I graduated with my masters of science in genetics in December and it’s something I had worked really hard for but now just thinking about it makes me depressed because no one celebrated me.

I had worked just as hard doing research as anyone in my labs (I was co-advised so I had two PI’s/mentors). Everyone else who graduated from my labs got a little party thrown by our PI’s and gifts or a card or something. I got nothing. Like, no congrats. No party. No conversation about my graduation or what my plans were. Some of my closer friends in the lab privately congratulated me but that was it (no cards, fanfare, etc like I had seen the 4 times other people had graduated while I was there). Heck, every other time my one boss had gotten the graduating person a cake and I didn’t even get a goodbye. I don’t have any family in the state or anything and the person I was closest to, my brother, passed away almost 9 months ago now.

Since leaving, people who I thought were my friends have ghosted me. People who I used to grab lunch with or go to their houses or get invited to their kids birthdays and get called Aunt Star.

I get that I don’t fit the typical “scientist” mold (queer woman with dyed hair and tattoos) but I’m published and did my work like anyone else. Part of me thinks I’m selfish for wanting to be noticed or wanting material things like cakes and cards. I wish I just felt like anyone cared about me.