Musings of an Old Chemist

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

  • Weekly Quotation: October 30, 2025: The Joy of Discovery: Inspiring Young Minds Through Science

    For your consideration:

    I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students.

    – Carl Sagan

    I, along with a group of my high school math and science program students, conducted the following demonstration for a group of elementary school students, mostly fourth and fifth graders:

    To begin, we discussed how the air we breathe is a mixture of several different gases. And how every gas, whether it is an element (such as nitrogen or oxygen), or a compound (a combination of elements in a specific ratio, such as carbon dioxide), has a unique fingerprint, consisting of a set of colored lines, called its spectrum.

    After dividing the class into groups of three students each, we handed out paper glasses with diffraction grating lenses, crayons, a ruler, and large pieces of drawing paper. We asked them to draw seven six-inch lines on their paper, making sure there was plenty of space between each. They were to label these lines in order: hydrogen, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, carbon dioxide, and air.

    Then, using a spectrum tube high-voltage power supply and the spectrum tubes for air, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, neon, nitrogen, and oxygen, we began the demonstration.

    In a darkened room, I instructed the students to put on their diffraction grating lenses. I then proceeded to insert the spectrum tubes of the following gases in order: hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, and carbon dioxide into the spectrum tube high voltage supply generating the spectral lines of each. I chose these gases and the order they were placed into the voltage supply because starting with the spectrum of hydrogen, the spectrum build in complexity from left to right. As each gas’s spectrum was displayed, we asked the students to use their crayons and drawing paper to color the spectral lines they observed. We were not concerned with the wavelength of the lines, only the color pattern from left to right.

    After turning up the lights, I posed the following question to the students: “Which of these gases do you think are in the mixture that makes up the air we breathe?” While most students, ranging from elementary to high school, and even some college students and adults, can identify some of the gases present, very seldom does anyone know them all. As each group made their guess, we wrote their answers on the board for everyone to see, without any judgment as to whether the answers were right or wrong.

    At the end of this part of our discussion, we darkened the room again. This time, I inserted the spectrum tube for air, asking the students again to color the spectral lines they observed. 

    To finish our demonstration, we asked each student group to compare the lines they colored for air with their spectral lines for the other gases. And to circle which gas’s spectral line pattern matched up with the lines they saw in the spectrum for air. Quickly they began to see that there were several combinations of individual gas’s spectral lines present in the air’s spectrum. We collected each group’s drawings and discussed their results.

    Finally we posed the following questions: “What did they learn today?”, “Can you now tell us which gases you believe are present in the air we breathe? And, more importantly, “Did you have fun?”

    Commentary

    The students’ initial reaction to observing spectral lines through diffraction grating glasses was truly captivating. It felt as though we had opened up an entirely new world for them. There was no immediate need to delve into the scientific explanation behind the spectra’s generation; the demonstration’s primary goal was to cultivate the joy, awe, and wonder inherent in scientific discovery. My experience in the classroom and my years of tutoring often revealed that many high school and college students prioritize grades over a sense of wonder, potentially finding this demonstration “lame” or even boring, a waste of their time. However, sometimes the simplest method for explaining complex phenomena is by nurturing the innate sense of awe and wonder within us all.

  • Self-assessment Exercise Four: Practicing the Art of Self-reflection and Evaluating Your Openness for Change 

    For your consideration:

    “You know, to be able to do something great in your life, you’re gonna have to realize your failures. You’re gonna have to embrace them and figure out how to overcome it.” 

    – Dave Chappelle

    Introduction

    Honest self-reflection is a precursor to self-awareness and the starting point for our discussion of personal growth. To start to know yourself, you need to consider who you are and what’s important to you at this point in your life. This is the final of four exercises designed to encourage you to take the time to think about and identify your goals and motivations. This exercise is designed to help you understand the forces driving your pursuit of a key personal or professional goal. It may help you know yourself better, figure out your goals, and make more informed decisions about your future. It may also help you to develop a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life. 

    Key Points to Remember

    Be honest with yourself; there are no right or wrong answers, and no judgment is attached to your responses.

