So, I've been thinking on some things lately and some stuff I've been told and have realized that the focus this country (perhaps even the whole world) possesses is down right ridiculous. It needs to change if we want to be better people.
Take a moment to think back on your school career. Who taught you how to read? How to write? How to do math? How to perform chemical reactions? I can guarantee your parents didn't teach you all of those things. It was your teachers and professors. These people who dedicate their lives day in and day out to pass on the knowledge they hold. They are the ones who taught you the majority of what you know. Yet, do we thank them for it? Sure, maybe you write them an email later in life saying thanks, or you give them an apple on the first day of school. But, let's look at it from this angle.
Say you become a doctor. Once you become well known, you can easily make a six figure income. Easily. Same with a lawyer. Want to enter in on intelligent property (basically protecting copyright and trademark sorts of things), you can even make 1.5 MILLION dollars a year. Now that you know the high end jobs, let's look at your professor.
Your professor has been at the university a number of years. They only lecture. They get EXCITED about a job at some public school that could have gotten them 39k a year. Obviously, you're looking at a person who doesn't even make that. Let's look at your dean. I figured a dean at UT would be making at least 200k or so, driving around in a new BMW or Mercedes, and owning a huge fancy house. I don't have an exact number for how much a dean makes, but if they drive an old minivan, I highly doubt it's anywhere near 200k.
What I'm getting at is this. People only teach because they have a huge passion for the material and love to work with students. Anyone doing it for the money is plain out of their minds. But why is it that we place the teacher income salary so low when they are the foundation of everything? We place so little importance on education. We'd rather fund wars, off-shore jobs, and dump money into beautifying the world. Why don't we re-route some of that money and put it where it matters? After a while, people will stop caring. Teachers won't put effort into their jobs. And then, what remains of our education system dies.
Alright, President Powers wants to launch a $3 billion initiative to make UT the number one public university in the nation (maybe even the world...I'm not sure exactly how far his goal lies). But, from what I've read, that money would go into building better buildings and facilities and would go towards funding of more research. If you want the best university, not just public, but THE best university, you need the best professors, the best researchers, the best students. So, you're a public university. You fought the Top 10% Rule once and lost. Maybe you can't get purely the best students. But, if you increase the amount you offer to professors, or the potential for raises, you attract the better professors. They go where the money takes them. And at a time when the economy plain sucks, the money is going to do all the talking.
I want to see my college, the College of Natural Sciences at UT, be the best college. I don't want us to say "Yeah, we have a Nobel winner in physics and a decent chem/biochem department." No, I want us to say "We have several Nobel laureates across all the science and math disciplines and the best math and science departments of all universities in America." No where does it say we can't be better than Harvard. I know we can. We just need to refocus our attitudes and get things done.
Alas, I must get back to my studies. At the very least, I can allow a professor the comfort of knowing that there is one student who cares enough to do what they can and attribute their successes to all that have taught her over the years. Farewell everyone and retain your focus as this wonderful year finds a quick close.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Something More Cheerful
Let me focus on something more stimulating and less depressing.
I have to head to class, so I don't have time to write something more uplifting. But, let us stay positive and make our time go by peacefully. Hold onto the good memories, make the best of every situation, even if it isn't ideal. Carpe diem. I'll have more another time. Have a good day and thanks for stopping by.
I have to head to class, so I don't have time to write something more uplifting. But, let us stay positive and make our time go by peacefully. Hold onto the good memories, make the best of every situation, even if it isn't ideal. Carpe diem. I'll have more another time. Have a good day and thanks for stopping by.
The Acceptance of Death
I don't mean to turn this into a morbid posting. I'm not feeling too well myself and my voice keeps going in and out on me. I also feel somewhat physically weak. But no, I'm not dying. I just find myself thinking upon the subject from time to time.
