Giving Back

It's been too long since I did any volunteering. I don't want to come off as selfish, but I just typically don't have time. What little time I do have, I try to spend with my five boys, or hopefully not too neglected wife. Today, I got to experience the joy that comes from giving back. Again, I sound selfish because it was about me. Well maybe I am selfish. But it felt good. I helped underprivileged kids get presents; kids who will show genuine appreciation for a gift, rather than wonder why they didn't get something better.

I was humbled today as I saw a mother come in with her children. She had them give gifts to the needy. These kids picked out what they wanted the most this year, then gave those presents to the needy. How amazing! The world needs more people like that mother. And it looks as though it may just get several as she had four little ones with her!

Coming home afterwards, to the comforts that I enjoy, I realized how truly lucky I am. I have a wife who loves me, and works incredibly hard to support our little den. My children, although not always perfect little angels, are really sweet and kind-hearted (surely they didn't get that from me!).

Please, take a minute this holiday season to give back. Your giving can be in the form of food, clothing, money, or time. Whatever you can spare will certainly be put to good use by those less fortunate. It will not only help them, but doing so will give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside. Have a blessed Christmas season.

I remember going to Christmas parties at my mom's work as a kid. It was dreadful. Having everyone comment on how handsome I was, how much I'd grown... "Who the hell were these phonies" I would think. I especially hated the whole meeting Santa thing, as I learned the truth about the fat man from an early age. Yet every year I went. And every year I somehow managed to persevere in spite of these horrific circumstances.

Now it's my turn to inflict the same torture upon my children that was so harshly done to me. Though, I really only tell my older ones to take a picture alongside that jolly fat man for the sake of the Christmas picture. And if I do say so myself, they really ARE handsome! And they really ARE getting big. Aww.... I can't wait to torture them again next year!

Mourning a tragic loss, Next Semester, and Taking a Break

So I took the weekend to mourn the loss of my "perfect" GPA. Physics was my undoing. Physics is difficult for me. Could I have studied more? Yes. Should I have? Yes. But all in all, I'm happy. I got a B. It's respectable. Could have easily been worse. It's just that I don't like physics. It's awful. It's one awful word problem after awful word problem. Mundane. I'd rather have a root canal than study for it. The concepts I think are ingrained in my brain. At this point, it's a matter of putting my understanding into practice, and delivering the correct answer. Next semester I will work harder to get an A in Physics 2.

So my next semester's schedule is just about set. I am signed up for Physics 2, Organic Chemistry 2, Neurobiology, and I will soon be signed up for Psychology Research Methods. My 4 year University just needs a copy of my transcript showing that I took Statistics this semester, since it's a prerequisite. I also filled out the application for admissions into another local Community College. On Monday I will start the process of having my previous transcripts sent to them so I can do the Texas Fresh Start program. I'm not sure what class I am going to take at this point, but I'm thinking maybe either First Aid and Safety, or a beginning Nutrition class. Both are delivered online, so I wouldn't actually have to physically attend class.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to Christmas break. I plan on playing games with the kids, cleaning my sadly neglected house, and spending some much needed quality time with my wife. I'm thinking a night out on the town with a nice dinner, followed by a hotel room in the city. Woohoo! Party rockers in the house tonight! Fun is more than overdue.

Am I failing my child?

So is it wrong to want to take out a hit on a third grader? Probably. There's this kid picking on mine at school. My boy is big for his age, and would be able to handle himself in a situation with kids his own age, but unfortunately, this kid is 3 years his elder. My boy has skipped 2 grades and is in third grade, though he just turned 7. What I wanted to do after attempting to console my distraught son, was to go up to the school and scare the bully pants off the other kid. Or tell his brother to "take care of it." My wife said that is not the answer. So I defer. Instead, I went to the school to inform the teacher. While waiting to speak with her, the principal saw me and we chatted about the situation. She was great and started to put my mind at ease. She is very familiar with my son and the situation, except she is not on the front lines. The heat of the battle. When I spoke with my son's teacher, she gave me the whole, "boys will be boys" attitude. I wanted to shake her.

