As I sit down to write my last Stute article, it feels odd to try my hand at opinion. So for my final Stute piece, I will be doing what I have advised every science writer not to do: combine my opinions with science.
Four years ago, I would have never considered myself a writer. Eight semesters later, I have written hundreds of pages, from the painful CAL 103 assignments to my final senior thesis, and all the Stute articles in between. And while every essay in high school came with some tears, I have learned to embrace the pleasures of writing in ways I could have never anticipated.
In a few short days, I will be graduating with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society, which means lots of reading and science writing in so many words (definitely worth the Google search if you have no idea what I just paid Stevens tuition for). Choosing STS, Stevens, and eventually, The Stute, led me to find my voice in ways I could have never imagined.
Now for the science. “Writing will make you happier.” Certain studies of undergraduate students, including Laura King’s, suggest that writing for 20 minutes a day can improve the mood of these individuals. Participants were often found to have positive physical health effects including reduced inflammation and reduced chronic pain. I was able to test these theories myself last fall when I took Professor MacPhail’s class “Failure 101”. In this class, we discussed the many ways in which people fail every day. By doing so, we also practiced new coping mechanisms each week to help us integrate stress relievers into our daily lives. Among these practices was gratitude journaling. While I could boldly claim how gratitude journaling “changed my life” and healed any fear of failure in me, that would be a lie. I did enjoy gratitude journaling and will be continuing this practice in the future because the mental and emotional benefits are quite clear. However, I have learned to enjoy writing for more than its coping mechanism benefits.
Aside from The Stute, I have been part of Phi Sigma Sigma on campus for four years. One of our many values as an organization is “lifelong learning”. We emphasize the importance of continuing to learn even after we finish our academic careers. Writing, especially science writing, has allowed me to continue learning outside of the classroom. During my time with The Stute, I have written, edited, and read stories ranging from the beginning of COVID-19 vaccines, ChatGPT, and birds dying from the Stevens sky bridges. While many of us graduates may have stepped foot in a classroom for the last time, it is important to find outlets that encourage you to continue learning. Lifelong learning is beneficial for many reasons, including self-fulfillment and professional growth. Writing has continued to be a method of lifelong learning that I have to continue beyond my academic years. I have found interest in topics I was completely unaware existed and have found communities of people who share these passions. I am grateful to have found an outlet that allows me to continue learning in ways I enjoy.
I have finally found myself a hobby, and anyone who knows me knows this was quite an accomplishment. While it may seem simple, many of us have spent the past four years focused on anything but finding and fostering hobbies because we simply did not have time. As I transition to post-grad life, many mentors have emphasized the importance of finding passions and hobbies outside of a typical workday. While it is less than likely that you all will also find your passion in science writing (although I hope you try it out), many of you will hopefully find something to keep you grounded through the chaos.
I am not quite sure what the next few years will bring. However, the past four years have led me to believe that our class can face almost anything. It may sound silly, but I am glad to be leaving Stevens knowing that I have found something I thoroughly enjoy doing. I hope those of you graduating are leaving with the same feeling as we transition into the next chapter.
Thank you to Professor Horgan who unknowingly encouraged me to submit my first article to The Stute, and to the rest of The Stute community that allowed me to find my voice among the pages.
