Musings of an Old Chemist

A Chemist's Perspective on the Habits and Skills STEM Students Need For Success

Category: VI. Weekly Quotations

Weekly Quotation, September 2, 2025: “Peeing” On That Proverbial Electric Fence

For your consideration:

“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.”

– Will Rogers

We’ve all been there. You dive into a new skill, armed with books, tutorials, and a healthy dose of optimism. Maybe it’s golf, maybe it’s fixing a leaky faucet, or in my case, trying to resurrect a stubborn lawnmower. You read the manuals, you watch the videos, and you start to feel… confident. Perhaps even a little too confident.

My own journey began in my instrumental chemistry courses in college. Dr. John Walkup had the following advice when applying for a laboratory position – “If asked if you can operate a piece of instrumentation, just say ‘Yes.’ Once hired, you can take the instrument manual home and study it.” This fostered a sense of overconfidence in my abilities in me. Not realizing at the time that while a manual can certainly help you ask semi-intelligent questions and avoid appearing utterly clueless, it often serves as a dangerous enabler. Believing I knew more than I actually did, I’d inevitably encounter what Will Rogers affectionately calls the “electric fence moment,” proving my self-proclaimed expertise was, shall we say, premature.

And here’s my confession, I honestly believe there’s a lot to be said for “peeing” on that proverbial “electric fence.” I’ve certainly had my share of “shocks.” And while the metaphor is a bit crude, for me, it perfectly summarizes the process of discovering all the ways something wouldn’t work.

Making mistakes, and analyzing them, provides tremendous insight. It cultivates a deeper understanding and a firmer retention of knowledge than simply reading a book or passively watching countless YouTube videos ever could. The learning process can be painful, of course. No one enjoys making mistakes; it can wound our pride and occasionally make us feel utterly foolish. However, I would strongly argue that hands-on experience, complete with its inevitable missteps, is far superior to any amount of book learning.

So, the next time you find yourself grappling with a new challenge, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, to experiment, and yes, to even “pee” on that “electric fence” a few times. Those moments of “shock” might just be your most effective teachers.

September 3, 2025
Weekly Quotation: August 26, 2025: The Smartest Person In The Room Complex

For your consideration:

“Just knowing you don’t have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn—and those are all good things.”

– Dick Van Dyke

Over the years, I mistakenly believed I had all the answers and was the “smartest” person in the room. My arrogance was compounded by my eagerness to dominate conversations and express my views, which only highlighted my lack of knowledge. However, with age came the understanding that true intelligence involves actively listening to others’ opinions and perspectives. There is much to gain if I simply take the time to listen. By humbly acknowledging my shortcomings, refraining from imposing my opinions, and remaining open to alternative approaches, I can cultivate humility and grow in wisdom.

August 27, 2025
Weekly Quotation: August 20, 2025: Awe And Wonder

He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.
– Albert Einstein

Awe is a powerful emotion defined as a feeling that what we are witnessing is beyond our current understanding. But our perception of awe and wonder evolves throughout our lifetimes. For example:

As children, our curiosity and wonder are fueled by the pure joy of discovery. A messy papier-mache volcano built on the kitchen table, or a curious question about the stars, is enough to stimulate our search for answers.

As we get older, our perspective shifts. The world begins to measure us, and we, in turn, begin to measure ourselves. Our sense of worth becomes tied to external rewards—such as grades, test scores, titles, and salaries. The process of learning and discovery becomes a means to an end, rather than a joy in itself.

We get so engrossed in our daily routine—rushing to appointments, ticking off to-do lists, and worrying over expectations—that we overlook the wonder in the world around us. Consider how often you’re in such a hurry while driving that you fail to notice your surroundings. Do you recall the turns you made, the roads you took, or anything that happened during your commute?

Now in my sixties, I consciously strive to appreciate life’s beauty and complexity, taking the time to marvel at nature. This includes the intricate details of plants and flowers in my garden, as well as observing Jupiter’s inner moons or the Pleiades constellation through my telescope on a clear night. This past Friday, at 5 a.m., while walking our dog, I noticed the stunning alignment of Venus and Jupiter on the eastern horizon. This sight filled me with such awe and reminded me of the insignificance of my daily concerns—what I needed to do that morning or what I hadn’t accomplished the day before. It reaffirmed my faith in God and highlighted my small place within these mysteries.