How are we able to come to terms with the fact that one day we will cease to live, breathe, and exist? What does it feel like? Sure, one can argue each of their own religious beliefs versus there being a blank nothingness. Either way I look at it, I can't accept a bright future of paradise, nor can I come to terms with a blackness that never ends, no heaven or hell. It's all so surreal no matter how I analyze it.
The mechanics aside, how can we deal with not being around anymore? Much of the time, I throw myself into a very large turmoil of emotions when I consider such notions as "Will anyone remember me?" or "Who will be at my funeral?" It's hard to imagine any of these outcomes. Oddly, I don't fixate upon when or how I will die. I can imagine being shot randomly and the associated fears that accompany that. But, who really knows what will happen? (a rhetorical question)
Currently, yes, I want to live forever. I don't want to experience this condemned sentence of death. But, I thought about it some more. Sure, I'm almost twenty. And yeah, it felt like I was going to elementary school for the first time a few days ago. But, say I live to be one hundred years old. That's eighty years to go. When I see it that way, I just want to get things over with. I can't imagine doing the same thing for a few hours...what about living for another eighty years!?
Maybe the acceptance of death comes with age. As a youth, you don't want time to continue on. You want to be young forever and resist most changes. But, they happen. Then, you get to be old and you just want things to hurry up and run their course. You accept it more and see that your life is coming to its final chapter.
I don't even like thinking about getting old. I like my appearance now (overall) and don't want to imagine the wrinkles and gray hair that will eventually come. In fact, that's rather depressing to contemplate. And let us not forget. I'm learning so much right now, but memories fade. Why put so much effort into something I won't remember in a few years from now? How will calculus really and truly matter in my life? Or psychology? Or any of that? It won't, really.
Alas, I find myself getting into a crabby mood. I better walk away from this discussion before it dampens my day even more so. Farewell all.
How are we able to come to terms with the fact that one day we will cease to live, breathe, and exist? What does it feel like? Sure, one can argue each of their own religious beliefs versus there being a blank nothingness. Either way I look at it, I can't accept a bright future of paradise, nor can I come to terms with a blackness that never ends, no heaven or hell. It's all so surreal no matter how I analyze it.
The mechanics aside, how can we deal with not being around anymore? Much of the time, I throw myself into a very large turmoil of emotions when I consider such notions as "Will anyone remember me?" or "Who will be at my funeral?" It's hard to imagine any of these outcomes. Oddly, I don't fixate upon when or how I will die. I can imagine being shot randomly and the associated fears that accompany that. But, who really knows what will happen? (a rhetorical question)
Currently, yes, I want to live forever. I don't want to experience this condemned sentence of death. But, I thought about it some more. Sure, I'm almost twenty. And yeah, it felt like I was going to elementary school for the first time a few days ago. But, say I live to be one hundred years old. That's eighty years to go. When I see it that way, I just want to get things over with. I can't imagine doing the same thing for a few hours...what about living for another eighty years!?
Maybe the acceptance of death comes with age. As a youth, you don't want time to continue on. You want to be young forever and resist most changes. But, they happen. Then, you get to be old and you just want things to hurry up and run their course. You accept it more and see that your life is coming to its final chapter.
I don't even like thinking about getting old. I like my appearance now (overall) and don't want to imagine the wrinkles and gray hair that will eventually come. In fact, that's rather depressing to contemplate. And let us not forget. I'm learning so much right now, but memories fade. Why put so much effort into something I won't remember in a few years from now? How will calculus really and truly matter in my life? Or psychology? Or any of that? It won't, really.
Alas, I find myself getting into a crabby mood. I better walk away from this discussion before it dampens my day even more so. Farewell all.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Thought Provoking...
Last night, Natural Sciences Council hosted its bi-annual Town Hall Meeting which featured Dean Reichle and Dr. Iverson. One issue that we brought up dealt with majors. In the realm of biology, there are something like eight different majors to choose from complete with their own specializations and so on. Yet, in chemistry, there is only the chemistry option (and sure, I think a computational and teaching approach exist, but that's different). Why do we not have an organic chemistry option, or analytical, or even physical?
