 hour perfusion, a PhD student approaches me and asks me if I would like to learn something while I am waiting. They have been so patient with my questions and have explained every single step along the way. All these kindness has just inspired me to want to spread my knowledge further and pass on the kindness.
The first paper that I read that got me excited on the idea of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering is the possibility of generating off-the-shelf heart valves. From that article on, I knew that it would be an absolute dream for me to eliminate immune rejections from organ transplants. To be able to create off-the-shelf organs that is accessible to anyone from any background could save so many lives. This includes congenital malformations, organ failures, organ damage due to accidents and cancer. This could change the world.
There is nothing more that I want than to be involved in making this dream a reality.
I am presently applying for PhD studentships to continue with my career in scientific research. I have had one interview thus far and despite my successful interview, the interviewer told me that I would make a great candidate but he decided to choose someone else with a first author name in a publication. Despite my relevant laboratory skills and passion, the competition is indeed tough and the lack of such a publication has deterred my chances. I want people to know that even though I may lack a certain set of skills or have not shown my knowledge sufficiently, I am willing to learn as long as you're willing to teach, and I will not disappoint.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Wild flower
I've always felt the need to have control - to be in control of myself and my decisions.
I never liked it when people told me what to do and when I needed to do it. My mum would know best. I'm the kid who would deliberately sit in front of the television if she told me to go to my room to study. Oh, she would turn the TV off, but i would just continuously sit there and stare at the blank screen. That was the kid that I am. Horrid really.
I knew what I had to do, what was needed to be done and I was independent enough to do them on my own without being told. Chances are when someone reminds me about it, I'd have already done it.
Knowing that everything is going in perspective is comforting. I've done what I needed to do to get to where I need to be. Being in control of where I put myself, where I get myself, the goals I achieve.
Making myself happy. Knowing what to do to make myself happy. Taking the right steps in the right direction to chase my passion.
I don't want to be normal when I can do great things with great purpose. I don't want to do what everyone does, what everyone is told to do - get an education, a job, earn lots of money, get a family.
No, I got an education as a stepping stone to nourish my interest. Yes, I may be a poor scientist. Yes, I will dedicate my life to my career so others can have beautiful families. No, I will not be your typical geeky scientist, but I will be the asian with blonde hair and tattoos because I am being the best of me that I can be.
And this is why I make conscious effort to be emotionally unavailable. I'm just not the type who knows how to appreciate making decisions around someone else or have someone influence my decisions.
Being consciously aware of all the decisions I take to be the best that I can be. This, makes me happy. This gives me certainty. I am meant to be free to be the best that I can be.
I never liked it when people told me what to do and when I needed to do it. My mum would know best. I'm the kid who would deliberately sit in front of the television if she told me to go to my room to study. Oh, she would turn the TV off, but i would just continuously sit there and stare at the blank screen. That was the kid that I am. Horrid really.
I knew what I had to do, what was needed to be done and I was independent enough to do them on my own without being told. Chances are when someone reminds me about it, I'd have already done it.
Knowing that everything is going in perspective is comforting. I've done what I needed to do to get to where I need to be. Being in control of where I put myself, where I get myself, the goals I achieve.
Making myself happy. Knowing what to do to make myself happy. Taking the right steps in the right direction to chase my passion.
I don't want to be normal when I can do great things with great purpose. I don't want to do what everyone does, what everyone is told to do - get an education, a job, earn lots of money, get a family.
No, I got an education as a stepping stone to nourish my interest. Yes, I may be a poor scientist. Yes, I will dedicate my life to my career so others can have beautiful families. No, I will not be your typical geeky scientist, but I will be the asian with blonde hair and tattoos because I am being the best of me that I can be.
And this is why I make conscious effort to be emotionally unavailable. I'm just not the type who knows how to appreciate making decisions around someone else or have someone influence my decisions.
Being consciously aware of all the decisions I take to be the best that I can be. This, makes me happy. This gives me certainty. I am meant to be free to be the best that I can be.
If there is one character that truly inspires me is Cristina Yang from Grey's Anatomy.
If you don't know her, you should. Her passion for her field of work is so strong and she knows exactly what she wants and she's not afraid to go out and get it.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
20 facts about me
I was tagged by Charmaine to do this "20 facts" and I thought it's too long to post on Instagram or as a Facebook status.
So, here are the 20 juicy facts that is enough for you to know me, but not enough to get close ;) haaaaah!
1. I love life. What is there not to love? I think life is fair. You win some, you lose some.
2. I am passionate about and inspired by the work that I do. (Currently working in a lab funded by Cancer Research UK involving bone marrow extraction. My aim is to test the effectiveness of a blocking signal to prevent bone marrow cell death and ultimately increase bone marrow transplant in leukemic patients.)
