Navigating the Journey of a Biotechnology Major in College (2022-2024)

Start of my Journey

(post-high school graduation to college)

My college journey started in August, 2022 (after graduating in June that same year) at the Centennial College: Experience Centennial Orientation (Fall 2022) & I’ve learned so many things about what the science field is about and what are the qualifications to get into a science-related job from one of the seminar presentations.By Sept. 2022, I officially started my journey as a College Student in Toronto (2 ½ hours away from home) with 3 in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday & the rest are online. And on the first day (being the oldest child in my family), I felt so emotional because it was my first time living alone/independently, and as someone with a learning disability, it’s hard and I didn’t know what to do and what to expect while living independently & far from my family. But by the 3rd or 4th month during my first semester, I felt more independent and more confident about myself than I was during the first week. But by the 2nd semester (of my first year in college), I had been going out a lot more than usual (around 3-5 times a week) due to some of my classes being online or hybrid and mostly during the evening (especially during lunch) and I’ve been going to the mall (Scarborough Town Centre) & eating lunch and buying things; like a bag for my moms birthday, coffee and lunch & essentials, and spending about 20-200 dollars during the first month.

My Favourite Courses at Centennial

What I would say out of the courses I’ve studied during my first year of attending college (as a first-generation college student: first person in their family to go to a postsecondary institution in Canada) are: Microbiology (the Theory and Laboratory portions), Chemistry and Occupational Health & Safety. And the reason why those are my favourite courses is because they gave me an idea of what to expect if I were to work in a laboratory. 

What I would Miss from my time at Centennial

As someone who has completed 1 year at Centennial who is going to study at Conestoga in Sept. 2023, I would probably say that I would miss hanging out with my friends and schoolmates and especially help one of my friends with the work that NEEDS to be completed before the class (specifically the evening classes). But I know that this isn't the end of my journey as a college student, this is just a new chapter in my journey.

Transferring to Conestoga College

[From a College Advanced Diploma to a B.Sc(Honours)]

By the end of the semester, one of my professors gave me a bad grade (worse than I expected) and then my mom decided to transfer schools from Centennial to Conestoga, which would make me switch degrees (from an advanced diploma to a bachelor’s degree). And when I applied, the following week, I had been accepted to the program; Bachelor of Applied Biotechnology (Honours) and then I also applied for 8 credit transfers, but I got only 3 credit transfers approved, and then when I received my timetable, I realized that I only have 4 courses to take (hybrid, online and in-person) & then by checking my timetable, I have seen that I only have one online class on Wednesday and 2 in-person classes on Thursday and one class (in-person) on Friday. Which made me feel so excited because I have 4 days off and I can work during my days off or on the morning of the Wednesday class (since the class is during the evening).

My Journey in the Bachelor of Applied Biotechnology (Honours) Program

[BAB | B.Sc - Bachelor of Science]

1st Semester (Sept. 2023 - Dec. 2023)

Courses completed: Understanding Research, Cell Biology, Strategies for Career Success

• 1st day of the 1st semester had gone well (I made some friends, and knew where most of my classes were)

• Used a lot of the new equipment (in the laboratory)

• Learned a lot of things that can be useful (more useful than a regular BSc. student can do) since the BAB program gives a higher chance to students (like myself) to get higher job opportunities (through the co-op portion of the 4-year program) to work in a laboratory as a lab analyst and gives students in the program a chance to either take a masters degree or straight to a Ph.D.

2nd Semester (Jan. 2024 - Apr. 2024):

Courses Completed: Introductory Chemistry II, Applied Statistics, Environmental Science (Interdisciplinary Elective), Scientific & Technical Communications

• Learned a lot of things in Statistics: Z-score, T-tests, One-tailed and Two-tailed tests

• Learned a lot of things in Environmental Science & Technical Communications → I learned how to create a memo in Communications Class.

By the end of second semester, I have wanted to change programs and sectors, since I thought that the STEM Sector was right for me, but in reality, It wasn't. So I have accepted my offer to study at Fanshawe for a different program; Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership (Honours) Program