So, where to begin?
First of all, my name is Laura, but depending on the social circle you might hear me referred to as lnicks (EMTs and nerd types), glitter or glitter ninja (gamers), or dork/pinhead/etc (family).
I was born and raised at the Jersey shore before going off to live in the Boston area for 4 years of college. Presently I’m 22 years old, and trying to figure out what the hell to do with the degree I just earned from MIT. I decided to take this summer off, so I currently live at home in NJ and work at a very un-classy waterpark nearby. I’m trying to find a job to start in September, and the only clues I have to go from are an incredibly vague field (mechanical engineering) and a slightly less vague idea of what I want to accomplish with my life (“something meaningful,” which in my own head has something to do with some combination of engineering, the third world, gender equality, education, medicine, human rights, and technology; and yes I consider this less vague than “mechanical engineering”).
Part of the problem, as you might have already guessed, is that I have about a million interests. What this basically means is that the only thing I do well, is doing lots of things poorly. I have studied political science, mechanical engineering, robotics, and sustainable development, done research into the development of new rapid prototyping technologies, worked as a computer science intern at the R&D branch of the Spanish telephone company, volunteered some time as an EMT, volunteered even more time doing public safety outreach/awareness work with EMS, worked as a lifeguard and a computing help consultant, played field hockey competitively for 10 years, been the Rush Chair for my dormitory twice (which sounds silly but was hands down the biggest, most challenging, far-reaching job I’ve ever had), worked as a professional blogger for the MIT Admissions office (check it out), and spent a month in Italy teaching high school students math and science. I love reading, writing, physics, baseball, engineering, studying languages, learning about science and technology…
Just about the only thing that ties it all together is sarcasm- the one thing I can’t do without which finds its way into every corner of my life. I’m also loud and excitable, which is the best word I can think of to incorporate my energy, enthusiasm, and quick anger into one word. Whatever happens from this point, all I know is that it will be a wild and crazy adventure (if the first 22 years of it were evidence enough) where I try to figure out how to put all of that together in some positive way.
I guess what I’m getting at is that you can expect this blog to be entertaining (hopefully), but certainly not coherent.