Someone is messing with my child. Those who do not have children will not understand the intensity of emotion this evokes. The teacher has a laissez-faire attitude about it. That's infuriating. What should I do? Call the hit? Wife said no. Call an outside hit with the "Godfather" of the third grade in exchange for 2 juice boxes and a box of cookies? I bet the wife would be against that as well. I don't want to get pounded myself so I listen to her. But, what am I to do?

Another problem is he has the ability to integrate a year's worth of curriculum in approximately four or five months. I've searched and searched for a better place to put him. We had decided on this charter school he is in now for smaller class size, as well as the strength of the curriculum. But it doesn't seem to be working. I cannot believe there are not schools in this area that can accommodate someone like my child. There are all sorts of schools for children who need more attention, ie those with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and the like; there are no schools for those who need more help because they are far and away more intelligent than the average child. So what do I do? I feel like I am failing my boy....

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for:

• My crazy, funny, and maddening children
• My amazingly supportive wife who helps me through my dark time before organic chemistry exams
• My friends
• My family
• My destructive terror of a dog
• My struggles - they make me a better person
• My successes - they show me I'm on the right track
• My home - 'It is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah. Still good.'
• My sweet potato pie - mmmmm sweeeeeet potato pie

Marley and Me

So it's just Marley and me right now. She's a half shar-pei, half lab mix. The wife is at work until very late. My brother came by and I pawned the twins off on him until morning. Muahahahaha. Hopefully they won't eat him alive before then. The older ones are outside playing with friends, and soon will be off to spend the night with their MeeMaw. So I'm here. Studying. Just Marley and me. It's quiet. I had forgotten what quiet felt like. It's a bit eerie. I'm trying to concentrate on my work, but I can hear everything. I can hear dogs barking in the distance. Nearby there is a high school football game in progress. I can track the play-by-play of the announcer (home team appears to be winning). I can hear the tick-tock of the clock in the living room. I can hear the sound of the keys on the keyboard as I type this. How foreign these sounds seem, though they surely happen all the time. Yet I cannot hear them through the din of my life. I kinda miss the din already... Hopefully I will be able to block out all this extraneous noise and buckle down for the homestretch of my organic chemistry study. The exam is Tuesday. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Burnout

I'm struggling. I can see the finish line of this semester. I know I'm almost done. I'm spent. My mental energy seems to be failing me. I realized the other day that I haven't given myself time to relax. I went from a crazy Spring 2010, to Chemistry 1 in the summer, quickly followed by Chemistry 2 also in the summer. As soon as Chem 2 finished, Fall was upon me and I immediately dove into my current classes. I haven't had a week off... and it's showing. I should be pushing through with that last bit of gusto I always manage to find. This time seems different. The cupboard appears to be bare. The reserve energy is gone. I have used all my carbohydrates, spent all my adipose, and it seems I'm diving into muscle. Somehow I must find a way to plunge through. I try to remind myself that it is almost over as well as how important these next few weeks will mean to my overall transcripts. I just hope my willpower is strong enough....

Kermit's Ladyfriend

And here she is as promised. She was very sweet and accommodating. I regret that she had to go into the bio-hazard waste. Shame.

The Texas Fresh Start Program and Me

Texas has this amazing program called "The Fresh Start." This is designed for non-traditional, aka old, students who wish to pursue a degree, not be held back by sub-par performances earlier in their educational career. Any grades ten years ago or older, are wiped away. This also means that if going on to professional school, like medical school, any prerequisites that were completed over ten years ago are also wiped away and must be redone (but shouldn't they be redone anyway? Who remembers anything from ten years ago?).

In my case, I will instantaneously have a 4.0 GPA! Amazing. Well, maybe not a 4.0 because physics and I are barely on speaking terms lately, but I digress. The only problem is that one needs to apply to the college as a Fresh Start applicant. Since I just learned of this and I am already enrolled, this creates a problem. I mean, I am already enrolled in a 4 year University (more to come about this later), as well as a local 2 year College. So in my case, I will need to enroll at another institution to be able to implement this plan.