As Dr. Iverson put it, the expanse of knowledge we posses doubles (yes, doubles) every ten years. So, take everything we know right now, and in 2018 it will be double. That is impressive! But, it also posses a major challenge. Everyone needs to take a certain amount of core knowledge courses to be prepared for any career path they may explore. But, the knowledge of chemical processes, for instance, has expanded so much that we're at a point of asking "What exactly is core knowledge?" And sure, one could argue that their field is core knowledge, but others can very well argue against that.
But, the question can turn around and run the opposite way. Why then are there eight different biology majors to choose from? Surely the field of biology is also expanded along this exponential curve?
We then touched on the question of minors, but it was deemed a more appropriate question for Dean Laude, who could not make it. From what I've heard on his stance, Dr. Laude views minors as nothing more than another specialization. With the policies of the university as they are, why not just dual major in this case? So, we don't have minors, but we do allow for dual degrees. It's a sort of odd give and take, but I find myself agreeing with his logic. The requirements for a minor (if they'd be offered) and a second degree are much the same. So, just get the second degree and get it over with. There's no need to call something by a different name if it's the same thing.
The rest of the meeting ran smoothly. Most concerns did center around courses and research (to be expected at a university much like UT).
Unfortunately, I lack further astute observations to make this random musings entry more fulfilling. I shall leave off here for the time being. Off to the lab I shall go where the endless fields of research await. Until another time, have a good day and farewell.
As Dr. Iverson put it, the expanse of knowledge we posses doubles (yes, doubles) every ten years. So, take everything we know right now, and in 2018 it will be double. That is impressive! But, it also posses a major challenge. Everyone needs to take a certain amount of core knowledge courses to be prepared for any career path they may explore. But, the knowledge of chemical processes, for instance, has expanded so much that we're at a point of asking "What exactly is core knowledge?" And sure, one could argue that their field is core knowledge, but others can very well argue against that.
But, the question can turn around and run the opposite way. Why then are there eight different biology majors to choose from? Surely the field of biology is also expanded along this exponential curve?
We then touched on the question of minors, but it was deemed a more appropriate question for Dean Laude, who could not make it. From what I've heard on his stance, Dr. Laude views minors as nothing more than another specialization. With the policies of the university as they are, why not just dual major in this case? So, we don't have minors, but we do allow for dual degrees. It's a sort of odd give and take, but I find myself agreeing with his logic. The requirements for a minor (if they'd be offered) and a second degree are much the same. So, just get the second degree and get it over with. There's no need to call something by a different name if it's the same thing.
The rest of the meeting ran smoothly. Most concerns did center around courses and research (to be expected at a university much like UT).
Unfortunately, I lack further astute observations to make this random musings entry more fulfilling. I shall leave off here for the time being. Off to the lab I shall go where the endless fields of research await. Until another time, have a good day and farewell.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Registration...
...is a major pain. My registration period opened up today and I am only officially registered for four hours (the next semester of o chem and the physics lab). I am on two wait lists (one for an o chem lab and one for cell biology). The actual physics class is closed and looks hopeless currently. It's a tad bit ridiculous this whole registration mess. But, what can anyone do about it? Not much.
It's difficult knowing what you need to do but not being able to do it. It's also disappointing that you can let a class slide and not care about it simply because you're pass/failing it. I didn't study at all for my medical terminology quiz. I probably bombed it really bad. And sadly, I really could care less at this moment in time. I still need to do my o chem homework that is due at 3pm. I'll do it during work today.
Let us discuss something intellectual. I'm tired of reading snippets of blogs that focus on irrational thoughts and the endless barrage of annoyances in a single day. So, I'm going to ramble on about the effects of "staying positive."
