Gemma Ortega Shares Advice
Gemma has been a lab member for three years, since Spring 2021. She has gained extensive research experience. She has led two poster teams and presented at conferences. She has also learned to analyze data in R, SPSS, and Jamovi and to conduct advanced statistical analyses such as confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, Gemma has taken on a wide variety of leadership roles. She has given numerous workshops, mentored lab members formally and informally, served as an editor for Connections, chaired lab meetings, and served as lab manager for a full year. These experiences have taught her both technical and interpersonal skills, which have complemented her major in psychology and minors in neuroscience and addiction treatment. Since graduating in 2022, Gemma has worked as a case worker for a non-profit organization. Her ultimate goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and so she will apply to graduate programs in Fall 2023. Given Gemma’s extensive and varied experiences, we asked what advice and recommendations she has for others.
What was the most challenging part of being an undergraduate and how did you overcome it?
The most challenging part of being an undergraduate was managing my time. I was taking a full course load, working full-time, and taking on additional activities such as internships and the lab. I found myself completely burnt out. I overcame this by learning how to manage my time more effectively. After implementing time management skills into my daily life, all my responsibilities seemed more manageable. As result, I improved the quality of my work and my overall well-being. For this reason, I suggest that all lab members learn how to manage their time effectively early in their undergraduate career.
What book do you recommend to other lab members and why?
I recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear. Atomic Habits helped me understand how habits are directly related to our identity. Previously, I struggled with sticking to healthy habits, but after reading Atomic Habits I gained a deeper understanding of why that was, and I was able to take action and sustain positive habits.
What is your favorite book and why?
The Alchemist by Paul Coelho is my favorite book. I read The Alchemist when I find myself prioritizing everything other than my goals. Reading The Alchemist reminds me to keep following my aspirations and that the path to our goals is not linear, but that does not mean we should give up on them.
How did the lab shape your educational and career goals?
Before I joined the lab, I was in a place where I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but no sense of direction to get there. When I joined the lab, I connected with students who had different career paths, but similar goals. The lab helped me build a community where I could ask questions about various fields, and ultimately it gave me a better understanding of what my specific career goals were.
What advice do you have regarding finding your career path?
My advice is to be flexible. As undergraduate students it’s easy to get fixated on a specific career, but life is constantly changing, and this might elicit changes in your likes and interests. It’s okay to change your mind and pursue a different calling.