Anticipating the MoG
My day, beginning at 7:45, began with the anticipation of MoG (Method of Gauss) Part 2. Having spent a whole hour taking up to the 4th derivative yesterday, I was not looking forward to the continuation of mogging. Fueled by caffeine, we endured the arduous 3-hour journey learning about synoptic optical transient systems.
Colleges and Careers
The afternoon was spent with Harvey Mudd and Caltech, as we were enlightened with the unique qualities of each college. Afterwards, our favorite TA’s, Stas, Michelle, Kathryn, and Lucien, shared their own experiences about their college life. From stories of attempting to transfer out (and failing) multiple times to giving us some touching advice regarding the college application process, we were all excited to listen and learn. This afternoon gave me a lot of insight on the coming months. The TAs finished off with an exciting trivia, with a section dedicated to each TA. Our team unfortunately fell off after the first round (Kathryn’s), but nonetheless, it was very fun attempting to make up coherent answers.
Formality and Frogs
As our formal dinner rolled around, marking the end of week 3, I was excited to show up in my most fancy outfit, a navy blue suit (with a matching tie!). The food was slightly better than usual, with a mix of green beans, chicken, roasted baby potatoes, and salad. While the conversation at our table was interesting, and the apple pie was delicious, the star of the event was Dr. Tyrone B. Hayes. Strutting in with the utmost confidence, he began his talk on atrazine– or rather– frog gonads. A herbicide commonly found in America’s midwest, he showed that atrazine increases conversion of testosterone to estrogen. In the African clawed frogs that he studied, male frogs with exposure to atrazine displayed multiple female characteristics. Dr. Hayes’ presentation was one of the most interesting talks I have heard, confirming Alex Jones’ joke about the frogs turning gay!
The Late Shift
I ended my day with the late TMO shift, in a sleep-deprived room filled with giggles, inside jokes, and snacks. A laid back, chill way to end this event-packed day. “Bye.” – Bryan J. Chen
I’m Ada, a rising senior from the Bay Area, California. I love robotics, science olympiad, and making art!
