By Whew! I have not been updating my blogs really at all in 2026, mostly due to the surprising intensity of my final-semester courseload. I’m taking human genetics, the last genetics class for my degree (lucky me, I realized I didn’t actually like genetics only in the last year of my cell biology *and genetics* degree), a computer science class to complete my minor, and Biochemistry II (the main reason why I haven’t been posting). Then I have my electives: creative writing workshop and a philosophy class.
A major change this semester: In January, I got on medication for ADHD, which I somehow got through 15 years of school without ever being flagged for, despite my backpack having been a black hole for papers since I can remember. That made school a lot easier but I still didn’t find myself with a lot of bandwidth with school AND my job-search to find much time to blog.
This semester, I have felt like I am constantly trying to stay at full capacity, making sure I can’t slow down and think because as soon as I have breathing room, I know that my OCD obsession that destroyed my entire fall and winter will come creeping back.
This week is my last week of classes in undergrad, ever, and I am sick with a cough from hell, so I decided to pull up my blog once again and write an April wrap-up (Also, happy Star Wars Day)
Besides school, my April has involved:
- constant trips into the city to canvas for a petition (terrifying, but I’ve been doing it!)
- a new interest in birds, upon downloading that Cornell bird identification app
Reading:
(My Goodreads reviews are linked on the book titles!)
In April, I finished:
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
The White Album by Joan Didion
[…] by Fady Joudah — a poetry collection my friend recommended to me. I’ve been trying to read more poetry
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant — this was for my philosophy elective, which is on Kant
Strange Pictures by Uketsu
I am also currently reading Marx’s Capital (Volume 1) with a book club!
Writing
Since I took a creative writing class this semester, I had to actually write. In April I finished and workshopped a short story, which is something I never would have thought I’d be able to do a year ago. I also got an email back from a litmag that I submitted a different story to—a rejection, but nevertheless an email, with concrete feedback.
Movies, Music and Other Miscellany That’s Not Reading
Movies / TV
The new season of The Boys has been airing, so I’ve been watching it with my roommate. I wanted to write some sort of post for it, but after finding out that the actor for Frenchie was in the IDF, I don’t know if I want to anymore. It is Amazon, after all. I would never recommend anyone pirate TV shows from companies like Amazon, of course.
Music
Some songs that I’ve discovered/overplayed recently:
“It Girl” by Penelope Scott
I am a huge fan of Penelope Scott and have been for a while. I love her lyrics especially. I heard she gets a lot of hate which is disheartening, because honestly I think we are kindred spirits. I have been listening to her new Fear of God album and this is my favorite song on it.
“Uno II” by Viagra Boys
I started listening to more from this artist because their songs are so unserious but so catchy at the same time. This song was on repeat for a WHILE this month. It is an absolute banger about a dog going to the vet to get their teeth cleaned.
“Medicine for Horses” and “Pyramid of Health” from the same album were also on my April playlist.
I also returned to some old favorites in April, including:
“I Know It’s Over” by The Smiths — this is my favorite song by The Smiths and I came back to it this month because I began toying with writing a piano arrangement for it.
“Little Dark Age” by MGMT (I know, basic)
“Doom Wop” by Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol
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