Introduction to Clara

Hi everyone, my name is Clara Pianalto. I'm a junior and a Biochemistry Pre-med major here at OU. My favorite thing about my major is working in labs, which is funny because this was my least favorite thing about my major for awhile, but over the years I've grown to love the experiments. My friends and I began having so much fun during lab that we would constantly take pictures of our experiments and reactions.

A picture of one the reactions from lab.

 I originally only chose this major because someone said it will benefit me when taking the MCAT for medical school. Luckily, I realized I genuinely enjoy chemistry and science classes through my major. My long term goal is to get accepted into a medical school and become a doctor. Outside of school, I'm involved in a couple of organizations on campus. I'm a member of Greek life and also involved in Relay for Life, an organization on campus that raises money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. I joined Relay for Life as a freshmen and have been involved ever since. I enjoy being around people who are so passionate and determined to make the world a better place.

The amount Relay for Life raised for the ACS. 

Whenever I have free time, I love to watch The Office. It's my absolute favorite TV show and I think I've watched the full show about a dozen times. I keep watching the show waiting for it to get boring or old and it never does to me. Over the break I did a lot of working, but I was able to go to Nashville the weekend before classes started. Unfortunately, it was raining a whole day of the trip so we were limited on things we could do, but I love traveling and getting to visit new places, so I still had a great time (except for the ten hour bus ride there and back).

Comments

  1. Hey, Clara! I used to be a biochemistry major too, but I figured out that it wasn't a good fit for me after taking Ochem lab. Major props to you for sticking with biochem because it can be a hard major, but I'm also happy that you enjoy it too! Relay for Life sounds like such an amazing cause and it's great that you found people who are just as passionate about helping others as you. I love The Office too! My favorite episode is Stress Relief where Dwight cuts the face off of the CPR doll. I die every time. Hope you have a good semester!

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  2. Hi Clara,
    It is so nice to meet you! I enjoyed reading through your post and hearing about your love of chemistry growing throughout your years here. I have hated every lab I've had here at OU, so good for you for finding the joy in them. I can totally see how they could be fun with friends in your class, though! I love that you're invloved with Relay for Life. I was also involved in high school through FCCLA. It was an amazing experience for sure! I can totally relate to loving the office, I love the shenanigans they get into, and Jim and Pam, of course!! I hope you have a great semester!

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  3. Hi Clara! Honestly the best part of chemistry labs is taking pictures of the reactions! When I was in gen chem that was the only bright spot in the darkness - I imagine you get to do cooler stuff the further you go up, but my major only requires one semester of chemistry. Relay for life is a really good cause, good on you for helping out with it. Good luck with the MCAT when the time comes!

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  4. Hi Clara! I took chemistry my freshman year at OU and absolutely loved lab! It was so interesting learning about the different chemical reactions and their effect on different substances. I have signed up for Relay for Life the past two years here at OU and I love the event and everything it stands for! My grandma is a cancer survivor so I always do it to support her.

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  5. Hey Clara! Good luck throughout your journey to becoming a doctor. Some of my favorite classes were also ones that incorporated lab work, but I don't get much of those anymore as a senior computer science major, just math and programming!

    My wife and I have also watched every episode of The Office an embarrassing amount of times. If you haven't already, you might checkout The Office Ladies Podcast, its Angela and Pam from the show doing a detailed breakdown of every episode. It is really interesting, they go over so many behind the scene moments!

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  6. Hello Clara! I used to be a Biochemistry major during my freshman year, but switched out because it seemed really tough, so I applaud you in sticking with it. I'm studying engineering now and I can wholeheartedly agree with you, labs are really fun. It's just a big refresher to step away from all the theoretical science and be able to do stuff with your own hands.