    Take your time with these exercises, thinking about what is important to you and why.

    As you work through each prompt, take a moment to record your thoughts. These reflections serve as a valuable resource when developing self-awareness.

    Self-reflection and Your Openness for Change

    Prompts

    Prompt #1: 

    Think back over the past year. List one thing that you wish you could do over. Did you react harshly to a person’s comments or criticize someone unfairly? Were you given an opportunity to display your talents and skills or asked to do something meaningful and, for whatever reason, failed to meet expectations? Is there a decision you made whose consequences did you more harm than good? If so, what did you learn from the situation? What could you have done differently? If this is a repeating occurrence or behavior, are you willing to and how do you intend to change your behavior in the future?

    Prompt #2:

    Is there someone in your past who has left a lasting impression due to their constant support and guidance? This person consistently stood by you during times of need, providing advice, emotional and financial assistance, all without expecting anything in return. Someone who may not have said what you wanted to hear at the time, but precisely what you needed to hear. How did you respond to their guidance: were you grateful for their wisdom, or did you harbor resentment? Do you consider this person to be a role model for you? If so, how have these interactions changed your perspective on life and working with others?

    Prompt #3

    List three things you value most regarding your personal growth, for example: Faith, Family, Financial Freedom, Recognition, Success. Now, look back at the past 2 weeks, what was your time investment on your personal growth process? How many hours did you dedicate to activities directly serving these three values? Which activity or relationship gave you the greatest sense of satisfaction or positive reinforcement (exothermic growth)? Was there a drain on your energy levels (endothermic growth)? What activity or relationship consumed the most of your emotional or mental energy, often leaving you depleted?

    Self-assessment Conclusion

    You’ve completed the vital work of moving from self-reflection to action by honestly considering answering these questions. You’ve identified and acknowledged any recurring failures and regrets (Prompt #1), influential mentors and guidance in your life (Prompt #2), and, most importantly, evaluated your personal energy investment (Prompt #3).

    As discussed in a previous blog post, the Law of Conservation of Energy applies to personal growth: you cannot generate more personal energy; you can only reallocate it to different endeavors. 

    Your life is subject to this law. Every time you dedicate mental or emotional energy to low-value activities or relationships that drain you, you’re experiencing endothermic growth; that energy is simply lost.

    Conversely, when you commit to activities aligned with your most important values—such as your faith, mastering concepts or talents, your family, or financial desires – you’re exhibiting exothermic personal growth. You’re releasing your stored personal energy, producing serious personal growth. While these endeavors may be challenging in the moment, this process (perseverance and resilience) builds the person you truly desire to be.

    With the four parts of your self-assessment now complete and your answers identified, the crucial next step is to actively pursue the traits, habits, and desires that will help you become your best self. We all need, no, we all must, stop passively waiting for change. So utilize this blueprint of your values and begin, right now, to invest your personal energy in becoming the person you desire to be.

  • Self-assessment Exercise Three: Identifying Your Expectations and Beliefs

    For your consideration:

    “Lower expectations do not lead to happiness, no matter how often they are met.”

    – Michael Jordan

    Introduction

    Honest self-reflection is a precursor to self-awareness and the starting point for our discussion of personal growth. To start to know yourself, you need to consider who you are and what’s important to you at this point in your life. This is the third of four exercises designed to encourage you to take the time to think about and identify your goals and motivations. This exercise is designed to help you understand the forces driving your pursuit of a key personal or professional goal. It may help you know yourself better, figure out your goals, and make more informed decisions about your future. It may also help you to develop a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life. 

    Key Points to Remember

    • Be honest with yourself; there are no right or wrong answers, and no judgment is attached to your responses.
    • Take your time with these exercises, thinking about what is important to you and why.
    • As you work through each prompt, take a moment to record your thoughts. These reflections serve as a valuable resource when developing self-awareness.

