| 09/17 |  |
Misadventures in Academia 01 |
Thank you for the encouraging words on my previous entry of self doubt. I still suffer from it and it drives me to think that my peers share the same disparaging opinion. However, I'm sure they are busy with themselves, and that I should get over my insecurities and focus on what is being taught.
"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity. " - Louis Pasteur
I like this quote, because this happens a lot in science: you get something that is interesting. You pursue looking into it, and soon enough things aren't going the way you initially predicted. Two options are opened to you: throw up your arms in the air and give up, or think about it and pedal through- think of new solutions, think of alternative ways of thinking of things, think of other possibilities.
And that usually takes tenacity. Well, and I'm sure a lot of things as well, but tenacity is a big one.
Which leads to the topic of my entry today, my little misadventure in academia: over-generalizing.
I guess I am cynical, brash, and kind of cheeky (I really don't mean to be, I just come off like that- I try to find amusement in everything to make things bearable). I try to inject some humor, whether true or not, derogatory or not, immature or not to lighten up the situation. However, I horribly fail at this, particularly in a classroom setting.
While reviewing enzyme kinetics with a professor after class, I made the comment that "if I wanted to memorize, I would have been a doctor".
...
I know, its a horrible comment, but that was what was on my mind at that moment. My professor glared at me, and said, "I would think it would be to cure patients". In one setting this would have been fine; for example, my old lab back in the West Coast would have laughed and shake their heads. They would know I was kidding.
However, that is a gross over-generalization and demeaning to be in fact. I really respect doctors, I really really do. A doctor patched me up together to get me walking again, and I am thankful for that. But I guess my view is stilted in that I went to a college where 90% of students want to be doctors, the pre-med students who I had as TAs, study partners and colleagues could only tell me what an equation, what it was for but not why.
But that gives me no excuse to generalize over the profession. There is a place for humor, but even one has to take into account when one uses it. Other wise, you are left with awkward moments such as the one I went through recently. One must not be so quick to judge. I shall keep mindful of that for next time.
Or maybe just tape my mouth shut when the urge to say something stupid arises. X3
I like this quote, because this happens a lot in science: you get something that is interesting. You pursue looking into it, and soon enough things aren't going the way you initially predicted. Two options are opened to you: throw up your arms in the air and give up, or think about it and pedal through- think of new solutions, think of alternative ways of thinking of things, think of other possibilities.
And that usually takes tenacity. Well, and I'm sure a lot of things as well, but tenacity is a big one.
Which leads to the topic of my entry today, my little misadventure in academia: over-generalizing.
I guess I am cynical, brash, and kind of cheeky (I really don't mean to be, I just come off like that- I try to find amusement in everything to make things bearable). I try to inject some humor, whether true or not, derogatory or not, immature or not to lighten up the situation. However, I horribly fail at this, particularly in a classroom setting.
While reviewing enzyme kinetics with a professor after class, I made the comment that "if I wanted to memorize, I would have been a doctor".
...
I know, its a horrible comment, but that was what was on my mind at that moment. My professor glared at me, and said, "I would think it would be to cure patients". In one setting this would have been fine; for example, my old lab back in the West Coast would have laughed and shake their heads. They would know I was kidding.
However, that is a gross over-generalization and demeaning to be in fact. I really respect doctors, I really really do. A doctor patched me up together to get me walking again, and I am thankful for that. But I guess my view is stilted in that I went to a college where 90% of students want to be doctors, the pre-med students who I had as TAs, study partners and colleagues could only tell me what an equation, what it was for but not why.
But that gives me no excuse to generalize over the profession. There is a place for humor, but even one has to take into account when one uses it. Other wise, you are left with awkward moments such as the one I went through recently. One must not be so quick to judge. I shall keep mindful of that for next time.
Or maybe just tape my mouth shut when the urge to say something stupid arises. X3