Category Archives: Info & Updates

Biomedical Engineer: The Career of the Future

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This interview is part of a series of interviews of people in different professions. These interviews are intended to assist teens in finding the profession that would suit them in the future. This specific interview is with David Cuccia, a biomedical engineer who currently owns a business. This interview will dive deep in all of the different parts of being in this profession.

The Interview

Natalie: Hello it’s so nice to meet you!

David Cuccia: You too!

So first of all, could you explain what you do for your job?

David Cuccia: My job, I am the chief technology officer or CTO. I work in biomedical engineering and medicine. I also do a lot of software. There’s also some physics involved. 

Natalie: So, what kind of projects are you currently working on?

David Cuccia: Right now, I am working on the next-generation of our medical device, called Clarifi.

The current device that we sell is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which means it is okay for doctors to use already.

The new device will be much smaller – we’re going from a system that’s over 100lbs (a cart system) to one that is handheld, so just a couple of pounds.

Natalie: Very interesting! Could you explain what your device does?

David Cuccia: Sure!

It is a camera system that takes a picture of how much blood is beneath the surface of skin, and the level of oxygen in that blood

So, it can be used to see if there is good circulation.

we’re focusing on using it to help people with Diabetes stay healthy.

Sometimes, if someone has Diabetes for a long time, they have bad circulation in their limbs, especially their feet.

That means, if they get a minor injury, like a blister or other small wound, it might not heal, or will take a very long time to heal.

A lot of the time, that means that they might have to have surgery.

Natalie: In the profession, is there an option to join a company?

David Cuccia: 

I’d say, for our company, over the years, we’ve hired maybe 30-40% of our people straight out of school (we were their first job)

Yes! There are so many different jobs for someone in my profession! Some people work at hospitals keeping the medical equipment running smoothly, some people do research their whole lives at a University, some people go into business to develop biomedical products (devices or drugs/pharmaceuticals). I’ve done a little of each, I guess! And the world needs those doctors that like doing surgery, because that’s definitely not me!

Natalie: Me too! I originally wanted to be a doctor, but I do not work well with blood either.

David Cuccia:I feel you 🙂 But you never know, that might change again! Just never be afraid to change directions if you have new information…that’s what a good scientist or engineer does.

Natalie: So, why did you choose to start your own company?

And what are the pros and cons of working independently?

David Cuccia: I’ve been REALLY lucky to hire and work with some awesome people.

But, yes, there’s lots of hard things about starting a business, running it, and managing people. Two times, we’ve had to let someone go (fire them) because it wasn’t a good fit. But that’s by far the exception to the rule. We’ve probably hired … I’m guessing here…45 people, over the years. Sometimes, they move on to their next great stepping stone or opportunity. Sometimes (like during the pandemic) we have very little money and have to let a group of people go. That was the hardest. But, we stay in touch with those people…it feels a bit like a family…everyone is still very supportive of each other!

Natalie: Is there a good work life balance in your profession? 

David Cuccia: One thing in smaller start-up companies is that if you are a founder, you’re always thinking about the next steps of the business. It’s not really something you “clock out” of at 5pm every weekday, so there’s often the extra stress of not being able to fully “turn off”. But the flipside of this is that schedules can often be very flexible. I’ve really enjoyed being able to opt-in to family activities that would be harder with a more rigid schedule, which is often the case in a larger company. Certainly, there have been times that have been very busy, such as when we would have a grant proposal deadline, scientific presentation, or product trade show/demo to prepare for. But, it can be very gratifying when one of these goes successfully!

Natalie: What are some common misconceptions about this profession?

David Cuccia: For me, a misconception was that as I progressed in my career, I would become more of a specialist, i.e. someone that would improve my skill in a particular area. My experience in entrepreneurship and project management has been that, while my knowledge and experience in specific areas/fields has grown, my work has been more and more varied and interesting! I have learned how to work with a diverse team, each with diverse skills in engineering, science, computer programming, project management, marketing, business development, finance, human resources, legal support, etc. I really have enjoyed connecting the dots between all of these fields and communities to communicate and accomplish a shared goal.

Natalie: Thank you so much for finding some time in your schedule to make time for this interview! I am sure that it will help many teens to determine what profession they would like to work towards, and I wish you the best of luck for your product and your business!

