Unwanted vacation.

It's August everyone! It feels like this summer has been quicker than summers of years past. This could be due to the fact that I have been on vacation for almost the entire month of July or because I start school about a month earlier than I would have at Central. Unfortunately, the summer is coming to a close and I wish that I could have a few more days at home. As Five for Fighting states, "it's not easy to be me."

The other day I got a text from my sister that said something along the lines of "You need to take grandad to the doctor." So John and myself went down the street, picked him up, and were on our way to the doctor's office within minutes. My grandad was complaining of stomach pains (indigestion is what I initially thought it was), but he isn't the kind of man to go to the doctor willingly. He hadn't been to see a doctor in years. He isn't on any supplements and still smokes like a smoldering chimney. After my sister texted me to go see him, I myself developed a strange feeling. It was a feeling of uneasiness not in my stomach, but in my mind. I will admit, the thought of potentially losing my grandad came into my head as we were driving to the doctor and naturally, I teared up. I wouldn't be ready for him to leave us if he suddenly passed. I'd be a wreck going to school in just a week's time. On the way to the doctor's office, he said his pain subsided. By the time he talked with the doctor, the pain was gone. I don't know what it was (mostly like just some bad reaction to what he had eaten that day), but my mind wandered to a place that I would like not like to visit anytime soon.

This little episode reminded me to cherish the time you have with your loved ones, especially the ones whom you may not see often (such as grandparents). You don't know how much longer they are going to be around for; therefore, you should see them as often as you can. Cherish the times you are with them, even if it is as simple as going to lunch. You may not realize it then, but looking back, you will wish you had more lunch dates with them.

Take care,

NT

Finito.

Throughout the last few days, I have been filled with a variety of emotions. This could be due to an imbalance of the dozens of hormones in my body or more likely due to the fact that I finished school two weeks ago. After high school, most hard-working students (or ones with slight ambition) are thrilled to become immersed in the college scene. As college graduation crept with each passing exam and lab report, an epiphany struck me. By the time I was walking down the ramp at commencement, I would be approximately halfway done with my college career. As students were getting ready to empty their bank accounts in order to pay for the copious amounts of alcohol that they would be consuming during finals week, I was still thinking about my next academic venture.  

The most annoying question graduating college seniors get during their last quarter/semester of school is "Do you have any plans after graduation?" If I had a dollar for every time I got asked that, I could probably afford a Ferrari with some fancy wheels and extravagant accessories. Nonetheless, I knew where I would be going (WSU), but as far as deciding what I will be studying for the rest of my academic/professional life? That decision is still making me weary. What if the field I want to go into doesn't provide a lot of job prospects? My worst fear is completing this degree and getting screwed because there aren't jobs related to my field. My options look like this:

Option 1. Organic. I love organic chemistry. I am knowledgable at it and I have gained invaluable research experience while being in Dr. Fabry's lab. I have helped students pass organic and some students have even told me that without my help, they probably would have failed. My only concerns with going into organic chemistry is that you can't be "just an organic chemist." The jobs out there for organic chemists are slowly going down due the fall of the pharmaceutical companies. Organic chemists can be hired else where, but I don't know where that someplace is. 

Option 2. Inorganic. HUH?!?! This is not a typo. Based solely on the names of the two options, it's like going from one extreme to another. Inorganic is slightly misleading because the field I would like to go into (organometallic chemistry) falls under inorganic, it is like organic's 2nd cousin (related by blood, but doesn't really get invited to the family reunions). Organometallic chemistry has been ever increasing in popularity over the last decade. Its versatile applicability is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing due to it being a relatively-new field of study, while on the contrary, it is a curse for that very same logic.

All I know for certain is that I will have a lot of time to decide my future (in these next six months). Graduate school will be an ever-changing experience for myself and I know that whatever path I take, it will lead me to a successful career as a scientist.  

Have a nice day everyone!

NT

Spring Break!

Good evening everyone!

This past week was a week full of firsts for myself.

1. The first time ever being to Texas.
The great state of Texas. Home to amazing BBQ, ten-gallon hats and great Southern hospitality. Jacob (my travel partner) and I flew into Texas on tuesday evening. The weather was around 80 degrees, which was a nice change of pace compared to Ellensburg weather. We had two people on our shuttle to our hotel that were traveling from Alaska where they had been in negative 50 degree weather. Quite the temperature change if you ask me! Throughout our stay in Texas, we had the pleasure of enjoying some great food including some authentic Texas BBQ. We split a pound and a half plate of BBQ deliciousness including smoked turkey, brisket, chicken, pork, and sausage. Of course the real reason we were traveling to Texas was to attend the 247th National American Chemical Society Exposition, which leads me...

2. The first time attending a conference.    
As a young scientist, the opportunity to attend a conference of this caliber was AMAZING! It was like I was Charlie walking into the Chocolate room in the Wonka factory; simply awe struck seeing everyone and what work they have been doing. Throughout the five days of the conference, there was hundreds of presentations, given by undergrad's, graduate students, professors, and industrial companies alike. In addition to all of the talks, there were a plethora of poster presentations where you could walk around and see the hundreds of posters that people brought to talk about (including myself), which leads me...

3. The first time presenting research.   
I was super nervous before the poster session! I knew that I would have to talk with chemistry experts, let alone people who are experts in boron chemistry (which is what I do). I even studied before my presentation, reading my advisor's dissertation and my lab-mate's thesis whom worked on similar projects related to my poster and I was STILL nervous. After the first few inquisitive people, I started to get the used to the types of question they would ask. My favorite question was "Tell me your life story." That translates to "Tell me everything on your poster and make me interested in the research that your group is conducting."

Nonetheless, I had a blast at the ACS conference and I am excited to attend more conferences as a future graduate student.

Don't forget, there is always time for TrashTalk

NT

P.S. I have heard back from all of my schools and I decided that I will be attending Washington State University in the fall! GO COUGS!

Quick Update!

Hello everyone!

Words of wisdom from someone who has taken several upper-division chemistry courses (that are NOT required by his degree)... don't take them!!

Haha. I say that with some slight hatred at the moment because I feel like my lungs are being crushed by the sheer workload of those courses (and all my other classes/commitments). Don't get me wrong, I have learned a ton of material that I would not have had the privilege of learning if I had not taken those courses, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.

I digress. So far I have heard back from two of my six graduate school selections (University of Michigan and Penn State) and unfortunately, they both decided that they would not like my admittance in their doctoral programs :/

I still have yet to here back from my other four schools and I hope that I can become accepted to at least one of them! If not, my chances of landing at CWU are getting increasingly larger by the minute.

Keep it real everyone and always save time for a little TrashTalk.

NT