    Expectations and Beliefs

    Description of the Types of Expectations

    Expectations can be broadly categorized into two types: internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic). While there are subtle distinctions between internal and intrinsic, and external and extrinsic, for clarity in this explanation, I will group them together.

    Internal (intrinsic) Expectations

    Internal (Intrinsic) expectations originate within you. These are the personal standards that influence your behavior, performance, and character. They can take various forms. These might include physical goals, such as training for a marathon; a commitment to daily habits like a 10-minute meditation; value-based principles like kindness and honesty; or quality standards, such as the expectation that your work will be perfect when you submit it.

    Your motivation to meet these expectations stems from intrinsic factors such as your personal values, ambitions, self-worth, and the desire for self-improvement. The primary reason is often the desire to meet your own standards for mastering new content or ideas, exploring your passions and interests, your process of personal growth, and a sense of satisfaction. For instance, you might set an expectation to practice the guitar for an hour daily, motivated purely by the love of improving and the music itself, finding your reward in the satisfaction you receive from the activity.

    External (extrinsic) Expectations

    External (extrinsic) expectations originate from outside yourself. They are standards, rules, or requests set by other people, your parents, friends, coworkers, or society in general. For example: a deadline for a project (either in class or at work), your parents or a spouse’s request for you to do a specific household chore, a job description or class syllabus listing how your performance at work or class will be measured, or perhaps a societal standard on how you “should” behave, dress, or define success to be accepted. At its core, with external (extrinsic) expectations, your primary desire is often to meet the standards of others.

    Accountability to others, the pursuit of rewards like promotions or praise, and the avoidance of negative consequences such as disapproval from parents, friends, or bosses, poor grades, or losing a job, are often key internal (intrinsic) motivators for meeting external expectations. External (extrinsic) motivations, by comparison, are generally less fluid and flexible because changing the expectations of others requires you to negotiate the terms of the expectations and seek agreement with another person.

    Bottom Line 

    Your expectations need to be realistic and attainable, plus align with your personal goals and ambitions. You must remain true to yourself and your beliefs and core values, regardless of how difficult it may seem at times. Negotiating expectations is a major component of the personal growth process.

    Prompts

    Prompt #1: 

    Whose expectations have the strongest influence on your life, and that you feel obligated to meet? Are they aligned with your own beliefs and desires? How do you manage those expectations and stay true to your dreams and goals?

    Prompt #2:

    List three things you expect from yourself (for example, I expect myself to spend 30 minutes each day writing). How do these expectations impact your daily decisions and actions? Does meeting your expectations give you self-confidence and encourage you to do more? Or do these expectations overwhelm you? 

    Prompt #3: 

    Think about a recent time when you exceeded an expectation. Did you take time to acknowledge and celebrate that success? If not, why? Recognizing your “wins” is an important component of self-care.

    Prompt #4:

    Think about your expectations for others (friends, family, or people in general). Are these expectations realistic and attainable? How do they align with what you expect from yourself, your goals, and your beliefs? 

    Up Next: Practicing the Art of Self-reflection and Evaluating Your Openness for Change 

    The last set of prompts, part four of the series, will ask you to practice the art of self-reflection and evaluate your openness for change.

  • Self-assessment Exercise Two: Understanding Your Goals and Motivations

    For your consideration:

    “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to just try one more time.”

    – Thomas Edison

    Introduction

    Honest self-reflection is a precursor to self-awareness and the starting point for our discussion of personal growth. To start to know yourself, you need to consider who you are and what’s important to you at this point in your life. This is the second of four exercises designed to encourage you to take the time to think about and identify your goals and motivations. This exercise is designed to help you understand the forces driving your pursuit of a key personal or professional goal. It may help you understand yourself better, figure out your goals, and make more informed decisions about your future. It may also help you to develop a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life.

    Key Points to Remember

    • Be honest with yourself; there are no right or wrong answers, and no judgment is attached to your responses.
    • Take your time with these exercises, thinking about what is important to you and why.
    • As you work through each prompt, take a moment to record your thoughts. These reflections can serve as a valuable resource for developing self-awareness.