Dave Cuccia: My pleasure!

Best Beaches for the Summer

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It’s summer, and one of the summer activities that are always good but especially on hot days is to take a trip down to the beach. There are a lot of local beach spots that are great for swimming and scenery or to just relax and unwind, here are some of my personal favorites.

Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is one of my personal favorite beach spots. There are many beach choices in this area. One of the best beaches at Laguna Beach is Heisler Park. This is because it is great for walking on as well as swimming since it is sandy and not rocky. This beach also has a marine reserve with tide pools that you can explore as well. Another great beach in Laguna Beach is Treasure Island Beach. This beach is a great spot to snorkel and observe sea life, and it is also good for swimming and has clear water as well.

Balboa Beach: Another great local beach to visit is Balboa Beach near Newport Beach. It is a very calm beach and is great for swimming, and is a great place to relax as well. There is also a pier with fishing and restaurants, as well as a ferry to the nearby Balboa Island. The beach is also very clean with clean restrooms as well.

Crystal Cove: One of the best local beaches to go to is Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. The surf is also very calm and it is also a good spot for swimming. It is also a good spot for snorkeling and has coral reefs and lots of sea life as well. It also has several tide pools to visit and is great for taking a walk as well. There are also hiking trails above the beach that give great views of the ocean.

Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach has a large variety of activities to do as well. The areas close to the beaches there are good for swimming as they are mostly calm, but some areas of the beach have larger waves making them a great spot for surfing and there are in fact several surfing competitions held in the area. This area is also great for paddleboarding and there is also a pier on this beach, which has fishing and views of the ocean as well as great spots for photos.

Corona Del Mar: Corona Del Mar is also a very scenic local beach with plenty of things to do. This beach has views of much of the local coastline and is a great place to get photos, with cliffs and rock formations, and you can even see as far as Catalina Island on some days. The beach is located in a cove which makes it very calm and good for swimming. It is also a great snorkeling spot as it is clear as well which allows for great views of the sea life. I would recommend walking on this beach as it has walking trails along the beach, and it has great views of the sunset as well.

I hope everyone has a great summer and that this helps you to find the best activities this summer!

4 Tips to Decompress in Daily Life

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As technology has taken a great hold onto society, people have unlimited access to everything at all times. We are constantly being updated on what others are doing, world events, advertisements, and others are always to reach each other. This along with short-form content leads to the issue of constant stimulation that the brain was not equipped to handle, adding unnecessary stress to our lives. Here I will list some things that I have incorporated that have helped me relax and feel better in daily life:

  1. Meditation
  • Meditation reduces stress. It allows for the individual to practice mind and body integration by creating awareness , usually through breathwork. I once thought of it as the act of clearing away thoughts, but I have reformed it into allowing my thoughts to flow while you observe their passing and then letting them slowly dissipate. 
  • There are great resources on guided meditation on YouTube for whatever subject you are interested in. I would recommend Joe Dispenza.
  1. Yoga
  • Yoga is another practice that is included in some cultures. It is similar to meditation as it seeks to create a mind and body connection.
  • It is a low impact exercise that concentrates on building balance, strength, increasing flexibility, and improving respiration. I use it to stretch in the mornings to help me start my day.
  • There are many channels on YouTube that cater to different levels and shorter sessions for when you are in a rush. Somebody I enjoy is Yoga with Adriene and Yoga with Bird.
  1. Reading
  • Reading has been proven to lessen stress and helps your brain form new neural connections. The rhythmic moving of the eyes back and forth and the feeling of the paper against the skin helps integrate mind and body.
  • It can help you discover new hobbies, improve your vocabulary, help with empathy, and allow yourself to take a break from everyday life. I have found it to be a more fulfilling alternative to scrolling on my phone. It is definitely one of my favorite pastimes.
  1. Skincare & Facial Massage
  • Skincare involves taking care of your skin. Facial massaging is exactly what it says, massaging the face. I sometimes will use a gua sha, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine practice, where I use movements with a tool to drain lymphatic fluid from my body.
  • A simple skincare routine includes a cleanser and a moisturizer with sunscreen during the day. If you want to be a little more complex than you can include extra products, like serums, spot treatments, and exfoliators. If you do use sunscreen during the day, it is recommended to use a double cleanser, using both an oil based and a water based cleanser, to remove it at night. 
  • Facial massaging has allowed me to release tension I store in my face and have made me look less puffy. You do not need to use a gua sha and using your hands works just as well. It helps for there to be a “slip” so the tool glides across the skin; this can be water or skincare products. There are many tutorials on what to do on YouTube and TikTok.