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  7. My husband was a chemistry major and he loved all the lab work too, Clara! Now he does all his work in the kitchen as if it were a chemistry lab (and he is a really great cook); lots of our kitchen equipment is actually chemistry lab equipment because that is what he feels more comfortable working with. He eventually because a meteorologist, but chemistry is definitely his thing. He would definitely approve of your lab picture there.
    And how great tha tyou are part of Relay for Life! If there are any Relay-related events going on this semester that I can include in the announcements, let me know. There are always lots of things happening on campus, but the best events are the ones actually connected with people in class.
    And yay Nashville! I went to high school there. My favorite thing is the xxx! If you didn't get to see that, definitely check it out if you go back there again: Parthenon in Centennial Park :-)

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  8. Hi Clara!
    That major sounds super difficult! If you can get through all of your rough science undergraduate classes, I'm sure you will be able to accomplish your goal of getting into med-school! I am a biology major so I'm sure we have taken some similar classes. I don't know how you do all of the later chemistry courses though! Organic Chemistry was about as far as I ever wanted to learn about chemistry. I have to agree with you about labs. At first I hated them, but eventually you start to appreciate the different kinds of reactions you are performing. When it's all said and done, you have a real sense of accomplishment for completing multi-step experiments! I look forward to seeing more of your posts as the semester rolls forward.

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  9. Hey Clara!
    I am also a junior Biochem major; we must have been in the same class at some point (besides this one haha). I definitely think that the key to success as a biochem major is getting a good group of friends to study/hang out with! All the lab reports, exams, and classes are much better when you share the load, so its good that you and your friends have so much fun in the labs! Can't wait to read more of your stories!
    -Daniel

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  10. Hi Clara!
    I am not the biggest fan of any lab I have taken at OU. I did love general chemistry and organic chemistry, but biochemistry was a struggle for me. It is awesome that you are completing biochem as a major. What if you made some stories that included the reactions you made in class? It may be a fun twist on some of them. You could even do a storybook about your chemistry knowledge.

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  11. I am a biology major. I was pre-med but I just switched to pre-pa. You are the only person that I have ever heard say they love the labs. I hated that in the beginning they were at 8 am. I am usually cursed with a bad partner. I am not a Greek person. I am a How I met Your Mother fan I have never been able to get into the Office.

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  12. Hi Clara,
    Good luck on getting into Med School! I’m a Psychology major, but I’m not pre-med. I do really like biochemistry though. I was always very bad at all types of labs, but it was kind of good because I was able to stay late and bond with the teachers and my fellow slower students. I can’t really say I understand it very well though, but it was always a lot of fun to laugh and agonize over how much we messed up.

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  13. Hey Clara,

    I was surprised by how many premed students there are in this class! I took chemistry in high school, and I thought it was so challenging! Good for you for enjoying the labs and all the hard work that goes into that major! The Office is a great show. I'll admit I haven't watched it in awhile (now I'm into medical dramas), but it's such a fun and light hearted show. Good luck with everything and I hope you get to visit Nashville again soon!

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  14. Hi Clara!
    I am a chemical biosciences pre-med student. It is encouraging that I can connect with like-minded individuals in this class that are working to achieve some of the same goals. I am interested in hearing more about your research lab. I worked in a drug development organic chemistry lab my freshman and sophomore year, and research has helped reinforce why I want to become a physician. That is amazing you are making such a different in Relay for Life. Hopefully, I will make it to the amazing event this year! Good luck with everything!

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  15. Hi Clara,

    It is so funny how your least favorite thing about your major became your favorite, I feel like that happens so many times with different majors. I think it is awesome they you capture your experiments so you can remember them. Also, I love how you are involved in Relay for Life and have a passion for that. Good luck in the rest of class!

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  16. Hey Clara!
    Not gonna lie, your major sounds hard and I'm so glad that you found out you love it! Best of luck getting into med school. I have a few friends from Nashville, and I hope you enjoyed the trip even though it was limited because of the rain. I've tried to get into the Office, I swear...but I still haven't been able to make it past the first season. Best of luck this year, and enjoy it! Time really flies once you're a senior.

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