In Which Three First Days Are Described (Part 1)

Note: I was going to write these as one post, however that would make one long post, so I'm splitting them up. 


Dear Reader, 

Four years ago this week, I walked onto a college campus supposedly prepared to begin my first semester. It was cold and foggy at 6:45 am as I walked to my calculus class. Scared that I had forgotten the way, I tried to text a friend who was in the same class. No response. The pathway seemed longer than I remembered as my mom and I had walked it a few times so I could get familiar with it. I had everything I needed - pencils, pens, the textbook*, paper, calculator....

There was no one around I would approach. I went to a local community college and at that time smokers made up most of the population on campus or so it seemed. Finally, I saw the tall gray building and walked inside. Finding my classroom with less difficulty, I entered and saw my friend had chosen a back table with two guys. Inwardly I thought: "Why?! All I wanted to do was sit front and center so I don't have to talk to anyone." 

She called me over and I went, reluctant. 

The rest of the day is somewhat of a blur now. I know I saw a few more people I knew and that was reassuring. But overall, looking back, I think if I had had a choice I would have ran out of there as quick as I could. 

The semester went well however. That calc class was terrible and I ended up retaking it in the summer**, but the guys were fun and studied for the most part. Actually, one guy and my friend ended up dropping. I stayed til the bitter cold end. 

I'm glad I stayed though. Both that first day and through the semester. Failing once in a while could be good for perfectionist types like me. I learned that I can get back up and survive and sometimes sitting in the back is okay, too. 

*All $200 worth of it. 
**And got 98% in the class. This wasn't a question of studying harder. There was simply a better teacher.  

In Which the Author is Hired In Less Time Than It Takes To Complete An IR Experiment

Dear Reader, 

About two hours ago, I was planning on taking 15 units*, continuing research**, continuing my volunteer work as a peer-reviewer***, holding on to 6 jobs****, as well as attempting to have a social life.

Ambitious, I know. And there have been several times people have looked at me like I was crazy. I suppose they might be correct, but then again finding things to do has never been a problem for me. I'm that annoying person who always had too many pages in her essay, read 5000***** books each summer, and never had a problem finding a job. 5/6 of my current jobs I didn't interview for - I was asked. Not that the reader should envy me, after all now I actually have to do all the work I signed up for. But as the previous post and future posts will show, I love all my jobs. My problem might not be finding jobs, but in saying no. 

God has given me so much and opened so many doors for me that most of the time, it is overwhelming. It forces me to prioritize, organize and of course, say no to things that aren't as important. 

However, God just gave me another job. Yes, another!! A job posting was listed on Facebook from my chemistry dept, stating that they needed TA's for General Chemistry! About five minutes after I sent an email to the professor detailing why I should get the job, I got a two sentence reply: "You're hired! Come to my office this Monday, so we can talk." 

Much joy ensued! 

And now I get to decide whether or not to keep all my jobs or to minimize a few or what.... 
I can't wait for Monday now though! ******


*Although I'm still waffling on whether I should take German or Advanced NMR. I can sit in on the NMR class, but should I just go for it and get credit for it? 
**This is still going to be my favorite class. 
***I get to review undergraduate journal articles in physics, chemistry, and math. 
****Three of which, are at my university and only require 2-3 hours of work a week. The other three require 3-5 hours of work a week, so it's not as bad as it looks. 
*****Not really, but close. I'm planning on making a post (or several) on books I read this summer and books in general. 
*****More than I already was! 

In Which the Merits of Tutoring are Catalogued

There are times when after eight hours of seemingly-force feeding students material that you wonder if the headaches are worth it. Is there progress being made? Is there really a difference between now and five weeks ago? 

I had a conversation once with a physics professor on the pros and cons of teaching. He said that it was not the students who didn't work and failed that bothered you as much (this occurs with every profession - people who don't want to work), but the students who put the hours and effort in and were struggling for that C grade. "If you can deal with that and still remain optimistic, then you can be a teacher." 

I have had a taste of that this summer with students not doing their homework or simply forgetting the simplest things. "What's 2x3?" several minutes go by.... "2x3?" Blank stare. "Really?! We just did this two problems ago! You're in sixth grade for crying out loud!"*

Okay, so the last part is normally in my head. Outwardly, I smile and draw it out for them or simply postpone that problem til later. 

But there have been some truly amazing parts of this summer that I would like to document for future encouragement. 

~Watching a 5th grade seamlessly slide into learning algebraic concepts. 

~Helping a 12th grader study for the SAT and grin as I hold up a section with only 3(!) out of 34 incorrect. 

~ Discussing the possibility of traveling to the Sun with a 5th grader: *after many, many odd guesses on the material** the spacecraft should be formed out of* 
"I've got it! You have the President's number, right?!" 
"Well..." 
"Tell them to get my Nobel Prize ready! It's Carpet!!" 
 
~Giving a review quiz on everything we've learned this summer and the student having only a few glitches

~Listening to a 4th grader read "My Father's Dragon" after five intense weeks of learning how to read. 

~Creating a new TV show called "MathBusters"***. In this show, we will solve the pattern of prime numbers. 

~Discussing why mayonnaise is so disgusting. 

~Reading an essay on the topic of never giving up and having "Finding Nemo" be one of the examples. 

There is so many more stories I have to write down. In summary, yes. It is worth it. 

On a side note: I got to bring my silver flask home!! And I completed two more rxns last week and didn't burn/injure myself!**** However, that was my last week of summer school. And now a whole week without lab. What will I do with myself?*****

*True story. 
**other suggestions included: diamonds, manure, concrete, hair, stainless steel and plastic. 
***Based on the show MythBusters. We even started to create our own theme song. 
****This does not include inanimate objects. One test tube and one 50 mL round bottom flask are now at the bottom of the broken glass container. 
*****Besides sleep, eat, watch Numb3rs, read lots of books and get ready for school next week. Oh, and study for the GRE and the subject GRE and write to potential PIs,etc. I think I'll be okay.

In Which A Silver Flask Was Partially Created and Minor Injuries Might Have Occurred

Today I was met with the opportunity to try the Tollen's test (to test for aldehydes). Having not done this particular experiment before, I agreed. Excitement ensued as I and the high school student (A.), carefully measured out the reagents and heated it according to the instructions. A beautiful silver began to form on the surface of the glass looking something like this:

 There was also a small instance in which I was given a few decisions in what I was going to do that day for research. Thus, I decided to begin two reactions that day (normally I do one).

This would have been fine, except for the next day was then a flurry of work-ups, columns, and clean-ups. I did finish, but not until 5:30 pm. There may or may not be some small burns on my fingers now. And there may or may not have been a point in which my small finger came into contact with something that turned the skin white and numb and was therefore put under the water for approximately 20 minutes while I prayed not to die.


Regardless of those perhappenings, the work was completed and the partially silver flask is now sitting waiting for me to finish coating it with silver.