In Which Research Is Begun For the Semester (or Remembering Three First Days Part II)

Dear Reader, 

Yesterday, I was able to begin research again. Even though I have been doing it for a year (including summer), I can't believe how much they trust me. It is huge responsibility and I'm pretty sure, I'm that much better and more confident for that trust. 

It was a little over one year ago that I bumped into a tall guy in the chem dept office, little realizing that he was to be a mentor of sorts for the next two years. I was a transfer student, new not only to the campus but to the idea of a four year university. I felt like I had a huge disadvantage coming in two years after everyone else. They must have already formed connections with professors, learned all the little hints on how to graduate top of the class, and were well on their way to even more prestigious schools. Thus, I subconsciously decided I was going to step out of my comfort zone and essentially do what they did in two years in the first two weeks. I rushed around, learning my way around campus so I didn't have to carry a map, was introduced to the secret passage between the chem library and the two floors, made a point to always walk by the NMR instrument as the novelty hadn't worn off. I was told to get involved in research. I talked to four professors who were doing some sort of organic chemistry* and the last professor I talked to was the chair of the dept. 

It was the second or third day of the semester when I walked in and sat down. The professor explained what his current projects were all about and as I listened I got more excited. This was it! This was what I wanted to do! But to be fair, I thanked him for his time and thought about it for a couple days.** Then, I walked back in to his office and said: "I would love to do research with you." We talked about chemistry and school, etc. And then he welcomed me on board! I was then introduced to the guy I bumped into and found out that he was the grad student I would be working with. Oh the embarrassment. 

The first day of research I was given a few dishes to wash and then...a distillation to set up! Frantically, I tried to remember how to set one up and eventually figured it out...30 minutes later. Fortunately, they had left me alone so no one was there to witness my incompetence. 

That day, despite my fears, was one of the best days. I felt trusted and responsible, but I knew that I had support in case I messed up. After I had finished for the day, I went to talk to my PI. 

PI: "So, I didn't hear any fire engines, so the lab didn't blow up."

Me: "They're on their way. It should be fine though."

Yep, research was definitely my favorite class that semester and the following semester and last summer and it is, so far, in first place for this semester. I can't wait for Tuesday***!



*Yes, O Chem. I'm one of those people. I'm also one of those people who enjoyed the ACS exam. Strange...

**This really meant I waited around for what I thought was an appropriate amount of time until I could say: "YES!!! PLEASE LET ME JOIN!!" ****

***I do research Tuesdays and Thursdays because even though I would love to do it every day, I have other like classes and work and stuff...Apparently, they're important too. 

****I found out later that my PI wasn't planning on accepting any undergrads that year. I guess I convinced him to do differently? 


 

In Which Tutoring Is, Once Again, Good.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of tutoring of an eighth grader in English Grammar. 

We were identifying prepositions, object of the prepositions*, and direct objects.

After completing ten or so sentences, I had him create some sentences of his own. Here are some (unedited). 

1. Sam threw the pie at Bob. 

2. The boy tried to climb through the tree with the squirrel. 

3. The president should not have won the election. 



We also had this conversation: 

Student: Do you have Comcast? 

Me: No

Student: Dish,  Direct Tv, any kind of cable? 

Me: Nope, we have the basic stuff. 

Student: *Blank Stare* 

Me: Like, um...Fox and News10 and Channel 3 or 4...

Student: So all the boring channels? 

Me: No! We have weather too!**

***End of Post


*abbreviation for object of the preposition was OTP. I laughed inwardly many times at this. 

**This was not received well. Apparently weather is not an *exciting* topic. 

***This could be considered a somewhat bland post. I'm posting it more to remind myself that sessions can go well without meltdowns or huge breakthroughs. This is a good representation of a normal session. A few laughs and a few struggles, but overall success.