    Goals and Motivations

    A Quick Refresher Regarding the Types of Motivation

    Intrinsic motivation is the drive that comes from within. You do it because the act itself is enjoyable, satisfying, or aligns with your core values and sense of purpose (e.g., learning a skill because you are passionate about learning, solving a puzzle for the challenge).

    Extrinsic motivation is the drive that derives from external factors. You do it for a separable outcome, like a reward, recognition, status, or to avoid punishment (e.g., working hard for a bonus, getting a degree to impress others).

    Healthy motivation is often a blend of both, but an over-reliance on extrinsic factors can be unsustainable and lead to burnout.

    Prompts

    Prompt #1: 

    Choose one significant goal you are currently working towards regarding your personal success or growth. Describe it in one or two clear sentences.

    Prompt #2:

    List the things that truly motivate you to achieve this goal. Are they intrinsic motivations (lead to a sense of accomplishment or happiness) or extrinsic (money, job title, or recognition). How did these motivations influence your selection of this goal? 

    Prompt #3: 

    Think of a past achievement you’re proud of. What motivated you in this endeavor, and how did it make you feel to achieve it?

    Prompt #4: 

    Think of a time you overcame an unexpected challenge or setback. What motivated you to keep going? What did you learn from that experience? How, if any, has it changed the way you set goals in the future?

    Up Next: Expectations and Beliefs

    The next set of prompts, part three of the series, will ask you to examine your expectations and your belief system.

  • Self-assessment Exercise One: Identifying Your Dreams and Aspirations

    For your consideration:

    “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.”

    – Joel Brown

    Introduction

    Honest self-reflection is a precursor to self-awareness and the starting point for our discussion of personal growth. To start to know yourself, you need to consider who you are and what’s important to you at this point in your life. This is the first of four exercises designed to encourage you to take the time to think about and identify your dreams, aspirations, motivations, and expectations. It may help you understand yourself better, figure out your goals, and make more informed decisions about your future. It may also help you to develop a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life. 

    Key Points to Remember:

    • Be honest with yourself; there are no right or wrong answers, and no judgment is attached to your responses.
    • Take your time with each prompt, thinking about what is important to you and why.
    • As you work through each prompt, take a moment to record your thoughts. These reflections can serve as a valuable resource for developing self-awareness.

    Dreams and Aspirations

    Prompt #1: 

    Consider how your dreams define you. Is there a childhood dream that you still hold onto? Ask yourself, why is it important to me? How would it feel to make that dream come true, and what sacrifices would you need to make (if any) to get there?

    Prompt #2:

    Ask yourself, “What am I currently passionate about?, and “What activities/responsibilities give me the most energy and satisfaction?, Who or what do I aspire to be or to do?” Does your happiness depend on living the life or career of your dreams?

    Prompt #3: 

    In the next 5 years, what specific achievement, title, or position must I accomplish, what impact must I have for my family, in my field of study, or in the world in general, that would represent the highest level of success and sense of self-fulfillment for me?

    Prompt #4:

    “What current skills, knowledge, or resources do I possess that will help me achieve this aspiration, and what key areas do I need to develop or acquire?” And, what is my plan to achieve those goals?

    Up Next: Goals and Motivation

    The next set of prompts, part two of the series, will ask you to identify and understand what motivates you to achieve goals you have set for yourself.

  • The Personal Growth/Chemical Reaction Analogy

    Key Concepts 

    Key Concept Number One: The Law of Conservation of Energy

    The law of conservation of energy applies directly to our campfire analogy by stating that all the chemical potential energy stored in the wood must be accounted for after it burns—it doesn’t just disappear, it’s simply transformed into different forms. The total energy of the heat, light, and the chemical bonds of all the byproducts is equal to the original chemical potential energy stored in the wood. No energy is lost; it has just been converted.

    In our discussion of the process of personal growth, the conservation of energy also applies. The personal energy we invest in the process — our time, focus, and emotion — is finite and must be transformed into something: either a product (your desired outcome of success) or byproducts (either intended (positive) or unintended (negative) emotional or psychological consequences of the process).