Thank you for reading and I hope you experiment with any of these tips! Remember you deserve to have time for yourself to nurture your mind and spirit. 

Ways to Declutter

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  1. Create a checklist of everything necessary and unnecessary
  2. Create milestones to motivate you
  3. Create deadlines
  4. Stick to a schedule
  5. Start with something easy and simple to clean or get rid of
  6. Start with only decluttering for a few minutes a day and then slowly increase overtime
  7. Clean one room at a time
  8. Declutter one shelf at a time
  9. Sort items by categories of your choice
  10. Donate items (clothes, toys, shoes, books, furniture, etc.) that you don’t need anymore, but can still be used by others
  11. Discard any items that are no longer usable or in bad shape
  12. Have a garage or yard sale to sell off unneeded items
  13. Find help from others (family, friends, etc.)
  14. Follow the Konmari method of only keeping items that bring you joy
  15. Follow the 80-20 rule
  16. Take breaks to prevent you from getting burnt out while cleaning
  17. Recycle items like cardboard, paper, and plastic to clear out space
  18. Find new ways to store items (reordering items to fit more objects, buying additional storage like drawers or bookshelves, etc.)
  19. Label items to always know where they are
  20. Get rid of any duplicates, especially when you only need one of them
  21. Be mindful of impulse buys when shopping or purchasing items

The Best Beaches in Southern California

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During my time in Palo Alto, which is unfortunately many hours away from Southern California, the thing that I’ve missed the most are our beaches. I would consider myself to be an authority on the best beaches in Southern California, and I’ll go over some of my favorite ones.

Laguna Beach (Main Beach): Large, irreproachably beautiful, but often crowded with tourists. In the summer, the sands are filled with people escaping the Midwest cold, and it’s hard to find a spot to sit down. Another result of the beach’s popularity is that people leave their garbage on the sand, which is fun for no one. If you’re new to the city of Laguna Beach, this is definitely a place you must visit but there are better options.

Laguna Beach (Victoria Beach): Victoria Beach is a smaller, more private beach than Main Beach. While still taking advantage of the warmth and beauty of the area, Victoria Beach is cleaner and better for large gatherings.

Salt Creek Beach: As another very popular beach, Salt Creek is famous for its great waves and exciting atmosphere for all levels of beach-goers. You may have to walk down a very long, steep hill to get down to the water, but when you really feel the struggle is on the way up. While I’ve seen every age group at “Creek,” it’s most likely you’ll be surrounded by teenagers when you stop by. It’s also worth noting that you must pay for parking during certain hours.

Strands Beach: Strands Beach (which is really just “Beach Beach,” because Strand is German for beach) is a free, slightly less exhilarating version of Salt Creek. Many people appreciate this beach for the fact that you can see the sunset on the water, but its clean shore and laid-back atmosphere are also great!

Seal Beach: Although I’ve only visited Seal Beach a few times, what struck me about this beach were its rich culture and its clean, warm sand. It has a very easygoing feeling about it and seems like it would make a great day trip for any family out there.

Aliso Beach: Aliso Beach is a relatively small beach that you can drive right up to. When you get into the water, you’ll notice its sharp decline very quickly. This beach is great for small events, but its not my favorite on this list.

Doheny Beach: Doheny is definitely a surfer’s beach. It’s rocky, not sandy, so no need to shuffle on the sand to scare away stingrays, but I always feel like I’ll freeze to death in the water. This beach also has paid parking, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent. No matter what level of surfer you are, it’s a great experience.

Linda Lane: This hidden gem is a fun, family-friendly getaway. The unfortunate parking situation is typical with most beaches, but the only bad thing about this beach is its slim wedge of sand separating the rocks from the water. If you stay until high tide, it’s likely you’ll run out of room, so plan your stay accordingly. While I may seem overly critical of this beach, it’s truly an amazing place!