My first thought was to enroll in another 4 year University because I need to take biochemistry at some point, and my current 4 year University does not offer it. Seemed like a great plan. The problem is that I just learned the course must be completed before I apply to medical school. Well my timeline has been carefully planned. I am finishing up my prerequisites next semester with physics 2 and organic chemistry 2. I was going to take a month in the summer and study for, then take the MCAT. I was going to then apply to all the Texas medical schools, except for maybe Baylor since they do not accept the program. Well now that I must have the class completed prior to applying, I need to readjust my plans.

So I will now apply to another two year college, take physics 2 there next semester. I will take organic chemistry 2 with my current 2 year college (I already know the professor, and am comfortable with his particular nuances, and I have a scholarship so it's free). I will also take Neurobiology and Psychology Research Methods with my current 4 year institution. So basically, I will be taking classes at 3 different colleges next semester. This is just about enough to make my head spin. The crazy things premeds must endure...

Kermit has a good heart

I've never dissected anything before. In elementary school, I was supposed to dissect a frog, but unfortunately my family moved, landing me in another school - non dissecting school. Last week we dissected a worm, crayfish, and muscle. Those were mere child'splay compared to Kermit. Kermit has such interesting insides. I was able to locate everything and actually understand the basics of how it works (of course I will learn much more in the coming years). Next week comes Kermit's girlfriend. Hopefully more exciting pics to follow...

Homeostasis

The maintenance of equilibrium within a social group, person, etc. - Dictionary.com

October brought so much joy and pain. It always seems to equal out doesn't it? The good: There were three birthdays in a four day period. Hectic yes. But joyful nevertheless. My father splurged and got two of the kids kindles for their birthdays. Extravagant, but appreciated by myself as well as the kids. Halloween brings another joyful occasion. Watching the kids light up when trick or treating is something to behold. Watching them freak out when they pass that scary house that's all done up, with torturous screams emanating from within, and monsters laying in wait behind a bush (everyone knows of a house like this, and if you don't, you should). As an aside, this year we had an alien, Darth Vader, a dead hippie, and Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum (random people started taking pictures of these two goofball twins!)

As for joyfulness with school, I found out I got a B on my last organic chemistry test. Normally I would be slightly disappointed by this considering the amount of time I've put into this class, but since I had a ridiculous run of tests in a row, and considering the catastrophic feeling in the pit of my stomach upon exiting the examination room, and all week while waiting for the results, a B is extraordinary! Whew.

To balance, I found out I got a D on my physics midterm. Wow. Crushing. Admittedly I did not put forth the required time it takes to perform well. Physics is hard for me. It takes me a long time to fully grasp a given concept. I don't know why, but it does. Physics has humbled me to my core. Because I do not enjoy the subject, I do not want to study it. Because I am doing poorly, I do not want to study it. Yet I must. Fortunately I am still getting a B in the class, and the professor said he would substitute the Final Exam grade with the midterm, so there is still hope for an A actually. That seems a little weird but I will take it. I just really need to buckle down with it... but it really sucks. Did I mention that?

In addition, I know I did poorly on my last statistics exam. Again, because of time requirements of other subjects, I did not prepare properly. I think I did alright, but I will find out Saturday. I actually understand the subject, find it to be fairly easy, and love my professor whom I can only describe as "Mr. Miyagi." He is hilarious in his own weird, old man way. Because I can do the work relatively easily, I do not put much effort into it, as other classes require so much of me. I really hope this does not cost me in the end, for each grade is important.

Why can't it ALL be good news? Homeostasis sucks.

