Chemistry? Your crazy...

I decided that I wanted to become a chemist when I was a junior in high school. Six years later I have become very used to the looks of shock or confusion whenever I explained my career path. Some of the most common responses are wow that is hard, I hate chemistry, you must be smart, and occasionally the question of why I do it. Over the years the reasons why I do it have changed and sometimes I have even questioned why I do it myself. But last Friday, as I drove home from work all doubt seemed to fade.

In the beginning the "why" came from an inspiring high school Chemistry teacher and the desire to eventually use my Chemistry knowledge to help cure diseases. As I progressed out of high school and into college I found that Chemistry is hard sometimes really, really hard. But each time I would overcome those really, really hard tests or classes there came a true sense of accomplishment and pride. Pride is also a reason that draws us nerds to Chemistry because your shock and awe feels good. Because lets face it most of us Chemists grew up as the quite introverted nerd always in the shadows of the athletes (lets face it Chemists are mostly very uncoordinated) and the popular social kids. So that sense of shock and awe feels pretty good. But truth be told when you tell us we must be smart, we are often filled with doubt. Because most of the time we have no idea if we are really going to conquer the hard part or if we are really "smart" enough for science.    

But you know what, most of the time we do conquer the hard part and most of the time we do it with the help of those around us.Because it really does take a special type of person to study and work in science. It takes a person who is driven to work independently but more importantly it takes a person who is willing to set aside their pride and contribute to the greater whole and help a friend in need. Because one of the greatest "whys" is the people I get to be surrounded by. Maybe it is because we come into science with a goal of making the world better or maybe it is because of the our mutual appreciation of science and love of what we do. But all I know, is that I would not want to be surrounded by any other group of people than these smart competitive chemists.

A Dotted Affair

So I know my posts have been spotty these past five years (like eleven a year, when you do the math). But maybe this will be the time that I really will come back with a great consistent blog. You may ask what has changed,what should make you actually follow this time. Well let me tell you...

I have graduated College!!

Note the nerdy goggles: indicating that I was in a science related major that sucked most of the life and time out of me.

So now I have been released from this life/time sucking major I may actually have some energy/time to put into this blog. And if that was not reason enough for you to believe...

I got an Iphone!!!!

This Iphone was an amazing graduation present from my parents that makes it quite convenient to take photos and blog as I was quite impressed with the Blogger app. But I want to reassure those worried that the superb quality (heavy sarcasm) of photography will go down due to the iphone camera, this will not be the case I will still pull out my real camera.

But now to what you have all been wondering...What is this dotted affair? Well it was not much of an affair just going to church in a dotted themed outfit.

Scarf: My Grandmother Mary's 

Skirt: DownEast Outfitters

Blouse: Thrift Store

Belt: Thrift Store

Shoes: Thrift Store

(talk about popping some tags ;)

The Fashionable Chemist

 This post goes out to my number one fans, the girls who have always been there and taught me how to truly live.

The idea for this post slowly formed throughout the day. It all began when I decided to put on my chemistry society t-shirt. I am typically not a fan of t-shirts and never wear just a t-shirt and jeans. But this shirt is different it is a Chemistry t-shirt (the black and white aspect also makes it a little chicer). And note that I did not wear it with “just” jeans I wore it with my favorite knee high leather boots and did my hair in my favorite lazy day look.

                And Chemistry is different it is something that most try to avoid and don’t truly understand. But Chemistry is something that I love because it is not easy to understand, it is something I work very hard at every day. And some days I question why I am doing what I am doing, actually those are most days. But then there are the days when I reach an understanding or complete a difficult problem and receive that complete sense of accomplishment, almost a small shock of what I was capable of. Those moments are the reason I do what I do. 

I hope that you each know why you do what you do, it is most likely not Chemistry, it might be starting a blog, trying get into the world of fashion, or just simply trying to do a job or get through school. Just know that anything worth getting is hard to get. And remember the moments where you knew why, and if you don’t know why take a second and figure it out and see if it is worth it.

Best Part of the shirt not a fan of Physics ;)

Photo Credit: Kristen Meiser

Boots: Steve Madden

Long Shirt: Buckle

Jeans: Charlotte Rouse