    Key Concept Number Two: The Definition and Role of an Indicator

    An Indicator in our chemical reaction/personal growth analogy is a measurable, observable, and immediate sign that the reaction mechanism is proceeding effectively and that the energy input (activation energy) is being successfully converted into the desired products. Essentially, it tells you if and how well the process is working.

    The indicator in our campfire analogy is a sustained flame producing heat and light. This is the visual and thermal evidence that the wood’s stored chemical energy is successfully converting into usable thermal and radiant energy (Heat and Light). It immediately informs us that the Activation Energy (the match/lighter) was successful and the Reaction Mechanism (the burning of the reactants) is self-sustaining.

    In the process of personal growth, self-awareness acts as an indicator. It is the ability to recognize and reflect on the state of our emotions, how effective we are in our learning process (informing us if our study habits/self-discipline are effective), and understand our behaviors. Without self-awareness, personal growth becomes a random and inefficient endeavor. It’s like “throwing ideas up against the wall to see what sticks,” a process that lacks crucial elements. This leads to a frustrating trial-and-error approach, wasting valuable time and energy.

    Therefore, self-awareness is the foundational component of our personal growth, enabling us to identify and appreciate new skills, confidence, and competence as they emerge. Simultaneously, self-awareness is crucial for detecting and managing negative byproducts like stress, frustration, or burnout, preventing them from halting the entire growth process.

    Breaking Down the Components of Our Campfire vs Personal Growth Analogy

    Let’s define start by defining our chemical reaction process as the following:

    Reactants + Catalyst + Activation Energy – Initiates – Reaction Mechanism – Yields – Products + Byproducts

    Supplies 

    What items in the campfire example or which skills in the case of personal growth, do we need to accumulate before starting each process?

    For the campfire analogy, we need: paper and kindling (small twigs and branches) to get the fire started, larger pieces of wood (logs) to serve as the fuel, and matches or a lighter to introduce heat to ignite the flame.

    Personal growth demands a combination of essential resources and skills. Essential supplies include strong communication, critical thinking, and time management skills. Additionally, we need an inherent sense of personal accountability and access to various resources such as time, money, and mentors. Information resources, whether online, textbooks, or coursework, are also crucial. Finally, a secure and supportive environment is vital for this process.

    Personal Commentary – The Importance of a Safe, Secure, and Supportive Environment

    During my tine teaching middle school science, I was mentored by a teacher who advocated for a pass/fail grading policy for students during their middle school years, grades 6-8. He believed that the significant emotional and developmental changes experienced by students aged 12-15 made it more important to focus on building essential communication, study, time management and critical thinking skills rather than pressuring them with specific grade requirements. He also pointed out the growing number of students facing poverty, living in single-parent homes, living in fear of abuse, and dealing with various crises, leading to a lack of sufficient rest, parental support, and proper nutrition. Citing Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, he argued that these stressors needed to be addressed before students could be expected to achieve academic excellence in the classroom.

    Reactants (Campfire vs the Process of Personal Growth Analogy)

    For our campfire analogy, the reactants are straightforward; they consist of wood (fuel), which is the source of stored potential energy, and oxygen.

    Personal growth is fueled by key personality traits. These “reactants” include creativity, an open-mindedness to new ideas, a passion for learning and problem-solving, and the crucial ability to persevere through obstacles.

    Indicators

    In the campfire analogy, the sustained flame’s heat and light serve as the indicator, visually confirming the reaction is occurring and progressing.

    Self-awareness serves as a crucial metric for our dedication to personal growth. This dedication is shaped by our curiosity, persistence, and the joy we experience from the process, As lifelong learners, our progress in these areas can be measured through our academic or career achievements.

    Activation Energy

    In the campfire analogy, the initial heat needed to ignite the paper or kindling acts as the activation energy for the combustion reaction. This reaction involves the burning of fuel (wood) in the presence of oxygen, which produces heat and light. A flame from a lighter or matches provides this initial activation energy, initiating the reaction. Once started, the heat generated by the burning wood sustains the reaction, causing subsequent additions of fuel to ignite.