August 17, 2025
Weekly Quotation August 13, 2025: Being Comfortable In Silence

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

– Mark Twain

Truer words have never been said. Learning to be an active listener, and be comfortable in our silence is a valuable skill that most of us, myself included, need to practice daily.

August 12, 2025
Weekly Quotation: August, 6, 2025: Rethinking Education to Prioritize Personal Growth

“We are a culture that worships the winning result: the league championship, the high test score. Coaches are paid to win, teachers are valued for getting students into the best colleges. Less glamorous gains made a long the way – learning, wisdom, growth, confidence, dealing with failure – aren’t given the same respect because they can’t be given a grade.”

– William Zinnser (On Writing Well, 30th edition) (pg. 253)

I wonder if the same can be said about the process of personal growth. I am absolutely certain that there are teachers whose passion lies in seeing they’re students grow as people of substance, encouraging their passion for learning, challenging students with inquiry-based lessons. I know this because I have worked alongside many of them. However, the pressure to meet state and federal established testing benchmarks by which schools are judged and state curriculum standards leaves little time for creativity and discussion in the classroom. So many feel like they are fighting a losing battle. And it not only these restrictions that affect the development of our students’ personal growth in the classroom.

I have also experienced a paradigm shift in the STEM students I work with. While there are still some who are open to new ideas and are willing to explore and develop the foundations of personal growth: curiosity, a passion for solving problems, and a passion for learning. There is a growing majority of students whose primary interest is in just getting the grade, whose focus is on getting the highest ACT score possible, not through learning the baseline knowledge to support the score, but only in the quick techniques to “cheat” the test with the least amount of effort. And, with minimum ACT test score standards being implemented in school systems as graduation requirements, schools now offer courses teaching these methods. ” Memorize and forget” is now the status quo for many of our students.

We are doing a disservice to our students. For when they get to college, and especially when they graduate and join the workforce without a solid foundation in knowing how to deal with failure, learn from their mistakes, develop a strong support network, to be resilient and to persevere – essential skills and traits that cannot be given a grade – I guarantee you they will struggle.

August 6, 2025
Weekly Quotation: July, 30, 2025: Random Acts of Kindness

“Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

– Princess Diana

It is very easy to get so caught up in our own lives. Spending time to cultivate relationships, work on our day-to-day interactions with others, or pausing for a simple act of kindness can seem to be an inefficient use of our time in a world of texts and emails, and rapid digital information. The constant rush of our “microwave society” leaves us with less perceived time for deliberate acts of empathy and compassion.

Students juggle demanding class schedules, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and social lives. They are often genuinely stressed, tired, and mentally preoccupied. When overwhelmed, people tend to conserve their energy, and sometimes, basic courtesy can be overlooked in the rush.

That being said, there are some easy ways to practice empathy and compassion every day:

Be open and friendly to everyone you meet. Simple things like holding a door, offering to help them a task, or really listening to their ideas or opinions without judging can make a big difference. Holding a door for someone struggling, or offering a kind word to someone who looks down, can make a huge difference in a person’s day.

When you see someone, whether you know them or not, start by saying “hello”. A warm greeting, with eye contact, and a real smile go a long way to make them feel important and noticed. And remember, it’s really easy to send rude texts, emails and other digital communication since you don’t see the other person face-to-face, so be mindful.

Show others that you sincerely care about them. Don’t just ask “How are you?” out of habit. Actually listen to their answer without interrupting. And a sincere “thank you” always makes people feel appreciated. These small acts help build stronger connections and relationships.

Be willing to share what you know If you’re good at something, maybe help a classmate out with a difficult concept or tutor them. It can really help them learn and stress less.

And finally, always try to make someone’s day better and leave a positive impression with little, unexpected gestures. This could be anything from picking up some trash to leaving a nice note or giving a genuine compliment.

July 30, 2025
Weekly Quotation: July, 23rd, 2025: The Choice We Need to Make

For your consideration:

“We are still in the position of waking up and having a choice. Do I make the world better today somehow, or do I not bother?”

– Tom Hanks

We are the architects of our own personal growth, and only we can determine what kind of person we will become. How will you define what personal success looks like? What do you desire? What is your true reward? Is it a high paying position or personal recognition, or is it becoming a person of value who makes those around you better?

July 23, 2025