A "Normal" Day

What an amazing day. The entire family took a trip to the Texas State Fair. Everyone had a blast. The kids rode on rides, got to pet a ton of random animals like emus, ostriches, and camels, ate a bunch of unhealthy food, watched Cirque de Shanghai (amazing people), saw fireworks, watched pig races (ours won 2 out of three - WOO!) and just frolicked the night away. Tonight we put aside everything else on our agendas and were a normal family. Well, as normal as our family gets when five kids are constantly being corralled. At the end of the night, we stopped at Braum's for ice-cream. When I went to pay, I asked how much I owed for all seven of us, and the kid looked around, obviously not remembering what everyone had ordered, and said "Wow! A lot." Awesome!

I really have a bunch of studying to do, but I can't think about that now. Today was a day of fun. I will think about that tomorrow. Because, after all, tomorrow is, another day. - Scarlett

8 Days of Hardcoreness

The next eight days are crucial. After rebounding from what I hope to be a decent grade on my stats exam on Saturday, I have a monster upcoming schedule. The physics midterm is really what has my stomach in knots. Because I devoted so my time to orgo earlier in the semester, my physics preparation really took a hit. Basically it boils down to the fact that I had one week to complete half 1/4 of the semester's worth of work. While that may not seem like much, since I really can't stand the subject, learning a chapter per day is ridiculous. But I did it to myself, and if I had it to do over, I wouldn't change a thing. Because of all my hard effort in orgo, I got an A on the first test. There are only 4 exams in the semester and my professor does not drop the lowest grade. However, he does count the highest one twice. So in reality, I have an A on 2/5 of my orgo exams. Kick ass!

So back to my schedule, I've got a physics midterm on Saturday, a biology practical on Monday, and a biology lecture exam on Wednesday. Since I knew my schedule was going to be crazy hectic, I spoke with my biology lecture professor and asked if he would keep me on the class roster even if I didn't attend class. Even though the syllabus clearly states he would drop anyone if they missed more than 4 class periods, he was amenable. Nice! An extra 4 hours per week instantly freed up. Oh and I forgot, sandwiched in between the biology examinations, is another orgo exam for which I am wholly unprepared. Oops.

Well what I keep telling myself is the affirmation from below (See previous post). Somehow I know it will all work out. It always seems to doesn't it? In fact, tomorrow, since I have nothing else to do, I have/get to go to a meeting about getting inducted into another honors society. I guess it will help on the medical school application. I hope so anyway. Positivity rules the day!

Affirmation

You gain strength courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." You must do the think you think you cannot do.

- Elenor Roosevelt

There are enough hours in the day... I believe that

6:00: Oh I could hide beneath the wings, of the bluebird as he sings. The six o'clock alarm would never ring. But it rings and I rise, wipe the sleep out of my eyes. My shaving razor's cold and it stings.

6:30: I actually get out of bed after hitting the snooze button a time or two. Got the older kids ready for school minus the oldest...

7:35: Out the door after cooling off 2 fights, 5 lunches made, 4 breakfasts (one refuses the most important meal of the day, and off to school.

8:00: Arrived at destination, two towns away as to provide the best education possible for bright young minds.

8:20: Back at home getting breakfast number two for the twins, because one breakfast just isn't enough now is it?

8:30: The realization that I have no time, but I still have an orgo lab report to turn hits me - hard. I have yet to start. Class is at 7pm but lecture is at 5:30 and schedule is packed.

8:55: Seconds to second breakfast was dispersed, with dishes in sink (I'll get to them later I'm sure).

9:00: Finally begin my lab report... wow this sucks. How do I calculate percent yield again. How can I forget the basics so quickly?

9:12: "Dad, how do you do the water cycle?" "What water cycle?" "You know... like how there's a circle of life with animals?" "Uh... not really sure what you mean. Do you have instructions for your teacher?" -- Spend 30 minutes explaining precipitation, collection, evaporation, and condensation to my eldest.

9:45: Ok... back to lab

10:20: "Time to go! Everyone get your shoes on." Twins and eldest get shoes on.

10:55: Arrive at occupational therapist's office to see if they can help my eldest with his asperger's.

12:35: On my way back home to make lunch

1:15: Lunches made, and back to lab work

2:15: Ladyfriend comes home early so I can go get help with physics/stats at the math lab.

