Update!

Wow! It has been almost two years since I have written a post (seems like quite a while).
As I am sitting here on the morning of my 25th birthday, its times like this where I do my most "deep" or philosophical thinking. Or maybe this is the result of drinking two cups of tea at 10:30pm while watching USA kick butt in the early stages of the Olympics (Go Kerry!!!).

Nonetheless, my life has changed significantly over the last two years. First off, I proposed to my amazing girlfriend back in May and we are going to be getting married in July of 2017. Second, I have "survived" my first two years of graduate school and I am leaning towards getting my Master's degree, rather than continuing on to my Ph.D. My switch in mindset is really making me reevaluate my life. I feel like I am in a never-ending mid-life crisis (HOORAY...). One thing I do know is that I love to teach and I know what I will pursue something in education (like I was doing during undergrad). The one thing I am concerned about is what my mom will have to say about my decision to leave graduate school. I don't know if she will be super disappointed in me or proud for making my own choices. I'll have to see.

Other than being another year old (technically not till 11:55pm EST), I don't really feel much different than yesterday. I know this year is going to bring some huge changes in my life and I can't wait to see how everything turns out!

Have a good evening everyone and I hope you enjoyed your dose of Trashtalk.

NT

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

Resolutions.

With approximately eleven and a half hours left in 2013, I think it would be appropriate to list off my five resolutions (or year-long goals) that I have set for myself in the year 2014.

#5. Become a better scientist. 
This goal may seem a bit peculiar to the average person. How does one "become" a better scientist? If you ask someone in academia, they would probably say that you should publish more papers or that you should be inquiring about acquiring tenure (if you do not already have it). As far as I am concerned, I want to both expand and deepen my knowledge of chemistry so that I can be prepared for whatever graduate school throws at me. Being in charge of supplemental instruction the past two quarters has allowed me to meet dozens of new people and has provided me with the title of "the Ochem guy." I admire the recognition because that is what I aspire to be. Within the next few years, I would like to be known as "the Dr. Ochem guy," which leads me to my next resolution...

#4. Succeed in graduate school.
This resolution is solely banked on the fact that I get accepted into a graduate program for the fall of 2014 (which I am hoping comes true). I have already received a rejection from one of my schools and I will keep my blog updated with news from the other five that I applied to. If post-secondary education were related to sports, undergraduate degrees would be the minor league teams, while graduate schools would be like playing in the majors. So far my track record with the Somerset Patriots (minor league baseball team that I grew up with), has been pretty good, but if I wish to excel in the majors (say the Yankees or Mets), I need to step my game up and not only that, I need to put myself back in the game, which leads me to my next resolution...

#3. Get better grades. 
I only have two quarters left in my undergraduate career (so this resolution should have been on last year's list to have any drastic impact), but I want to end my undergraduate career on a high note. I do not want to skate by with  C's because that is the minimum grade to pass; I want to show my peers and my professors (and my future school) that I can excel in my courses, especially ones that I will be using in my graduate study. This quarter I am taking a course that I am not required to take (Instrumental Analysis), but I believe that it will greatly set me apart from other Biochemistry majors whom do not take the course. I also plan to take a graduate-level organic chemistry course in the spring, which I am quite excited to take. Expanding my chemistry palette is a necessary tool for a scientist and a lack of knowledge in one area should be remedied with sufficient studying in said area, which leads me to my next resolution...

#2. Read the Bible. 
Hold on a second... I just said that I wanted to expand my chemistry palette. How does the Bible have anything to do with that? Hear me out for a second. Over the past few years, my "faith" has been questioned (granted I did not have strong faith to begin with), but the idea that God existed was slowly creeping out of my head. There is a quote by Harlan Ellison that reads "You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant." By definition, ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information; as simple as that. I could say that I am ignorant in my belief that God does not exist and I would say that it is true. However, I am choosing to enhance my knowledge on the subject, which shows commitment and dedication for understanding (non-ignorance). This leads me to my last resolution...

#1. Get below 160.
What does this mean? Get below 160 lbs in terms of body weight. If I go on an easy run, I do not want my heart rate to reach 160 bpm. I want to nourish my body, in such a way, that I can compete in any race I choose. I want to run a decent time half-marathon (sub 1:30) and maybe eventually a BQ time!

