Student blogs

Just recently the Masters in Molecular Techniques in Life Sciences (MTLS) alumni network held an Alumni Speaker day. In this blog I hope to share some reflections on the experience and leave you with a short cheesy motivational connection to spring.

The MTLS alumni network

The alumni network is an initiative that was founded by none other than a fellow former Digital Ambassador Francisca. She wrote about her motivation, and process to creating such a wonderful resource and community. In fact, I got to meet her in person and hear about her own journey post the MTLS programme. They host many events such as the Alumni speaker events, alumni reunions, networking events and others. Head on over to their Instagram or LinkedIn to check out what’s currently going on!

What are MTLS alumni currently doing?

While I won’t go into the details, I can tell you that the MTLS alumni at the event all have diverse trajectories. There were individuals currently doing their PhDs, others in industry-based jobs like consultancy and even alternative pathways that may not be directly related to science. MTLS graduates are not limited to any single pathway whether that be academia or industry. Even within each large sector, MTLS students can be involved in many different fields in science because we also are exposed to the cutting research offered by SciLifeLab and all three universities: KI, SU and KTH.

One major takeaway from this event that I have learnt is that while everyone’s individual circumstances, differ, the common factor that underlies every speaker’s success is their hard work. It might be an obvious answer, but it serves to remind me that action always starts from me. In my reflection for the first semester, the one point of advice was “Be proactive!” Once again, the act of putting power into our own hands is a recurring theme.

Finding hope in spring

The most common metaphorical meanings associated with spring are growth, hope and new beginnings. As cheesy as it is, I believe that the power of spring truly inspires. In April, Stockholm transformed quickly into a new landscape. The days started getting drastically longer. The cherry blossoms fluttered on campus and at the famous Kungsträdgården. You can hear the light chatter of more people drinking their coffee in the outside seating. Everyday in KTH, I walked past the tulips growing steadily that were planted in a cute heart pattern.

However, beyond the organized trees and flowers, I also noticed the abundance of wildflowers or scattered dandelions all around Stockholm. In a patch of green in the park, you could find the sprouts of yellow, purple and white.

So, in spring, I saw hope in two ways. Spring was the hope that you can reap the flower of your efforts but also hope that opportunities come in unexpected ways. If you received your admissions results, I hope that it was the beautiful flower that you planted during the application process. If you’re thinking about future careers, spring will come for the seeds you plant but also for the wild flowers in your life.