3:35: Orgo lab report finished and stats lab work finished.

5:25: Realize I still need physics help and Orgo lecture starts in 5 minutes.... time to skip class.

7:00: Orgo lab starts.

9:45: Orgo lab ends.

10:10: Back at home for dinner alone... everyone is asleep. Casserole sucks. Yankees lose... Woohoo!! Bring on the Tigers!!

11:30: After checking email, online class updates, and blog entry... thinking about going to bed... after all the 6 o'clock alarm will ring again tomorrow....

Dammit... I need to do dishes

Suck it up

I knew this journey would be difficult, but this is getting crazy. Right now I am so mentally drained, that I am struggling to force myself to stay awake and write this. In fact I need to be focusing on my Statistics class. As crazy as it is, I got a flippin "C" on my first exam in that class. This was supposed to be my easy class. I guess that's what I get for putting ZERO time or effort into it. On the bright side, I have aced two Biology exams as well as my first Organic Chemistry exam! Yay!! As an added bonus, my professor, instead of dropping the lowest test score, doubles the highest, so now I have an "A" in 2/5 of the exams. Double Yay!! Now I need to hunker down and get this Stats crap knocked out so I can focus on catching up on physics.

In other news, I will be shadowing my second doctor, also an anesthesiologist, on Monday. Supposedly this doctor is the jam. So I'm looking forward to learning a bunch and having a good time while doing it. I just need to make sure I find time to sleep. Though it makes me feel like I'm a slacker anytime I sleep or am not studying because I know my ladyfriend is busting her ass at two jobs and is exhausted as hell. I keep reminding myself that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully we both make it to the end of the tunnel before we keel over.

Pre-Exam Jitters

My first organic chemistry exam is tomorrow. I feel as though I'm ready. In fact I'm having a beer right now and watching Monday Night Football (a little extravagance I feel I deserve). As I sit here and contemplate all the things that could go wrong with tomorrow's exam, I'm trying to reassure myself that I AM prepared. I have worked my ass off for this exam. I started studying before the class even started. Yet there is still doubt. This is hard. And I don't have the crutch of multiple choice to fall back on. In fact, nearly every question requires not only an answer, but a short answer accompanying paragraph explaining why I chose the answer I did. Anyone out there looking to take organic chemistry in the future, do not take it with the department head. Tomorrow I will study a little bit; more of a glossing over everything just to make myself feel confident and then we shall see how I do in comparison to: the guy who read the entire book (organic chemistry 1 and 2) and worked all problems in the summer, the genius high school kid who doesn't need to take notes cause this is all soooo easy, the girl who does organic research, the guy who I was told to go ask a question to when my lab professor couldn't answer my question. But it should be fine. Really. I have to believe.

1st Time Shadower

The 5 am alarm had an unusual cheerfulness to it this morning; this was to be my first day to shadow a doctor - and an anesthesiologist no less. After my morning ritual, I made lunches for the monsters, washed the dishes, woke the dragons, made them waffles, got them ready for school, welcomed their grandmother who would be taking them this morning as well as watching the younger non-school age mini-me's, and waltzed out the door to see what the day would bring. What it certainly didn't bring was a copy of my TB test. DOH!! This is becoming a problem. Why am I forgetting things at the house? ((Don't answer that))

Immediately upon my arrival, I am whisked to the locker room where I changed into scrubs. Then I am introduced to the doctor I would be shadowing, and the day began. I witnessed the pre-operational procedures and operation of three cases. All three were similar, yet unique. They were all minor surgeries, but what was interesting was how all three responded differently to the medications, and how the anesthesiologist adjusted the medications accordingly. Mostly it was lighthearted fun, with questions and answers coming both ways. I think they were as excited to have me there as I was to be there, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. I also appreciated the times when things went ... not according to plan. Watching how each doctor coped with stress is people watching on steroids. Definitely a site to behold. One was as cool as the other side of the pillow, while another was snappy and condescending. It was insight into the profession - both the good and the bad. I am even more excited than I was previously about my choice in not only being a doctor, but an anesthesiologist if I am so able.