Dr. Laude is a genius, to say the least. Sure, he pokes fun at himself for not going to med school, failing out of his first grad school, and so on. But this man is truly wise beyond the pure definition of the word. That said, he talked to the Emerging Scholars students a couple weeks ago and ended with a very astute notion. So many people (myself greatly included) try to control every single event of their lives, every day. And when one thing turns away from this predisposed plan, the day lies in ruin and a feeling of distress sets in. Instead, Dr. Laude proposed this situation: say you run into twenty four people. Twenty four independent collisions. Instead of focusing on the several opportunities for misfortune in each of these twenty-four collisions, why not draw upon twenty-four rewarding experiences. As a result, your day ends with twenty-four positive encounters and your life runs smoother. We can only control so much of our lives before they depend on someone else.
For example. That job you want. Sure, you can get great grades, be the star of a team, lead every major organization on campus, etc. But, ultimately, the person who decides your fate is the one doing the hiring. They can say yes or no and don't have to explain why. Sure, not getting the job is painful, but you went through the experience of defeat. Now use it to motivate you for the next interview.
I know, wishful thinking, of course. It's almost human nature to focus on the bad rather than look for the good. After all, we are constantly surrounded by bad entities, so locating them is easy. Why don't we try to find the good in people as opposed to fixating on the wrong? Maybe half the world's problems would disappear if people would just take a step back from the situation and look at it like this. But, once again, wishful thinking for a Utopian society.
I may have more to detail about my day later on. It is time I focus on o chem and complete my homework. I need to find the good in my job and perform better there. If I have any hopes of ever being an undergraduate TA, I need to treat this job like it's my only ticket in. As the morning hours come to a succinct close, I bid the masses farewell and good day.
It's difficult knowing what you need to do but not being able to do it. It's also disappointing that you can let a class slide and not care about it simply because you're pass/failing it. I didn't study at all for my medical terminology quiz. I probably bombed it really bad. And sadly, I really could care less at this moment in time. I still need to do my o chem homework that is due at 3pm. I'll do it during work today.
Let us discuss something intellectual. I'm tired of reading snippets of blogs that focus on irrational thoughts and the endless barrage of annoyances in a single day. So, I'm going to ramble on about the effects of "staying positive."
Dr. Laude is a genius, to say the least. Sure, he pokes fun at himself for not going to med school, failing out of his first grad school, and so on. But this man is truly wise beyond the pure definition of the word. That said, he talked to the Emerging Scholars students a couple weeks ago and ended with a very astute notion. So many people (myself greatly included) try to control every single event of their lives, every day. And when one thing turns away from this predisposed plan, the day lies in ruin and a feeling of distress sets in. Instead, Dr. Laude proposed this situation: say you run into twenty four people. Twenty four independent collisions. Instead of focusing on the several opportunities for misfortune in each of these twenty-four collisions, why not draw upon twenty-four rewarding experiences. As a result, your day ends with twenty-four positive encounters and your life runs smoother. We can only control so much of our lives before they depend on someone else.
For example. That job you want. Sure, you can get great grades, be the star of a team, lead every major organization on campus, etc. But, ultimately, the person who decides your fate is the one doing the hiring. They can say yes or no and don't have to explain why. Sure, not getting the job is painful, but you went through the experience of defeat. Now use it to motivate you for the next interview.
I know, wishful thinking, of course. It's almost human nature to focus on the bad rather than look for the good. After all, we are constantly surrounded by bad entities, so locating them is easy. Why don't we try to find the good in people as opposed to fixating on the wrong? Maybe half the world's problems would disappear if people would just take a step back from the situation and look at it like this. But, once again, wishful thinking for a Utopian society.
I may have more to detail about my day later on. It is time I focus on o chem and complete my homework. I need to find the good in my job and perform better there. If I have any hopes of ever being an undergraduate TA, I need to treat this job like it's my only ticket in. As the morning hours come to a succinct close, I bid the masses farewell and good day.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Fresh Start
I spy a new blog!