3. I've graduated in Biochemistry at Imperial College and am now pursuing a Masters in Stem Cell Research. I am going to be a scientist! Whoop!
4. I think this 20 facts is A LOT and it's not easy.... -_-
5. I yearn to learn more and more and never stop learning till my last day.
6. I have always been a lucky child but only recently, I've learnt to thank my lucky stars and count my blessings. It's increased my happiness.
7. Emotions? Runnnnnnnnnnn. I think (heavy) emotions are tricky. I don't like conversations that feels like it is putting too much pressure on the relationship/friendship. It's just... too much? I can't deal.
8. I believe in being happy and thinking positive thoughtseven when it's raining every freaking day in London. Your thoughts play a very important role in influencing your mood. It isn't how someone or something affects your mood, but rather how you perceive that situation. If you assume the worst, how can your mind be at peace? Overthinking kills. Shut. It. Out.
9. I can't watch a "romance" movie without at some point dying of laughter. Too much cheese, not enough pizza!
10. I like Hello Kitty!!!!!! If you didn't already know that, you just got to know me.
shoes
soft toys
oven mitts
tea towels
ear phone tidy
diary
mug
food container
more soft toys!
11. My perspective of life has changed. I look up to people who pursue their passions and have great ambitions. Strong work ethics and the motivation to succeed. To have no aim in life but to chase money and material is not attractive in my opinion.
12. I LOVE PINKKKKKK!!!! PINK IS MY FAVOURITE COLOUR! Possibly the first thing everyone knows about me. Pink is meeee!!!
13. I will be taking French classes this term and I am excited to start! Bonjour!
14. I have two tattoos and I'm getting a third soon.
15. I have dyed my hair many shades of brown, red, violet, and am currently yellow/blonde.
16. I love baking! It's kinda like running experiments in the lab where I add a little of this and that. I make wonderful pies!
17. Bad manners and loud people annoy me unfortunately (super bad pet peeve). I wince whenever I hear a person booming instead of speaking. Say it, don't scream it!
18. I think my best feature is my smile. I love my smile and I love to smile!
19. I amuse myselfand secretly am very proud of my own jokes. Ngeheheh. I think it's important to be able to make yourself happy (I'm sure you have your own ways!). Well, my friends think it's absolutely ridiculous when I laugh at my own jokes but if you can make yourself laugh, I think you've conquered half of Mount Happiness.
20. Loyalty is one of my strongest traits. I know what it feels like to be betrayed and that is not a position i would put any person i care about in. Neither should you!
So, here are the 20 juicy facts that is enough for you to know me, but not enough to get close ;) haaaaah!
1. I love life. What is there not to love? I think life is fair. You win some, you lose some.
 |
| "Life is full of little pleasures" |
2. I am passionate about and inspired by the work that I do. (Currently working in a lab funded by Cancer Research UK involving bone marrow extraction. My aim is to test the effectiveness of a blocking signal to prevent bone marrow cell death and ultimately increase bone marrow transplant in leukemic patients.)
3. I've graduated in Biochemistry at Imperial College and am now pursuing a Masters in Stem Cell Research. I am going to be a scientist! Whoop!
4. I think this 20 facts is A LOT and it's not easy.... -_-
5. I yearn to learn more and more and never stop learning till my last day.
 |
| There are so many ways to learn. Learning is not limited to the words on a page. |
6. I have always been a lucky child but only recently, I've learnt to thank my lucky stars and count my blessings. It's increased my happiness.
7. Emotions? Runnnnnnnnnnn. I think (heavy) emotions are tricky. I don't like conversations that feels like it is putting too much pressure on the relationship/friendship. It's just... too much? I can't deal.
8. I believe in being happy and thinking positive thoughts
 |
| Can i get an "amen"????! |
9. I can't watch a "romance" movie without at some point dying of laughter. Too much cheese, not enough pizza!
10. I like Hello Kitty!!!!!! If you didn't already know that, you just got to know me.
shoes
soft toys
oven mitts
tea towels
ear phone tidy
diary
mug
food container
more soft toys!
11. My perspective of life has changed. I look up to people who pursue their passions and have great ambitions. Strong work ethics and the motivation to succeed. To have no aim in life but to chase money and material is not attractive in my opinion.
 |
| "Chase your passions and money will come. Chase money and you may never find your passions." - Colin Wright |
12. I LOVE PINKKKKKK!!!! PINK IS MY FAVOURITE COLOUR! Possibly the first thing everyone knows about me. Pink is meeee!!!
 |
| This room. I don't know many people who can stay in a room this pink! But this is my destiny! |
13. I will be taking French classes this term and I am excited to start! Bonjour!
 |
| "It's hard to be cool" - this picture was not chosen intentionally ;) |
14. I have two tattoos and I'm getting a third soon.
15. I have dyed my hair many shades of brown, red, violet, and am currently yellow/blonde.
16. I love baking! It's kinda like running experiments in the lab where I add a little of this and that. I make wonderful pies!