    Personal growth begins with activation energy—our initial investment of effort, time, and focus. This crucial first step helps us overcome our reluctance to start new projects, defeat self-doubt, and combat our natural inertia, our resistance towards change. It requires aligning our personal goals with both our internal motivations, our drive to engage in an activity purely for the inherent pleasure, satisfaction, or challenge it provides, and external motivations, our drive to perform an activity in order to achieve rewards, praise, money, grades, status, or to avoid negative consequences (like failing a class, being grounded, or later in life, getting fired from our job).

    Catalysts

    (Important: by definition,a catalyst is never used up or depleted in the reaction process.)

    If you have ever had to build a campfire you may recognize this catalyst in the campfire analogy, it is the absolute dependence on the flow of air around and through the campfire itself. This airflow is the mechanism that speed up the process of burning, providing access to the oxygen crucial to the combustion process.  

    Personal growth is driven by catalysts, which include the foundational steps of the personal growth “building” we discussed in a previous blog post, our dreams, aspirations, and goals. These are combined with both intrinsic expectations (how we expect ourselves to progress) and extrinsic expectations (the expectations of family and others) to propel us forward in our personal growth journey.

    Reaction Mechanism

    In chemistry, a reaction mechanism is the step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions that leads from reactants to products. It’s the detailed path the reaction takes. When we apply this to personal growth, the reaction mechanism is not a single, fixed procedure but a continuous, self-correcting process.

    In our campfire analogy, the reaction process is a combustion reaction, the process of combining fuel and oxygen with the activation energy provided by the match or a lighter, to initiate a chemical reaction that produces heat and light as products.

    Personal growth is a journey towards a goal or personal transformation, much like a chemical reaction. It involves a methodical process of learning, similar to the scientific method, where knowledge is gained and applied through observation. This leads to the development of strategies, which are then implemented through habits, discipline, and focus to transform effort into skill. Ultimately, this process enables us to identify and conquer obstacles.

    Products

    We define a product as the desired output of a process, or the desired outcome of success.

    In the campfire analogy, the products are heat (thermal energy) and light.

    The desired outcome of personal growth is multifaceted, encompassing skills and competencies, such as mastering a trade, or individual definitions of success, like a specific title or salary. Ultimately, however, I would argue, we should strive in the long-term to gain in wisdom.

    Byproducts

    A campfire’s combustion reaction produces unintended and undesirable byproducts: ashes, which are mineral waste, and smoke, a form of air pollution consisting of uncombusted particles.

    Our personal growth journey, unlike a chemical reaction, yields byproducts that can be either positive or negative, depending on the nature of the growth itself. When we engage in what we call “exothermic growth,” our investment of personal energy results in a positive return or outcome. This beneficial growth produces desirable byproducts such as compassion, critical thinking skills, humility, and resiliency.

    Conversely, “endothermic growth” occurs when we invest more personal energy than we receive in return. This imbalance can lead to negative, unintended emotional or psychological consequences, including anxiety, burnout, fear, frustration, and stress.

    Therefore, self-awareness is crucial. It enables us to identify and prioritize rewarding, exothermic activities while simultaneously recognizing and minimizing endothermic activities that drain our personal energy and are misaligned with our personal goals and ambitions.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, just like a well-tended campfire provides warmth and light, a mindful approach to personal growth can yield profound and lasting benefits. By understanding the “chemistry” of our own development—recognizing the needed components, our supplies, reactants, and the crucial role of activation energy and catalysts—we can more effectively guide our journey. Cultivating self-awareness allows us to prioritize “exothermic growth” and minimize the less desirable “endothermic” byproducts, ensuring our personal evolution is not only productive but also sustainable and deeply rewarding.

  • Weekly Quotation: October 7, 2025: The Power of Humility and Wisdom

    For your consideration:

    The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability as opposed to resilience and hard work, we will be brittle in the face of adversity.

