My first week at Rice as a student intern for the Climate and Sustainability REU has been so far, more optimistic as the days gone by. Because prior to attending my first day here, I had some preconceived notions about it that were all over the place in all honesty. Such as, what will the project going to be? How is my cohort going to view me as? Will I mess up to the point where they kick me out of the REU? To, I hope that I am learning and absorbing all the material while I am working? How can I dedicate myself and fixate it to the umpteenth degree? And, am I willing to commit to myself to change my life for the better? Basically, just normal stuff to think about really.

The first day that I got here, I was a nervous wreck as soon as I stepped in to the door at Rayzor Hall. I didn’t know everyone there, my self-introductory PowerPoint felt pretty poorly made to say the least. But when I got my breakfast whilst siting alone in the beginning. All of a sudden, a couple of people sat at my table and began talking to me. That’s where everything changed for me, this is my chance to at least get out of my comfort zone from the introvert that I usually am, and at least loosen up a little. That’s why I was here, apart from the academic endeavors that I was going to pursue, another reason why I committed myself to be here was due to me challenging myself socially because if I want to survive in the real world, I have to at least open up and just talk to random people who I never knew. That is just how life is unfortunately. And that’s the mentality I came in afterwards, and that was the best choice I could’ve done for myself that day. Despite me mumbling some of my words during my self-introductory presentation. All-in-all, I had a good time. But I know it would be different the very next day.

Wednesday came along, the day I would have to met my mentor, Neethu Pottackal. She was honestly very transparent about what were going to do. However, my PI was still out of the country at the time, so I was still unsure what my project was going to be. But I least knew where his office was, as well as the lab that I was going to work in, and my work space too. That was all, it was a short day to be honest.

Thursday, that was the day that my mentor gave me some research papers to read through. And it was officially my first full day working at the REU, and I tried to meet up with my PI in his office and when I did, he was busy. So we greeted quickly, and he went about his day. So yeah, the research papers were about the functionality and use of 3D food printers. This also included watching some videos about it, as well as reading some articles too. Another simple day.

And now friday, after re-reading the research papers I did a PowerPoint presentation about what I learned about 3D food printing and the works. Right after that, me and my mentor worked on the compact, then I finally met and spoke one-on-one with my PI professor, Dr. Daniel Preston who was a well-versed person, if I do say so myself. A little while later, I partook in a meeting session between PhD students and the professor himself, but that was cut short because I was off to the welcome reception, and did my best impression of being friendly and whatnot. I did okay, at least for my standards which doesn’t say a lot to be frank. Then my mom picked me up from campus and off I went home. Also side note, my project is about turning a typical 3D printer to a 3D food printer. That’s all for this week.

Thank you for reading,
Brandon Espinoza.