I cannot wait until my next shadowing opportunity. In fact, a different anesthesiologist said I could also follow him should I so desire. Duh! But I will need to wait a little while to give granny a break, and to catch up on my classwork... speaking of... don't I have a test manana? Oh crap!

Just Another Day in Paradise

So I had my first Biology exam of the semester last night. Because of the exam, I put my cell phone on silent. This meant that alarm didn't go off to wake me up on time this morning. Since I didn't get up on time, neither did my 5 monsters. Everyone did the crazy "I'm late for school scramble" this morning. Of course I then proceeded to lose my phone which took forever to find in between making school lunches, checking to make sure everyone brushed their teeth, got their school uniforms on, cleaned their ears, put all school essentials in their backpacks, let the dog out, rush to the car... and... crap. I locked myself out of my house. Everyone was standing in front of the car, finally ready to leave and my keys are on the kitchen counter. After breaking into my own home to retrieve the keys, I hightail it to school - being careful to dodge the fuzz since my inspection sticker is out (Saturday To Do). OMG! I just realized I've been driving for 2 days with my gas light on. Don't run out of gas. Don't run out of gas. I pull up to school right on time. They are not late today. I win! All this before 8 am.

The rest of the day includes Dora the Explorer coloring books for the 3 year old twins, organic chemistry lab report, organic chemistry prelab write-up (it's a monster this week), filling out paperwork in order to shadow an anesthesiologist tomorrow (really excited!), statistics homework and preparation for the first exam on Saturday (need to do as much as possible today since I will be shadowing for who knows how long manana). Also I'm getting behind in physics. Need to catch up soon. Maybe tomorrow. Just another day in paradise!

I Passed!

So I just passed my first test of the semester - a TB test. That's right. I'm officially Tuberculosis free. You know what that means? I get the opportunity to shadow an anesthesiologist on Friday. I get to be there. I get to watch what he does, and learn more about the position I aspire to have one day in the seemingly extremely distant future. I feel like a kid a week before Christmas. I wish it were Friday already! (Especially since I will have finished my first Bio 2 Exam) But enough about shadowing. I'm REALLY excited. Ok - Now enough.

We need more about how this TB test went down. There was no studying for this test. No note card. Just me. And the nurse. Mono a mono. Neither one of us flinching. She knew what she had to do. I knew what I had to do. As her eyes narrowed, I saw the devilish laughter in her soul as she brought the needle towards my left forearm. Oh, I heard her pleasant small talk. What a mask that hid the evil that lurked just below the surface. Suddenly she was in. She had done her part. Now it was my turn...

To gasp and pull away. Of course this brought that sinister grin to her face as she asked, "How can such a big guy be such a baby?" To which of course I was able to counter with a clearly audible whimper. I felt the swoon coming as soon as she began to plunge the who the heck knows, just beneath my skin. This caused a marble sized growth to suddenly appear before me on my body. I stared at it - as though I knew not this foreign appendage masquerading as my arm. Then her instructions... Make sure to blah blah... Scratch... Blah... Itch .... ((don't pass out)) Blah... Come back in two days.... Blah.... ((Whew. Didn't pass out.))

As I looked back over my shoulder, I spied a gaggle of the fiendish harpies no doubt discussing the poison they had inserted into my body. At least I was able to walk out of that office with my head held high. I was not deceived. I knew the terror they perpetrated. And I wanted to be on their side.

---

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a very special ladyfriend for all she does. Every time I think about how exhausted I am, and how I want to just go to bed, I think of how hard you are working to keep this group of guys fed and watered. (Yes most of the guys under this roof are growing like weeds) I feel terrible that she is working this hard, and will do my best to hold down the grade aspect of this equation and get into medical school in the not too distant future. Love ya! Peace. I'm out.