    – Joshua Waitzkin

    I believe we are all endowed by God with unique gifts and abilities. Our professional and personal success is determined by how we embrace the responsibilities that accompany these blessings. From my experience, the belief that one is the “smartest person in the room,” based on a misguided self-assessment or external validation, such as our parents for example, and therefore we don’t need to make an investment of time and effort in our own success, is pure arrogance and a path to failure.

    Throughout my life, I’ve made the mistake of thinking I didn’t need to put in the effort, acknowledge my shortcomings, or address my weaknesses by seeking counsel from more knowledgeable and experienced individuals. Shamefully, I follow the same pattern too often. When I’m offered a new opportunity that challenges my present mindset, I throw myself wholeheartedly into gaining the knowledge needed to be successful. Yet, once I feel like I am recognized as an “expert” by my supervisors, coworkers, or, worse yet, my own perception of my abilities, I become arrogant, stop seeking the input of others, and start to think that my way is the only way. For every step forward along my path to personal success, I take two steps back.

    Now in my sixties, I have lived enough life to understand that wisdom is a crucial component in facing adversity, in persevering through hard times, and in being resilient. Wisdom that comes through knowledge and experience. A wisdom I’ve found by rediscovering scripture, particularly the books of Psalms and Proverbs. Despite how the world and technology have evolved, the struggles we encounter as humans on our journey to becoming better people remain the same. We simply need to be humble enough to seek guidance beyond ourselves.

  • Weekly Quotation: October 1, 2025: Chemistry: My Journey From Struggle to Passion

    For your consideration:

    Chemistry is not torture but instead the amazing and beautiful science of stuff, and if you give it a chance, it will not only blow your mind but also give you a deeper understanding of your world.

    – Hank Green

    My initial perception of chemistry differed significantly from Hank Green’s. My unfortunate experience with Dr. Bill Sagar’s Organic I course and his synthesis lab at Centre College in the late 1970s was responsible for this perspective. I would have preferred a novocaine-free wisdom tooth extraction to repeating that freshman year course. The sheer volume of material on his exams, coupled with my inability to memorize and regurgitate facts, proved overwhelming. Furthermore, I found the compound syntheses in the lab impossible. While I excel at instrumental lab activities and compound extractions, Dr. Sagar’s lab experience was so disheartening that it nearly destroyed my desire for any further lab courses at Centre. Ultimately, that single course, in which I received a “D,” sealed my fate as a pre-med major.

    A year later, Dr. John Walkup, who was the Chair of the Chemistry Division, and would become my mentor, presented a holistic view of chemistry in his courses. He emphasized the habits, traits, and skills crucial to be successful as a chemist. His approach inspired in me an appreciation and passion for chemistry in all areas, from Organic II (yes, I enrolled in and survived a second year of Organic, this time I got a “B”) to Physical Chemistry (a stunning blend of math and chemistry) and Instrumental Chemistry (which became my true love). We explored  not just the how but also why reactions occurred, but also their application, their importance in different field of chemistry. We were taught to “think’ like a chemist, the importance of observation – recognizing strengths and weaknesses of a chemical process, then identifying the possible sources of error in our analyses.

    After 35-plus years in various fields of chemistry, I strongly recommend to student pursuing a chemistry major or a broader STEM career that I tutor, to maintain an open mind throughout their science coursework. It will not always be an easy path to follow. You will encounter challenges, and there will be days when switching to business management or accounting might seem appealing. However, persevere. Have faith in yourself. Seek out mentors, engage with your professors, learn their office hours, and visit frequently. While it may now always seem like it, I can assure you that chemistry is a beautiful field of study. It is both an art and a science, inviting you to experience the wonder and awe of the world around you.

  • Personal Growth as a Series of Energy Transformations

    The Law of Conservation of Energy

    Have you ever felt completely drained after a project, even a successful one? Or, conversely, felt energized and alive after tackling a difficult challenge? The reason for this might be found in a fundamental law of the universe: the conservation of energy.

    The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. The principle of conservation of energy absolutely applies to the process of your personal growth. You can’t get energy out without putting energy in.