My Facebook gets littered with several notes, of which most are deleted shortly after creation. So, as a bit of a creative outlet, I'm starting up a new blogger. I have one already for some poetry I wrote, but that one is pretty dead. So it goes.
So what's this "random musings" thing I speak of? Well, I'm not the genius behind it. All namesake goes to professor and dean within the College of Natural Sciences at UT, Dr. Laude. Every week he writes out a random musings for his chemistry students which details pertinent information for the week and other random oddities, such as the fabled poetry corner. So, to spread the amazingness of these random musings, I continue them. Except, mine are probably less chemistry related and slightly more random. Once again, so it goes.
Where to begin on such a bleak evening? Daylight savings time is upon us and I find myself going to work at night. That was the nice thing before this time change - I went to work as the sun was in the process of going down, not when it was fully down for the count! But, with the coming of daylight savings, a reminder utters forth that winter is on its way. I don't understand why I love winter so much. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I only get to endure the colder temperatures (mind you, mid-30s is about as low as it gets in Texas) for about a week before it's right back to shorts and t-shirt weather. Texas is so bi-polar it doesn't even eye the line of hilarity.
Tomorrow will be an insanely busy day for me. I have a quiz at 8am in medical terminology, I need to register for classes (assuming any are still open...this is beyond ridiculous), I have a meeting with a former research adviser, class at random intervals, work, a meeting at 5 followed by a related meeting at 6, physics homework due, and o chem homework due. Intense, to say the very least.
What avenue should I venture down next? It never truly hit on me that I probably shouldn't have accounts to these sorts of things. After all, I work, and I have student mentees. Who knows what sorts of black mail opportunities could arise from the senseless jargon I type here. Then again, searching my name doesn't give you much anyways...except a lengthy list of links that will detail several cross country or track meet results from my time in high school...or any of a select few links that will discuss my highlights in high school leading up to me being ranked as second in the class. My how those were the days.
Is there anything meaningful to discuss at this peculiar hour of the night? I could talk about fluids and how the physics versus chemical side of them aren't adding up right now. Based on some mathematical formulas we have been given, it would seem that an object's ability to float on some fluid has nothing to do with the density of that fluid. But, if we go back to chemistry, we know it does. After all, ants can float/walk on water, but they can't do the same on liquid nitrogen (really low temperatures aside). And we can talk about the intermolecular forces that are at work and say this is due to the weak instantaneous dipole interactions found in liquid nitrogen molecules (which posses less than 1 kJ/mol of energy in those bonds) versus the hydrogen bonding of water molecules (which each have around 20 kJ/mol of energy stored up). Alas, why is it that chemistry and physics can never get along? Was it because Schrodinger and crew had to completely kill classical physics with their black body radiator ideas and this whole Particle/Wave Duality mess? Alas, if only everything was like chemistry. The world would be a much better place.
And, now is a better time than most. Being a part-time biologist (I'm also a biochemist...leaning more towards being a chemist), I'm offended at the laziness many biologists posses. For example, I'm currently conducting research on a particular protein. Though, no one mentioned the fact that there are at least two proteins that go by the exact same name! Why can't we be like the chemists? Every single compound has its own unique name. If nothing else, we can still distinguish molecules based on R/S or E/Z configurations, cis versus trans, Markovnikov regioselectivity or non, carbocations versus carboanions versus radicals, and so much more. I should probably end this tirade here before I completely convince myself to stop being a biologist.
It's interesting how one class can seemingly change your life. I used to hate chemistry. I never wanted to hear that word in any context. Ever. I would literally shudder anytime I heard it. And now, after freshman chemistry, I love the stuff so much. If there were more avenues with it, I'd probably be a chemistry major right now. Absolutely amazing.
Alas, I'll have words of wisdom or something when next I write. It's late and I should be sleeping instead of musing. Until another time, I bid the hoi polloi farewell and good night.
