Busy Busy Busy! but Happy
Hi friends!
Long time no blog, as usual. Oops. However I think I have finally settled into a fairly regular schedule this semester so I can finally give y’all a little peek into what my life is like this semester! So here goes!
Classes
As usual this is the most boring section. I’m only taking three and a half classes this semester (don’t worry, they still add up to many a credit), and they are all STEM: Orgo 2, Orgo 2 Lab (the half course, although tbh a full course of work), Organisms and Populations (semester 2 of the intro bio sequence), and Biochemistry 1. I don’t have too much to say about any of these classes, as they are all exactly what they sound like, but they are all interesting enough in their own way. My orgo professor is socially awkward but endearing and only uses the chalkboard when teaching (unheard of in college!), I’m involved in a study for my bio class about how students learn so my labs are filmed and I get paid to be interviewed by a fun grad student helping with the study, and although biochemistry is very difficult and requires sooooo much studying and memorization, the content is interesting as it basically explains how all the unconscious atoms that make up a person work together to create a thinking, feeling human. It’s also a really great way to have an existential crisis if you think about it too hard.
Frisbee
My favorite part of the semester! I don’t even know what to say about ewo (Elephant Women, my team) because I love it so much. It’s quite the time commitment, with practices 6 days a week and tournaments that we have to travel to every couple of weeks, but I’ve never met a more positive, loving, and hardworking group of humans. I can’t seem to write good words about ewo and its effect on my life right now, but maybe soon there will be a whole post dedicated to it.
Teaching?
I got a job as a chem TA this semester, which is pretty great, but also kind of terrifying. As a TA, I run a lab of 15 chem 01 students in which I am the only figure of authority. I tell them what to do, supervise their labs, give quizzes, hold office hours, and grade reports, so really am in charge of the lab. Sometimes I question whether I should have as much responsibility as I do, but I also appreciate the autonomy that I have, and although it’s only been a few weeks I think that I am learning a lot about what it means to be a good teacher.
I also am possibly starting to volunteer with the music program at the local elementary school! I say possibly because I think I’m still waiting on my background check, but hopefully soon I’ll spend one morning a week helping with the general music classes at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. Yay! Will keep you guys updated.
Burlesque!
As per usual, I have to tell you guys about my burlesque dance this semester! I was pretty apprehensive about burlesque this semester because frisbee has odd scheduling because we have normal outdoor practice times plus special bad-weather-indoor practice times so I didn’t have too many choices of when I could be in a dance and had to ask to be put in just any dance that I could make the rehearsals for. Then, as luck would have it, I got placed in my last choice dance: Tufts Burlesque Troupe’s first every country dance. I was pretty nervous/unhappy with this assignment, but after the first rehearsal my mind was totally changed! Something about throwing your cares away and dancing to country music is so empowering! Also we get to wear flannels so I’m hyped about that too.
Major!!!
I declared!!!!! Which is great because the deadline is today and I was really convinced I was not going to make it. Anyways, I’m majoring in biology with a minor in education, which I’m pretty excited about. After a whole lot of internal crises the past semester and a half, I’m basically dropping all that I thought I was doing with my life and pursuing science education, particularly informal science education (learning that takes place outside of school). I’ll keep y’all updated on how that goes. Classes that really focus on bio and ed will start my junior year, so right now I still have to get through orgo and biochem… :/
So yeah! I’m probably missing stuff but that’s basically what I’ve been up to. Here are some pictures
Long time no blog, as usual. Oops. However I think I have finally settled into a fairly regular schedule this semester so I can finally give y’all a little peek into what my life is like this semester! So here goes!
Classes
As usual this is the most boring section. I’m only taking three and a half classes this semester (don’t worry, they still add up to many a credit), and they are all STEM: Orgo 2, Orgo 2 Lab (the half course, although tbh a full course of work), Organisms and Populations (semester 2 of the intro bio sequence), and Biochemistry 1. I don’t have too much to say about any of these classes, as they are all exactly what they sound like, but they are all interesting enough in their own way. My orgo professor is socially awkward but endearing and only uses the chalkboard when teaching (unheard of in college!), I’m involved in a study for my bio class about how students learn so my labs are filmed and I get paid to be interviewed by a fun grad student helping with the study, and although biochemistry is very difficult and requires sooooo much studying and memorization, the content is interesting as it basically explains how all the unconscious atoms that make up a person work together to create a thinking, feeling human. It’s also a really great way to have an existential crisis if you think about it too hard.
Frisbee
My favorite part of the semester! I don’t even know what to say about ewo (Elephant Women, my team) because I love it so much. It’s quite the time commitment, with practices 6 days a week and tournaments that we have to travel to every couple of weeks, but I’ve never met a more positive, loving, and hardworking group of humans. I can’t seem to write good words about ewo and its effect on my life right now, but maybe soon there will be a whole post dedicated to it.
Teaching?
I got a job as a chem TA this semester, which is pretty great, but also kind of terrifying. As a TA, I run a lab of 15 chem 01 students in which I am the only figure of authority. I tell them what to do, supervise their labs, give quizzes, hold office hours, and grade reports, so really am in charge of the lab. Sometimes I question whether I should have as much responsibility as I do, but I also appreciate the autonomy that I have, and although it’s only been a few weeks I think that I am learning a lot about what it means to be a good teacher.
I also am possibly starting to volunteer with the music program at the local elementary school! I say possibly because I think I’m still waiting on my background check, but hopefully soon I’ll spend one morning a week helping with the general music classes at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. Yay! Will keep you guys updated.
Burlesque!
As per usual, I have to tell you guys about my burlesque dance this semester! I was pretty apprehensive about burlesque this semester because frisbee has odd scheduling because we have normal outdoor practice times plus special bad-weather-indoor practice times so I didn’t have too many choices of when I could be in a dance and had to ask to be put in just any dance that I could make the rehearsals for. Then, as luck would have it, I got placed in my last choice dance: Tufts Burlesque Troupe’s first every country dance. I was pretty nervous/unhappy with this assignment, but after the first rehearsal my mind was totally changed! Something about throwing your cares away and dancing to country music is so empowering! Also we get to wear flannels so I’m hyped about that too.
Major!!!
I declared!!!!! Which is great because the deadline is today and I was really convinced I was not going to make it. Anyways, I’m majoring in biology with a minor in education, which I’m pretty excited about. After a whole lot of internal crises the past semester and a half, I’m basically dropping all that I thought I was doing with my life and pursuing science education, particularly informal science education (learning that takes place outside of school). I’ll keep y’all updated on how that goes. Classes that really focus on bio and ed will start my junior year, so right now I still have to get through orgo and biochem… :/
So yeah! I’m probably missing stuff but that’s basically what I’ve been up to. Here are some pictures
sunset highlighting my dorm
Frozen lake in the fells!
Snowy snowy trail in the Fells. This run turned into more of a walk because under the snow was a layer of solid ice
Brewster! I walk him on Friday mornings. He's 13 but is so chipper and does not seem old at all
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