Kansas School of Engineering Camp Review

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Student Involvement | School of Engineering

Hey Everyone!

One of the amazing opportunities I had this summer was going to an amazing camp at the University of Kansas for Engineering! This week long sleep-away camp was such an amazing experience since I am currently looking at careers in engineering.

Through the week I went to different classes where I learned more about the field of civil engineering and got to meet many different personals from the campus as well as see some guest speakers, like Phd students and professors.

Overall I would say this was a super fun camp and I would recommend it not only for people who are interested in engineering but also because of all the different people you get to meet from many different places.

Some of the cons of this camp were that it was in a different state, so it was definitely less of an environment that I was used to and in addition to planning for the camp you must also figure out the transportation. However, this camp was much more reasonably priced compared to many camps in California. Even including my flights, round trip it costed around one third of some of the other camps I was looking at located at some UC’s.

I would definitely recommend this camp for everyone because I think it’s such a fun experience, even if you aren’t too interested in engineering since it provides great insight into career options outside of engineering too, along with college guidance.

Tips for Incoming Sophomores!

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Hey everyone!

The new school year is coming up in a couple of weeks and if you are an incoming sophomore as I was last year, I have some quick tips for you to make sure you get a good start!

  1. This year I would focus on taking more of the harder classes, and making sure you get a good grade in that class. Whether it’s a humanities, math, or a science course, you need those courses as a sort of pre-req into the classes for junior year. For example, at our high school, people who take AP European history sophomore year is oftentimes more prepared for APUSH junior year because you have the foundation of not only history knowledge, but also how to outline (* which is super important btw!!!).
  2. Also, this is the time of year for you to start getting to know which sort of courses you like? Are you into more of the science classes, math, maybe English? Or perhaps it’s an elective course, like AP Seminar/AP Research/AP Comp Sci, etc. Colleges like to know what you are interested in, so it’s time to dive deep and find which courses suit or interest you!
  3. The SAT requirement is starting back up at a lot of the UC schools and Ivy league schools as well! This means you should start prepping for the SAT early on, preferably starting in sophomore year summer! The information presented in the SAT may look easy at first glance, but they test you on a wide range of knowledge, so be prepared!
  4. It is also time to get the extracurriculars in order as well! If you want to suceed and make your own path through high school, it’s crucial to start building a strong extracurricular profile. Whether you’re passionate about a sport, a club, volunteering, or perhaps something more unique like starting your own initiative, now is the time to dive in. Colleges appreciate commitment, so sticking with an activity and taking on leadership roles can really make your application stand out.
  5. Lastly, don’t forget to also have those moments to destress. High school is tough, but it’s important to find a balance. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and setting aside time to relax and enjoy your high school experience. Especially sleep!!! I know we all pull all-nighters from time to time, but sleep is important for you to function!

Good luck sophomores! Junior year awaits you 🙂

Walt Disney World: Things to Know and Places to Visit

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In May of 1965, Walt Disney Productions purchased almost 28,000 acres of land in an area southwest of Orlando using multiple dummy corporations. On October 15, Disney decided to announce its creation by asking the Governor of Florida to confirm the rumors of a new location, calling it “the greatest attraction in the history of Florida.” This resort, opened officially on October 1st, 1971, is what we now know as the Walt Disney World Resort. It includes 4 different parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The now 50,000-acre property also includes various other locations, including water parks, a sports complex, and various golf courses.

Some things to know

  • Stay hydrated. The Florida weather, especially during summer, can be pretty extreme, due to high humidity and heat, and staying hydrated can help visitors withstand the conditions.
  • Stay cool. Find air conditioning, or even use a portable fan to avoid the weather and reduce the risk of heat stroke.
  • Plan ahead. On average, around 160,000 people visit the resort, so making reservations and knowing where to go can make visiting easier and faster.

In addition to these 3 tips, guests should also know that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios both have a thing called virtual queues. Enter the queue online with the My Disney Experience app, which will provide a group number and an estimated time for getting in line. When the provided number is displayed on the screen above the ride’s entrance, visitors can scan their tickets and step in line. This system was implemented in 1999 to reduce the chances of overwhelming wait times.