Thank you all for reading and I hope that 2014 is a big a year for me, as it will be for all of you! And remember, there is always room in your day for a little TrashTalk.

NT

Looking back.

As the calendar slowly become thinner and thinner, I like to take a few moments to reflect upon the past 360 days; one day per degree in a full revolution. 

January - The first month of the year; typically where New Year's resolutions are generated (and quickly forgotten about). For me, January was the time in my life where I changed my mind about pursuing the "teacher-path." My class schedule was now heavily filled with science courses and I had just planted the idea of Pharmacy as a potential career path. January was also the time when I took my first graduate course (as an actual participant, rather than a wallflower). Granted it was a basic seminar course, but that class taught me the importance/necessity of acquiring scholarly research articles (and leading a classroom discussion with said articles).   

February - Courses are approaching the halfway mark in the midst of February and everyone is feeling the pressure (including myself). I had started becoming more interested in Pharmacy and even did a job shadow at the local Pharmacy in town. Turns out, being a pharmacist was not as "exciting" as I thought it was going to be. My interest in pharmaceuticals had not been extinguished, but my plans to attend Pharmacy schools was permanently snuffed out.

March - Winter quarter is wrapping up quickly and I was more than ready to put some of the courses I was taking behind me. The month of March probably had the largest impact regarding my academic career because it was the time when I decided to participate in undergraduate research. I had a few professors that I was interested in working under and I will be honest, I did not get my first choice. I had gone into the professor's office to discuss the idea of conducting research with them and they told me "sorry, but I don't think I will have the time to train you in the spring. If you would like, you can ask me again later in the quarter and we can discuss research opportunities in the fall." To me, that was essentially a rejection. Nonetheless, the next professor on my list would allow me to become trained in the spring and then I would be able to conduct my own research projects in the fall. I quickly jumped at this opportunity and I think that it was one of the best decisions that I have made, thus far, in my academic career. 

April - The beginning of spring quarter. I had just gotten accepted into a research group at my school and classes were still in their early stages. In the eyes of an average joe, I was taking the most non-appealing courses (Multivariable calculus, Transition-metal Chemistry, Physics, and Biology), but surprisingly, I loved my classes. I guess I shouldn't say surprisingly because I have genuinely all of the classes I have taken so far (with maybe the except of Pre-Calc, but that's another story). This was the time where put serious contemplation toward attending graduate school. I made the mother of all Excel sheets, compiling information about each school, what their requirements were, MS or PhD programs, etc. I had just built a new floor in my house of education; all I needed was stairs to help me get there. 

May - I don't really recall much regarding May. Not because nothing important happened, but mainly because it melded with April and June and was kind of a blur.

June - The school year was over and the summer was just beginning. Did I tell you that I love summer? If I could live in an area where it was summer-type weather all-year round, I would move their in a heartbeat. I competed in my first marathon race (Seattle Rock and Roll) and while it was quite challenging (see blog post regarding the race), it most certainly won't be my last. 

July - If I had to describe the month of July, I would call it the month of travel. My sister and I went to New Jersey to visit our Dad and we ended up road-tripping up to Boston (see blog post regarding my vacation). 

August - For the first time since I have been attending school, I went back to school early (August 9th to be exact). I moved into my cottage the population of cows in Ellensburg was greater than the population of the people. The town was still and the weather was amazing (hot and sunny almost everyday). August also provided me with my first independent research project (which I am continuing to work on currently). 

September - December

The last fall quarter of my undergraduate career. I took some pretty difficult courses and managed to do decently well in my Chemistry ones (Math is another story). I applied to all of the graduate schools that I was interested in (see blog post regarding those). I received word from the University of Michigan that they did not want me in their program (Rejections 1, Accepted 0). Nonetheless, I have five other schools that still have to make their decision about me (and c'mon, its me!). I have continued my research in the lab and I am excited in the direction that we are heading once winter quarter begins. I am anxiously awaiting what 2014 has in store for me!

Have a happy New Year!

NT