This October, Tidbits offers its first ever Semester-ender series called ‘Epilogues’, a compilation of some of J’s unpublished works, his latest blog posts, and contemplations on the most awaited part of the semester: the Semestral Break!
As he sets another delay onto his graduation, ‘Epilogues’ will not only give definite closure to most things unsaid, but also a few insights to changes that may still happen in the near future.
At the Adamson University Chemistry Laboratory with my Classmates. Credits to @marykyurie for the photo.
Finally after the long summer break, its time to face the June rain, and the new school year as a Junior (and my classmates, as Seniors).
This time, I’m ready to face Physical Chemistry 1 for the second time (and hopefully, for the last time – so I can head off to PhyCM 2 next term.).
I was fortunate to get afternoon classes this term, with all the hassles of rain and late suspensions.
First Semester, let’s get it on.
For the past four years now, whenever I pass through the big gates of my high school Alma Mater, my old teachers have already gotten used to seeing me visiting my Senior year adviser who teaches General Chemistry 2 (though we call it ‘Advanced’ Chemistry there) to Fourth Year students, and not only that, they’re also used to seeing me in front of one or more of my adviser’s classes – teaching.
It has really been a habit of mine to visit during my free days – teaching on the spot to students who (to my surprise) find my old adviser’s teaching a bit fast paced. Usually, I would only sit down at the back and watch him carry on with his lecture, but at the middle of the lecture, he lets me stand in his place and continue with the lecture. Most of the time, he makes me discuss nomenclature lessons on Organic Chemistry (my self-proclaimed favorite branch), and allows me to assist the students on calculations.
Teaching Internship, for four years? Hell yeah! But I have to admit that it has been very fun and motivating for me to do. Fun, since I get to share my gift of being a good mentor – having met so many good teachers and professors over the time that I idolize because of their awesome ways of imparting the lesson to their students. Motivating, since it pushes me to study better so I can teach the concepts better.
Yes, I have always wanted to be a teacher in Chemistry. However, my mother discourages me from teaching (high schoolers in particular. Ironic, since my mother, an Engineer, was also a highschool math teacher when I was young), since it doesn’t really give that much of a good pay. She refers it as a ‘work out of passion’. And I am starting to believe her. A lot of teachers nowadays are after the pay, than giving good education. So, as for now, I am still considering doing something else and putting my teaching dreams aside, like working in the laboratory, and doing part – time teaching in college.
Who knows, maybe I’ll get to that dream of mine, some day.
TIDBITS 