Tuesday, August 14, 2018
By:
Now the last week at NIST was an emotional rollercoaster. We wrapped things up at work, so I cleaned my office, turned in my notebook, and spent some time with the locations at NIST that meant alot to me, like the outside courtyard with the deers and groundhogs.On tuesday, about five of us( NIST interns) talked for about two hours about the things we were going to miss and some of the things we were looking forward to doing. It is an amazing feeling knowing you have colleagues and friends all over the world doing amazing things. We agreed that our summer was something else and we couldn’t wait to see each other again whenever our paths cross.
Then on the last day at NIST we also had a division picnic so we all enjoyed lunch with our mentor. That picnic meant alot to me because the week before I had a conversation with my mentor about the benefits of a plant based diet. So I adopted a vegan diet about 3 years ago and during one of our last meetings he found this out and was very intrigued. (His wife has been trying to get him to eat healthier, so she had also wanted to try a vegan diet.) At that meeting we talked about the details, chemistry, and health benefits of a plant based diet, and I was extremely happy to see him so intrigued and open minded. He then requested all some of the papers on this and also some recipes. Anyways at the picnic I gave him my yogurt and half my sandwich and he enjoyed them and the way I know he wasn't lying is because on the last day of the presentation he told me how replaced the dairy products in his home with almond milk and almond yogurt. This seems like a random paragraph, but I think it is interesting how it ties back to my interview. The last question on my interview for this internship was something like “If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?” I said I would help people learn about the benefits of plant based diet. Upon closing up the interview I remember thinking why in the world did I respond like I did. I felt it was unprofessional. However it is something thats means a lot to me and I think it is funny how my mentor was the one who took my advice. As the undergraduate intern, I thought that would be the last person I would reach. He was overjoyed when I gave him his gift, a vegan cookbook. He said his wife was going to steal it from him :)
Now the last week at the dorms was also very special. I was very busy with finishing up my assignments for my class. I had about four essays and a project due that week. So juggling that and spending some time with my fellow intern colleagues was difficult but accomplished! I knew at the beginning on of the week that it would be very important to soak in every moment. So I did exactly that. From the last bike ride for groceries to ALDI with my roommate, to hanging out with the rest of the interns at the dorms. Time went by real quick everyday, before we knew it we were all on our way to the final presentations. I can not wait until the next time I see the them.
It has truly been a blast spending the summer in D.C. Surprisingly it was the best summer I have ever had. I had originally expected to just show up to work and just grind it out in the lab, but the summer much more dynamic than that. I learned a lot more than just physics, I met new people from many different places, experienced the culture of many different cities on the East Coast, and saw many special places while riding my bike all through D.C, Maryland, and Virginia. The SPS summer internship is something I will never forget. From cleaning out my desk to cleaning out the apartment I realized how comfortable and attached I had become to my life there. The entire last week there didn’t really hit me that I was coming home, until I actually made it back to San Diego. As I write this I am back home it feels as if summer was a dream. Waking up for work, taking the metro, and riding my bike seem so distant in memory. Still I will cherish it for the fortune it was and the growth that came it out it. This summer I fell in love with D.C and I know I’ll be back in no time. Till then, lets see how my last year as an undergradute goes.
Best,
Jesus Perez
Jesus Perez