I am an old chemist, a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. My early academic journey was not smooth. High school had come too easily, leaving me unprepared for the rigors of college. I lacked study habits and paper-writing skills, which challenged me during my freshman year. Analytical chemistry, with its problem-solving aspects and instrumentation troubleshooting, became my passion. It was the mentorship of Dr. John H. Walkup that truly shaped my skills and led to my success as a chemist by graduation.
Throughout the last 45 years, I’ve held various roles, seldom staying in one career path for more than a decade. For the past 12 years, I’ve tutored high school and college students in subjects like Algebra, Chemistry, and Physics. Sitting down at the kitchen table with a student, in my experience, is far more effective for learning compared to traditional middle and high school teaching.
Before diving into my blog, a disclaimer is necessary. I am neither a published author nor an education expert. Writing, beyond high school creative writing, has not been my forte. Explaining complex chemical reactions in simple terms comes far more naturally to me than crafting blog posts.
When starting this project, I adopted Dr. Walkup’s approach: research, outline, and then write. My initial goal was a compendium of science and math topics for students, ensuring their success. I worked for three years, consolidating formulas and creating explanatory diagrams, aiming to supplement middle and high school textbooks. I was nearly 75% done when a conversation altered my direction.
A dinner with Cissy Musselman, to whom this blog is dedicated, changed everything. Cissy, the most compassionate person I’ve known, became a surrogate mother figure in the late ’90s. Our 25-year friendship lasted until her passing in 2023. She felt my story should extend beyond math and science students to address the universal needs of all learners. She advised focusing on students’ struggles, fears, and needs for encouragement, becoming an advocate for their success, and using my life experiences. Her second piece of advice was to remember that we never stop growing, there are always more lessons to learn, and to approach life with optimism and faith.
Therefore, expect my blog posts to blend research-based concepts with personal memoir. I am human, I’ve made a great number of mistakes in my life, from which I hope, upon reflection, I have learned something. I’ve changed career directions a number of times, disappointed people who counted on me, burned a lot of bridges, and let my arrogance and pride alienate bosses, friends, and mentors. I only hope that my life experiences and lessons, and my journey from seeking knowledge for knowledge’s sake to wisdom and a rediscovery of my faith, will lend credence to the topics discussed.
