Ready to Return  January 15th

Tomorrow I head back up to school for the second semester. I know that many of you have long since been back with the books, but a long winter break is one of the joys (well, that can be argued) of being a college student on a typical semester schedule. I was mentally ready to return about two weeks ago, so now that it’s time, I’m pretty excited. I packed up my suitcase last night, so once I do a last-minute load of laundry tonight, all of my clothes will be ready to go. I still have some things to do before I leave though, like pack up my old textbooks that I think might be useful this semester. (By that, I just mean my organic chemistry books, since I anticipate being in an orgo lab for research this semester.) I’m also going to raid the house for small kitchen appliances that I know we own but never, ever use—like our quesadilla maker. Someone might as well use them, right?

One of the reasons I’m excited to go back to school is to see everyone again. At this point, I feel pretty far detached from most of the people I was friends with in high school; honestly, I’ve only really kept in touch with a couple people. I’ve made some great friends in college so far, and I look forward to seeing them again. This past semester, I’ve started to hang out more with people who are in my major, and I’m really happy about that. Obviously, as part of Alpha Chi Sigma, I do a lot of stuff with science-oriented people, but I’ve begun to spend time with some of the brothers as well as non-brother chem or biochem majors outside of class and AXΣ, too. While it’s wonderful to be friends with people outside of chemistry as it gives me a break from it whether not I need one, it’s also great to be friends with people who are in it with me—people who truly understand both the joys and miseries we experience as science majors. I just can’t wait to see everyone again and have a good time.

I’m also looking forward to my classes, too. Of course I’ve always loved school, but I think some of my classes will be really interesting this semester. There is some nerd content ahead, so if you really want me to cut to the chase, then here ya go—I think my academics are going to be a fun time. Here’s what I’m taking this semester:

• Physical Chemistry II – First of all, the same professor who taught Physical Chemistry I last semester is teaching this one, and I really love him. He’s a nice, adorable grandpa-like figure, and he says some funny things sometimes. (“If you don’t believe in the second law [of thermodynamics], then you can’t be in this class.”) The course content should be pretty interesting, too.
• Physical Chemistry II Lab – This class will not be taught by the same professor as last semester, which automatically makes it better than PChem I Lab.
• Organic Spectroscopy – I’m really excited for this class. Basically, we’re going to learn about different techniques that allow us to learn more about the structures of organic molecules. You know MRI, the imaging technology they might use on you at the hospital? Well, that is essentially the same technology as NMR, which is one of the things we’re studying.
• Study of Teaching – This is my education course, if you couldn’t figure that out. Our field placements are in the suburbs for this class, and I’m pretty excited about that. I’m more interested in teaching in the suburbs when I become a teacher for realz, so naturally I’m looking forward to heading out to the ‘burbs.
• Romanesque Art – Although I don’t have a strong interest in the Romanesque period, the instructor for this class is supposed to be pretty cool. She’s originally from Spain, so that’s awesome.