Places to visit

Disney World is a place filled with many different and unique experiences, but some stand out among the rest. Some rides, for instance, are quit exhilarating and are worth riding such as TRON Lightcycle / Run. TRON is a unique ride located in Tomorrowland, strapping in riders as if riding a motorcycle, and hitting a top speed of 60 mph. Riding TRON at night is even more of a spectacle, as more of the lights illuminate to increase the thrill. Also an equally thrilling ride, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith accelerates to a top speed of 57 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds, catapulting straight into multiple twists, turns, and loops.

In addition to those two rides, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, located in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is also very exciting. The ride is portrayed in a Tibetan village, where riders board a train and travel up and into Mount Everest. The ride features many loops and turns, but the fun starts when the train stops and plunges into the depths of the mountain at 50 miles per hour.

In addition to rides, Disney World features a very wide variety of restaurants. Epcot has 11 pavilions representing different countries around the world, allowing visitors a large pallet of places to enjoy. One example is Shiki-Sai, located in japan. Shiki-Sai offers some of the most delicious sushi one could ever taste. In addition to Japanese cuisine, Italian dining at Epcot is equally superb. Via Napoli features delicious lasagna, pasta, and their specialty Neapolitan pizza.

In all, Walt Disney World is a very exciting place, with many different opportunities and experiences for visitors to enjoy.

Books about Disney World are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Teaching Journey: An Interview With A Grade School Teacher

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This is one of many interviews that I will post. Each post will feature an interview with someone of a specific career. These interviews are meant to help teens find the career that they want. In this post, I will be interviewing a teacher going by the pseudonym of Jane-I refer to myself as Natalie-. Jane has taught lower grade levels such as preschool, kindergarten, first, and second grade. All of this information came from a real grade school teacher, and I hope that this interview allows you to decide if teaching is your true calling!

The Interview

Natalie: What was your inspiration to become a teacher?

Jane: I really love how children learn and I find child development fascinating and I love figuring out how to explain things or how to get children to understand and learn concepts. 

Natalie: Do you truly enjoy teaching? What is your favorite part that makes you love your profession?

Jane: It’s just so magical to watch them learn and grow and have fun and I also love telling them stories. That’s my favorite thing.

Natalie: What is the most difficult part of being a teacher?

Jane: If there are parents who are challenging to collaborate with, that can make it more difficult, and the most challenging thing is the increase in class size. Currently I have a class size of 26. 

Natalie: Since you have taught multiple grades such as preschool, kindergarten, first grade and second grade, which would you recommend? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each grade?

Jane: Every age and grade has advantages and disadvantages, and most teachers find something to love in each grade. I love kinder and I taught it for a long time so I could tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of five and six year olds. It’s a magical age where they are figuring out a lot of things such as social emotional growth as well as academics, but there is also a lot of academic growth. Children are all very different. Part of teaching is finding their strengths and building their confidence. One of the disadvantages of teaching this age is that they have lots of energy.

Natalie: What kind of classes or courses would you recommend for aspiring elementary school teachers?

Jane: Aside from required courses such as child development, if there is a course on storytelling or picture books I would recommend that, and using math manipulatives.

Natalie: Other than the cost of college tuition to get a degree in teaching, are there any ongoing costs of teaching?

Jane: Yes there are. First, aside from college and graduate school, I pay for classroom items and supplies and I don’t get reimbursed for them. 

Natalie: What would you say is the most mentally challenging part of being a teacher?

Jane: There’s a lot of multitasking and juggling, prioritizing and time management are important.

Natalie: Currently, AI is replacing many careers. Do you believe that in the future, teaching will still be a good career choice?

Jane:I think so, the connection between a human teacher and a student can’t be matched, especially for young children.

Natalie: Is there a good work/life balance in the career of teaching?

Jane: I think it’s tricky especially for new teachers, but they have to mindfully set that goal.

Natalie: If you had to do it all over again, would you choose to teach?

Jane: Maybe…I love teaching. I know I’m good at it and it makes a difference but it is underpaid and underappreciated and exhausting. 

Natalie: Thank you so much for taking the time to be interviewed. I am sure that this interview will prove useful to many teenagers still choosing their path.