First Week of Semester Thoughts

Going into this semester, I had it in my mind would be the most difficult of all. I mean I'm taking Statistics, Biology 2 with lab, Physics with lab, and the "ultimate weed out course," Organic Chemistry with lab. After the first week I say "Is that all you got wimpy classes?" I mean really. Everyone makes these classes out to be so incredibly difficult. I think these people may be perpetrating the myth that these classes are big scary monsters - the kind that gnaw on your toes if you dangle your feet out of the covers. But in the light of day, they are just classes. They are not out to get you at all. Of course dedication to one's studies is required, but these seem immensely doable. Of course, I have only been through the first week...

Because I have nothing else to do...

I'm thinking about becoming a chemistry tutor. It looks as though I will get an A in gen chem 2. Thank you youtube.com for your invaluable service in explaining concepts! Since my fall schedule will be so light - three of my five boys will be in school; so only two will be at home. My course load at that time will consist of Statistics, Biology 2 with lab, Physics 1 with lab, and Organic Chemistry with lab and recitation. Surely I will be able to spare a few hours each week to assist those in need of general chemistry help right? I figure it may help a little on my medical school application; it will bring in a few bucks as income; but moreover, it will keep my gen chem skills sharp for the MCAT next year. This way I won't have to cram as hard as I would otherwise. I'm still mulling it over but I think this is the way to go... if there are any suggestions, let me know.

BTW... there was sarcasm when referring to my upcoming schedule as light...

The Secret of Success in Chem 2

I have struggled this summer semester with Chemistry 2. Oh how fondly I look back at how easy everything in Chemistry 1 was.... Just remember to convert everything to moles... If it were so easy now, I wouldn't need to give away the secret to Chem 2 success. To ace Chemistry 2, one must go to class, read the textbook, ask any conceptual questions in class, and do every single last calculation provided in the textbook. That's right. The key to success in Chem 2 is to work your butt off every day. Chemistry 2 is almost soul crushing... yet it's almost over. I can see the finish line and I hope I can finish it before it finishes me.

Chemistry 1 and 2 in the summer

For those willing to devote their entire life to chemistry, taking Chemistry 1 and 2 in the summer will knock out the inorganic portion quickly. But beware! Those who wish to enjoy even an iota of summer, do not attempt.

I aced Chem 1 this summer without too much stress. Sure I had to study, but all in all it wasn't more than I could handle. Chem 2 is a bit of a different animal. I'm really struggling to get an A in this class. Part of my problem was missing 2 days of class (the equivalent of 2 weeks in a "normal" class due to a death in the family), but I do not seem to be able to catch myself up on the concepts.

I have an exam coming Monday. This will be the determining factor of whether or not my run of straight A's in class since returning to school continues, or comes to an abrupt end. Well, I guess I better stop procrastinating, and get to understanding more about chemical equilibrium.

Hello World

Sometimes I sit here and wonder, "What the hell am I doing? Why am I back in school sitting next to a bunch of kids?" Then I think about the end goal... To be a doctor.

Being a doctor has a certain ring to it doesn't it? Even a brand new doctor, fresh out of the box toting his or her shiny new stethoscope has earned a certain level of respect and admiration from patients, friends, family, and peers. The money is certainly there, and I've heard of people doing it solely for the money. In my opinion, four years of undergraduate work, plus four years of medical school, then residency... There must be an easier way if all you want to do is earn a buck. No, it's not for the money (though it will allow my family and I to live comfortably).

I've always known I was smart. However, I never really applied myself in school. Sure I worked hard in athletics. That was cool (even though I was a mediocre basketball player). I really applied myself when it came to girls. I mean, didn't everyone?! But to really buckle down and work at school... Why? I never saw the point. I was directionless. And my grades showed it.

I won't bore you with my life history now. Just understand that for the first time in my life I have found my direction. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be a doctor, and a damn good one. I am working hard every day toward that end, and will continue to do so until I have reached my goal. Then I'm sure I will work just as hard on my next goal. Finding that inspiration I had lacked is fulfilling in and of itself. If you too have found that calling, I say to you BRAVO! I feel you. I understand you. And good luck - for it will be a long and bumpy ride.