Friday 6/14 Reflection – OCA 2025

What a way to end the week! We presented our posters today, which was truly a bittersweet moment. While we have one more full day left, today was our final day in the Gulf Core Repository, which has been our home base for the past week. As I took a moment to look at all of the posters, I felt so proud of everyone involved. The high caliber of the research is a testament to the kinds of people at the program, both participants and mentors alike. Despite our short time together, we’ve all grown so close, and we’ve all been able to see the best parts of each other. Our mentors helped create this supportive, accepting, and overall fun environment, which has reassured me that this is what I’m meant to be doing. Their patience and generosity was a reminder that the world of science doesn’t have to be this intimidating, exclusive club.

I was definitely nervous about how this week would go. I wasn’t sure if I knew enough to keep up with everyone, and the imposter syndrome was overwhelming. That anxiety completely disappeared the second I had my first interactions with my peers. I’m so lucky to be a part of this group, and I’m excited to see where life takes us!

As we took our final group photos with Patrick the rescue penguin, we bade the Gulf Core Repository goodbye. I have a feeling we’ll end up here again somehow, one way or another : )

<3,

Sofia Corsico-Sánchez

 

Presenting our final posters!

Goodbye Patrick, and thank you GCR! 

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