It's been quite a bit of time since I last put my words to use on this blog, but I've finally gained some shred of inspiration that has pushed me to pursue this thing again. As I watched months roll by without finding enough time to blog, I almost thought I'd never get the chance to make a proper return. Thanks to 2020 finally ending and my future appearing seemingly brighter, I figured now was a better time than ever to deliver a life update and start anew!
While I've been away, I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science. I worked in a research laboratory where I independently studied the effect of bacterial colonization and genetic mutation on protein trafficking in C. elegans — tiny nematodes that are often used as model organisms for research. This allotted me the information needed to write a 39 page senior Honors thesis, which, at this point, still stands as the best and smartest work I've ever produced. My passion for dance pushed me to continue evolving as an artist, so I became a tap choreographer for my dance company, creating several pieces that allowed me to express a side of me I never knew I could. Now, I am back home and taking a year (or two) off before I apply to grad school for my Masters in Genetic Counseling.
Now, some of you (maybe a couple) may have noticed that I am no longer blogging under the name Little Lillie Reads, but rather Literary Ligase. Correct! I am rebranding and attempting to start something that could serve a dual purpose. I want to continue reviewing books and dishing out content that readers enjoy, but I also really want to start documenting my grad school journey on a more public forum. With genetic counseling being a relatively obscure career, I want to use my platform to raise awareness for the field and reach out to potential patients, applicants, or students who may have questions. By writing about my application process, my future experiences in grad school, and using Literary Ligase a means of advocacy and self-reflection, I hope to provide readers with an informative space and inspire folks along the way!
To explain why I chose Literary Ligase as my new blog name: I really like alliteration. But also, I thought the two words paired together perfectly. Literary, which refers to content of literature, and ligase, an enzyme that essentially connects two DNA strands together. Here on Literary Ligase I want to ... connect you to future reads ... but I also want to ... connect you to my personal experiences as a GC applicant/student. Catch my drift? To be quite honest, the two terms may not even make sense together on a grammatical standpoint, but I went to school for microbiology and using ligase in the blog title felt really genius to me.
I am really excited to get back into the swing of things! Little Lillie Reads was always a place of comfort for me and I'm optimistic about the things this blog can now accomplish as Literary Ligase. I missed you all so much! Please look forward to what I have in store!
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