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| Another semester has come to a close, and with it, all of my classes are complete. I finished the class portion of my UA career with a 3.425. Pretty good I think. Now I only have to complete my oral exam (April 22, 2008 at 2:00pm), my seminar, which will occurr in the 08-09 school year, and my dissertation, which I hope to have done in the 2010-2011 school year. Almost there! (not really). It has been a strange semester and a good one. I have a really good relationship with my gf, friends, and family. I really desire to know God more, sometimes I suck at being proactive in that, but I know he loves me. This semester has also been strange as it was transitionary. I took only two classes, so my focus has begun to shift toward research, and next semester it will be my sole responsibilty. I want to accomplish a lot, and I plan to work hard, get up earlier, and stop mentally reminding my self to do things like workout and play the guitar, and actually do them. 2007 has been a fantastic year. Chemical Separations: B- Advances in Drug and Gene Therapy Delivery Systems: A | | |
| I don't care much for xanga...but I'm bored.
This semester is turning out to be amazing. I thought I was going to run myself ragged with all the things I signed up for, but each of them is so rewarding I don't have a chance to feel that way. Also, they all point me back to God, so its nice to have things that are constant reminders of that in my life. With Reach Akron, small groups, Jr. High band, CF, Jr. High group, and Illuminate, I felt like I maybe had too much, but maybe I'm the kind of person who works best with a full load.
Also, I was talking with a friend, and he helped me to notice that I'm at a time in my life like no other, I can do ALL of that because I don't have a wife, children, a demanding job (I'm working 35-40hrs but I love what I do, and it isn't draining) so I am choosing to relish in these opportunities, and I guess attitude really affects resilience.
Other than that...let's see. I got to use the liquid N2 faucet today. Maybe sounds lame to you, but with all the fog flying around I felt like I had daydreamed my way onto the set of spinal tap. Research is going well, having a lot of fun just chillin', meeting new people. Kinda still need a job one day a week...my goal is to have that by the end of the semester. Still poised to finish the whole Bible this year, on track with the reading (except in the OT). I dunno...life is sweet, never perfect, always fighting myself on a lot of stuff, but things a sweet. Oh, and if someone besides my parents read this, I apologize, rereading this I feel like I'm bragging a little, but who cares what I say on Xanga (though my mom is convinced the CIA checks this site twice daily).
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| I've decided I'm going to take some time after I get my PhD and travel...other continents, even if it's by myself, but hopefully some type of missions. No idea what that looks like, but I'm starting to feel trapped in my career, and I'm too young to feel like that. Oh, and I'm not teaching this year, and probably not again as a doctoral student as I've been made an Research assnt. instead of a Teaching Assnt. same money and stuff, but no teaching. What else...last two classes ever this semester. I'm signed up for "Spectral Methods" and "Chemical Separations" but I think I am going to take "Advanced Drug and Gene Therapy Delivery Systems" instead of the former, but it's in the Miomedical engineering Dept. so we'll see if it pans out. | | |
| I've got a few moments. May as well update you on my summer in handy bullet-point form.
- Research is going well, synthesized and purified one peptide, and am working on two more. Also my microbiology work has been going swimmingly as well, and I should be nearing completion on the project.
- I was given an undergrad to instruct from Brown, nice guy, a little quiet, but he was a help for the month he was here, and I'm sure he learned something as well.
- Teaching O. Chem II is by far the easiest teaching endeavor yet, just supervision and answering questions.
- I've become involved in leading worship both for the Chapel's Jr. High in Green and Sunday mornings at Catalyst. It's great to finally preform again as well as use my God given talents, and I love worship, I just wish I felt a little more worthy to give it sometimes
- Spiritually things are well, always struggling with sin, that's a given, and when I'm sticking to my guns and spending ample time with God things are great, and they are less than that when I am not. Still on track to read all of Scripture this year.
- No soccer, : ( . A few pick up games, but the league fell through, there's always next season
- Started dating this pretty sweet girl named Rachel
- Garden is growing well, and peas and beans are already out (though not ripe yet, and unripe peas are pretty nasty)
- Really improving on the guitar as I am forced to play a lot for worship. I'm still surrounded by people better than me, but I try to be the type where that is something that spurs me on and is not a discouragement.
- Went to Toledo, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Alive!, and Cedar Point (2x) so far. That's all the traveling I had planned anyways, maybe one more trip to Columbus could happen still.
- That's all that happened so far this summer I think, still looking forward to people coming back to school as well as my 22nd birthday on the 18th of August (a Saturday).
- Hope your summer has been sweet as well. Peace.
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| Well its that time again, I got my spring student evaluations from teaching Qualitative Analysis, and I have to say I really enjoyed them. Not only did they let me know I may be improving as a teacher, but there was actually some good advice in there (if you take into account some of what is said is just a student being angry at the course/their grade).
Excellent: 4
Very Good: 9
Good: 5
Fair: 1
Poor: 1
I averaged a "Very good" or a 4/5.
Generally the piece of advice that seems to be the best out of the comments was that I could prepare more for lab as some people felt I had to search a bit when answering questions. There is some truth to that, I could have done more to prepare for the lab. I would read the lab before hand, but just quickly breeze through it, and I know it would benefit my students more to know it better myself. As a caveat, some questions I cannot prepare for and, as this was my first time teaching this course, I feel I answered questions pretty well (always room for improvement though)
Also, I been wondering what's best, to be friendly and down to earth with the students or to be a more authoritative teacher, and I have to say that being friendly and approachable (even almost buddyish) with students seems to facilitate their learning better as they are not afraid to ask questions and mess up. This is at least true in the "Lab TA" setting, I wonder how it will be in a more lecture-based role. I hope God might have that in store for me.
Good week, I'm getting a lot done here in the lab, but I hope the SE Asia team gets back soon. What a beautiful day...wish I was outside.
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