My Facebook gets littered with several notes, of which most are deleted shortly after creation. So, as a bit of a creative outlet, I'm starting up a new blogger. I have one already for some poetry I wrote, but that one is pretty dead. So it goes.
So what's this "random musings" thing I speak of? Well, I'm not the genius behind it. All namesake goes to professor and dean within the College of Natural Sciences at UT, Dr. Laude. Every week he writes out a random musings for his chemistry students which details pertinent information for the week and other random oddities, such as the fabled poetry corner. So, to spread the amazingness of these random musings, I continue them. Except, mine are probably less chemistry related and slightly more random. Once again, so it goes.
Where to begin on such a bleak evening? Daylight savings time is upon us and I find myself going to work at night. That was the nice thing before this time change - I went to work as the sun was in the process of going down, not when it was fully down for the count! But, with the coming of daylight savings, a reminder utters forth that winter is on its way. I don't understand why I love winter so much. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I only get to endure the colder temperatures (mind you, mid-30s is about as low as it gets in Texas) for about a week before it's right back to shorts and t-shirt weather. Texas is so bi-polar it doesn't even eye the line of hilarity.
Tomorrow will be an insanely busy day for me. I have a quiz at 8am in medical terminology, I need to register for classes (assuming any are still open...this is beyond ridiculous), I have a meeting with a former research adviser, class at random intervals, work, a meeting at 5 followed by a related meeting at 6, physics homework due, and o chem homework due. Intense, to say the very least.
What avenue should I venture down next? It never truly hit on me that I probably shouldn't have accounts to these sorts of things. After all, I work, and I have student mentees. Who knows what sorts of black mail opportunities could arise from the senseless jargon I type here. Then again, searching my name doesn't give you much anyways...except a lengthy list of links that will detail several cross country or track meet results from my time in high school...or any of a select few links that will discuss my highlights in high school leading up to me being ranked as second in the class. My how those were the days.
Is there anything meaningful to discuss at this peculiar hour of the night? I could talk about fluids and how the physics versus chemical side of them aren't adding up right now. Based on some mathematical formulas we have been given, it would seem that an object's ability to float on some fluid has nothing to do with the density of that fluid. But, if we go back to chemistry, we know it does. After all, ants can float/walk on water, but they can't do the same on liquid nitrogen (really low temperatures aside). And we can talk about the intermolecular forces that are at work and say this is due to the weak instantaneous dipole interactions found in liquid nitrogen molecules (which posses less than 1 kJ/mol of energy in those bonds) versus the hydrogen bonding of water molecules (which each have around 20 kJ/mol of energy stored up). Alas, why is it that chemistry and physics can never get along? Was it because Schrodinger and crew had to completely kill classical physics with their black body radiator ideas and this whole Particle/Wave Duality mess? Alas, if only everything was like chemistry. The world would be a much better place.
And, now is a better time than most. Being a part-time biologist (I'm also a biochemist...leaning more towards being a chemist), I'm offended at the laziness many biologists posses. For example, I'm currently conducting research on a particular protein. Though, no one mentioned the fact that there are at least two proteins that go by the exact same name! Why can't we be like the chemists? Every single compound has its own unique name. If nothing else, we can still distinguish molecules based on R/S or E/Z configurations, cis versus trans, Markovnikov regioselectivity or non, carbocations versus carboanions versus radicals, and so much more. I should probably end this tirade here before I completely convince myself to stop being a biologist.
It's interesting how one class can seemingly change your life. I used to hate chemistry. I never wanted to hear that word in any context. Ever. I would literally shudder anytime I heard it. And now, after freshman chemistry, I love the stuff so much. If there were more avenues with it, I'd probably be a chemistry major right now. Absolutely amazing.
Alas, I'll have words of wisdom or something when next I write. It's late and I should be sleeping instead of musing. Until another time, I bid the hoi polloi farewell and good night.
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