Insha'Allah

This week was an interesting blend of new and old as we navigated though our last week in Dakar. We started off the week by being treated to dinner at our old “wi-fi” spot. It was nice going back and seeing how far we’ve come and all the mishaps and moments of bliss that we’ve had since we arrived that we would have never thought would happen our first days in the city. The next day we were treated to something new when we unexpectedly had dinner with a couple intellectuals. We were challenged to think about the power paradigm and how we can help to empower people to seek more conscious lives. It was a thought provoking discussion that inspired me to work harder so insha’Allah (God willing) I can one day return to Senegal as a success so I can truly make an impact in improving the welfare of underserved populations not only in Dakar but all over the world.

For my research project I finally started the bacterial assay, but before I could start I had to go back and do an old dilution protocol from the very first week I had done research. At first I was frustrated that I would have to repeat the tedious dilutions that had taken days to finish before. However, once I began I was able to finish in a matter of hours! This experience was a good indicator of how far I’ve come as a researcher in these few short weeks. There was a few delays with the antibacterial testing which was very stressful at first because I soon realized that I would not have my results ready for my presentation for our hosts by the end of the week. But Insha’Allah I was still able to make an acceptable PowerPoint and write ten pages of my paper without the results and meet the deadline. Although I would not recommend only getting one hour of sleep to simultaneously finish a paper and a presentation. The presentation was a great opportunity to get feedback from other professors in the department who were able to point out issues and that I hadn’t been able to pick up on. As a result I was able to make the necessary corrections and I now feel more confident about my project. Directly after the presentation I went to gather the results from the bacterial assay. While the results weren’t what I was expecting I immediately began thinking “why” instead of focusing on the negative outcome. Through GEAR-UP I have been able to sharpen my scientific inquiry skills which I know will positively influence every area of my life.

Through this visit to Senegal I’ve been blessed to see so many breathtaking wonders. I also have been introduced to a plethora of topics that have caused me to reconsider long-held notions and qualify my thoughts. I am excited to go back home on Saturday, Insha’Allah with a renewed perspective and global research experience under my belt. Au revoir and thanks for reading my blog!