101 things I have already achieved

Day Zero list #66!

1. I graduated from a magnet, gifted, college-prep high school with above a 4.0 GPA.
2. I was a founding member of said high school’s robotics team.
3. I was the student leader of the robotics team for 2 years.
4. I was a mentor for the robotics team for a year.
5. I was a volunteer for FIRST Robotics for 10 years.
6. I did over 300 hours of community service in high school.
7. I was in the honors program in college.
8. I got my first (and second) co-op jobs on my own, without the help of the college co-op office.
9. I double majored in biomedical and electrical engineering.
10. I graduated from college cum laude.
11. I graduated with a masters degree in neuroscience.
12. My freshmen design team and I won best undergraduate presentation at the Southern Biomedical Engineering conference as sophomores.
13. I married my best friend who is the love of my life.
14. I am financially independent of my parents.
15. I have a job in the field of research I love.
16. I am a moderator on BYDLS.com, and have been for several years.
17. I was a co-host of a successful bicoastal all female tech podcast (Girls Gone Geek).
18. I am the city organizer for a successful non-profit, all volunteer fundraiser (Twestival).
19. I have lived with/fought/survived chronic illness for over 5 years.
20. I was the photographer for the Virginia Orchid Society for a little over a year.
21. I have a great relationship with my mom.
22. I’ve traveled to Turkey and London.
23. I’ve fired a gun.
24. I took 5 years of Latin between middle and high school.
25. I took 4 years of German in high school.
26. I took a year of American Sign Language in high school, and it’s been the most useful language besides English I’ve learned.
27. I was on the Battle of the Brains team in high school.
28. I was on the German Battle of the Brains team in high school as well, and we won at German Convention one year.
29. I’ve met Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers.
30. I’ve volunteered with Dave Lavery.
31. I’ve had a letter published in the editorial section of the newspaper (Richmond Times Dispatch).
32. I’ve been on the local news (for FIRST Robotics).
33. I’ve been a judge for FIRST Lego League.
34. I maintain my own blog (quasi-self-hosted).
35. I maintain my own website.
36. I have seen a show on Broadway.
37. I had a wedding that was reflective of my husband and I and our beliefs.
38. I’m a card carrying member of MENSA.
39. I’ve been to an amusement park and ridden roller coasters.
40. I’ve witnessed kittens being born.
41. I’ve gone to a drive-in movie theater.
42. I’ve ridden a horse.
43. I’ve helped out family members expecting nothing in return.
44. I’ve helped out friends expecting nothing in return.
45. I have friends I can count on in the good times and the bad.
46. I can sew using a sewing machine.
47. I can also sew by hand.
48. I can cross-stitch.
49. I can bake.
50. I can cook.
51. I was in a co-ed performing arts fraternity in college.
52. I was elected chapter representative and secretary (in two different years) in said fraternity.
53. I won an alumni scholarship for my last year of college.
54. I witnessed my grandmother almost die from her liver shutting down due to alcoholism when I was 14. It changed me, but for the better.
55. I’ve done a poster presentation at an international conference.
56. I’ve attended the Society for Neuroscience meeting, the largest scientific meeting in my field.
57. I’ve traveled by myself.
58. I’ve taken a medical school class (Intro to Neuroscience).
59. I’ve seen a show at The Globe.
60. I have two healthy, happy cats.
61. I’ve had a boa constrictor around my neck.
62. I’ve lived on my own, without roommates.
63. I can ice skate.
64. I can roller skate.
65. I take great pictures of kids.
66. I have more than a basic knowledge of carpentry.
67. I also have a pretty decent knowledge of hardware and power tools.
68. I can play a few basics on the harp.
69. I can do multivariable calculus.
70. I’ve been to the Apple campus in Cupertino.
71. I’ve taught a range of kids, from kindergarten to freshmen in college.
72. I’ve survived having my life plan completely changed by failing my prelim exam twice.
73. I’ve seen all 6 Star Wars movies.
74. I designed my own save the date cards, invitations, and programs for my wedding.
75. I’ve designed handouts for a few tech/entrepreneur events in Philadelphia.
76. My master’s thesis.
77. I know how to solder.
78. I also know how to wirewrap a breadboard.
79. I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years.
80. I’m one of the organizers for Podcamp Philadelphia.
81. I can write an IRB submission by myself in a few days, given that I know the study parameters.
82. I can perform most of the duties of the studies my lab does from start to finish myself, from (some) grant writing and study design to IRB submission to recruitment to running the study to data analysis.
83. I can and have made my own holiday cards for family and friends.
84. I’ve learned how to deal with working overnight and managing my illnesses at the same time.
85. I’ve been to therapy and learned that I actually deal with problems in my life relatively well and normally.
86. If I have the free time, I can read an entire book in a day.
87. I’ve seen the extended editions of all 3 Lord of the Rings movies.
88. I’ve read all 7 of the Harry Potter books.
89. I’ve read all 3 of the Lord of the Rings books, plus The Hobbit.
90. I’ve read all 7 Chronicles of Narnia books.
91. I’ve seen the ruins at Troy.
92. I’ve been to Disney World (twice).
93. I’ve been to Sea World (in Orlando).
94. I’ve been to Johnson Space Center.
95. I’ve figured spiritually what I believe in (and didn’t take into account what the rest of my family/friends believe).
96. I’ve been to the world’s oldest zoo (London Zoo).
97. I’ve been to the nation’s oldest zoo (Philadelphia Zoo).
98. I’ve been to both Busch Gardens (in Williamsburg, VA and Tampa, FL).
99. I’ve been to 3 POTUS houses – Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Ashlawn.
100. I’ve been to Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown historical landmarks.
101. I’ve learned to let myself be happy.

And now putting $10 in my savings account now that this goal is finished!