17. Bad manners and loud people annoy me unfortunately (super bad pet peeve). I wince whenever I hear a person booming instead of speaking. Say it, don't scream it!
18. I think my best feature is my smile. I love my smile and I love to smile!
19. I amuse myself
20. Loyalty is one of my strongest traits. I know what it feels like to be betrayed and that is not a position i would put any person i care about in. Neither should you!
And that's 20 facts about yours truly!
(Phew that's one long post!)
Friday, August 29, 2014
Winter is coming!
I did it! I gave back to society - small and tiny efforts but still something nonetheless. It was physically exhausting but what I contributed is nothing compared to the hundreds of people out there doing way more extreme things to raise funds such as pushing a brussel sprout uphill with his nose (Stuart Kettle Just Giving).
The experience of meeting new people is so fun! Cheering and laughing and motivating all the participants! The vibe and determination is contagious! It's an indescribable feeling.
Maybe karma was staring down upon me while I worked my ass off trying to give back to the world.
Or somehow, this summer the universe has been on my side. :)
I had 4 amazing days which wrapped up summer for me as the rain and bitter cold has creeped up upon us in England (I had to add a little fancy english there). Yes, it is ONLY August but the weather has been unforgivably grey!
I'm a strong believer in karma and fate. I don't think I am superstitious but the rules I live by are simple;
Those two rules are not excuses to be lazy to just sit back and let life "happen". No, I think both the rules work together to complement each other. If you work for what you want, you'll be rewarded and if it's meant to last, it will. The second rule teaches appreciation, persistence, timing and to learn to let go graciously.
I have a big heart that loves to love. (Yes, my brain thinks it's a little stupid and disagrees with my heart often) I love people, i love animals, i love knowledge, i love things, i love good emotions, bad emotions, sleep, pizza, food, food and more food and more sleep.
I met someone this summer. A rather strange event in my life which I would never in a million years have imagined would ever happen to me. It's... wonderful. To try to put the occurrence in words would be underwhelming and oversimplified.
I am impressed to meet someone so alike in character despite being brought up in a different culture and speaking different native tongues. How???
I wish we could have more time together. I haven't laughed so much with anyone else in the longest time, like I did when you were here. ;) But like I said above, I'm a strong believer of fate and of karma. Good things come to those who do good, and if time allows hopefully we'll get to spend time together again. Otherwise, I've got these special memories to cherish for life!
The experience of meeting new people is so fun! Cheering and laughing and motivating all the participants! The vibe and determination is contagious! It's an indescribable feeling.
 |
| London Triathlon 2014 CR UK Cheer team |
Maybe karma was staring down upon me while I worked my ass off trying to give back to the world.
Or somehow, this summer the universe has been on my side. :)
 |
| A rare sunny day in Hyde Park, London |
I had 4 amazing days which wrapped up summer for me as the rain and bitter cold has creeped up upon us in England (I had to add a little fancy english there). Yes, it is ONLY August but the weather has been unforgivably grey!
I'm a strong believer in karma and fate. I don't think I am superstitious but the rules I live by are simple;
1) Whatever you do comes back to you - You get what you deserve.
2) If it's meant to be, it will happen you can't avoid it. If it's not meant to be, you can't chase it.
Those two rules are not excuses to be lazy to just sit back and let life "happen". No, I think both the rules work together to complement each other. If you work for what you want, you'll be rewarded and if it's meant to last, it will. The second rule teaches appreciation, persistence, timing and to learn to let go graciously.
 |
| Sunset from the 69th floor of the Shard |
I have a big heart that loves to love. (Yes, my brain thinks it's a little stupid and disagrees with my heart often) I love people, i love animals, i love knowledge, i love things, i love good emotions, bad emotions, sleep, pizza, food, food and more food and more sleep.
I met someone this summer. A rather strange event in my life which I would never in a million years have imagined would ever happen to me. It's... wonderful. To try to put the occurrence in words would be underwhelming and oversimplified.
I am impressed to meet someone so alike in character despite being brought up in a different culture and speaking different native tongues. How???
I wish we could have more time together. I haven't laughed so much with anyone else in the longest time, like I did when you were here. ;) But like I said above, I'm a strong believer of fate and of karma. Good things come to those who do good, and if time allows hopefully we'll get to spend time together again. Otherwise, I've got these special memories to cherish for life!
Pizza aux champignon au fromage et au cochon.
S'il vous plait.
C'est delicieux!
Bien? ;)
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