*written by a ’21 as a part of the 8,726,400 Seconds of Summer guest post series*

After finishing my freshmen year, I followed the common path of UROPing on campus this summer. I lived at home (about 35 minutes on a good day) and commuted into Cambridge, resulting in the traffic survivor I am today. My UROP was in one of the biotech labs and this initiated me into the 9 to 5 world, something I thought would be easy. At the beginning of this initiating process there was a lot to get used to and a lot of conflicting feelings, now nearing the end of my UROP I have truly enjoyed my time, but it took the beginning weeks to appreciate it. Here I illustrate some of the thoughts I have felt this summer.

The Conscious Subconscious

Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
What will I do today? I hope I don’t mess up
Ethanol, check cells, please don’t die, please don’t die
Split cells
Aspirate, don’t touch anything, stay sterile
Quick but sterile, quick, but sterile
Please don’t die cells, please don’t die
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,

5 wake up call, why do I do this
I have to workout, for the team, for me
Hang clean, squat repeat
Practice, wow I can’t do anything well today?
Am I getting better, I can’t let the team down, can’t let coach down, can’t let myself down
I want to do big things, need to get better, am getting better
Must get up at 5

Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
Will I get out at 5 today?
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
Hopefully the day will move quickly
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
Can I see myself do this for the rest of my life?
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
4 more days until the weekend
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
Should I get a PhD or MD, should I go into industry or university
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves

What will the traffic be like today?
Shorts or pants?
1hr
1.5hrs
2hrs
Cereal or parfait?
Should I buy lunch? Probably not, too many calories and dollars
I should go, I don’t want traffic to get worse
Time to continue my book on tape
Gas, break, gas, break, 495, 90, exit 18, Vassar

Vassar, exit 18, 90, 495, gas, break, gas, break
Ugh, Friday nights are the worst
I can’t wait to be home and see my family
I wonder what is for dinner
Will we play any board games, too tired.
Time to go to bed, up early

Gas, break, gas, break, 495, 90, exit 18, Vassar
Vassar, exit 18, 90, 495, gas, break, gas, break
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,
Lab coat goggles gloves, lab coat goggles gloves,