    In our chemical reaction analogy for personal growth, this principle is foundational. It means that the personal energy you have is a finite resource that must be accounted for. It can’t simply disappear.

    We can view our personal growth as a series of energy transformations. In this model, you are the most precious resource you have—your personal energy. Personal growth requires an investment of personal energy—your time, effort, focus, and emotional commitment—to initiate and sustain a change. The outcome you get is a direct result of this transformation.

    The key to living the life you desire isn’t about finding more energy; it’s about choosing where to invest the energy you have.

    Exothermic Personal Growth

    An exothermic reaction is one that releases more energy than it takes to get started. Think of a campfire: you invest a small amount of energy to light a match, but the fire then releases a much greater amount of heat and light. 

    Exothermic personal growth is a process that provides a net gain. In a highly efficient “reaction,” your invested energy is transformed into a net gain of new, positive energy. This is the ideal. It’s a process where your small, intentional investment of personal energy leads to a large and rewarding release of positive energy. 

    For example, the challenging work of learning a new skill that brings you joy, taking on a difficult but meaningful project, having a deep, honest conversation with your friend. These actions require effort, but the feeling of accomplishment, connection, and confidence you get in return is a powerful surplus. The emotional reward is far greater than the initial effort.

    Endothermic Personal Growth 

    An endothermic reaction is one that absorbs energy from its surroundings. Think of a chemical cold pack: it needs to absorb energy from the environment to become cold. The process leaves the surroundings with less energy. In a draining “reaction,” your energy is transformed into by-products like stress, frustration, and burnout. You put in a great amount of personal energy, but because the process is inefficient or misaligned with your goals, you are left feeling drained and with a net loss of energy.

    It’s when you are constantly investing a large amount of personal energy into a process or relationship, with very little emotional or mental energy being returned. This could be staying in a job that makes you miserable for too long, trying to earn the approval of someone who constantly criticizes you, or pursuing a goal out of obligation, not because you’re passionate about it. These are processes that leave you feeling drained. The energy you invest is not returned to you, or the products of the “reaction” aren’t worth the cost.

    Key Understanding

    In this analogy, you are the “chemist” of your own life. You can’t create more energy, but you can choose where to direct the energy you have. Your goal is to design a life filled with reactions where a small investment of intentional effort yields a significant release of personal energy, making the entire growth process both powerful and sustainable. To identify and pursue the exothermic reactions that fill you up and provide momentum for the next challenge. Just as importantly, you must recognize and minimize the endothermic reactions that drain your most precious resource: your personal energy.

    Personal Commentary: The Importance of Self-awareness

    I’m a perfect example of how the benefits of exothermic personal growth, such as accomplishment and confidence, can lead to negative outcomes. For much of my life, I have made the most of my God-given intelligence and my ability to grasp and explain complex concepts, gaining recognition and self-confidence. However, as this recognition grew, my self-confidence transformed into arrogance. I stopped recognizing and acknowledging my weaknesses, believing my way the the best or only way and that I no longer needed others’ help. This led me to forge ahead alone, alienating people and ultimately causing my failure. The very processes that were initially energizing became draining, leading to frustration, resentment, and the abandonment of those career paths.

    At the time, I blamed others for my setbacks. Now, with age, wisdom, and a new perspective, I realize I was my own worst enemy. This highlights the critical importance of self-awareness in navigating our lives. It shapes our perspective, ensuring we neither waste our energy nor allow positive, personal growth to become a long-term detriment. Self-awareness is the key to developing our action plan, the specific steps and habits we need to follow, the “procedure” in our chemical reaction analogy of personal growth. 

  • Weekly Quotation: September 24, 2025: Embracing Resilience: Overcoming Life’s Challenges

    For your consideration:

    I think that life is difficult. People have challenges. Family members get sick, people get older, you don’t always get the job or the promotion that you want. You have conflicts in your life. And really, life is about your resilience and your ability to go through your life and all of the ups and downs with a positive attitude.

    – Jennifer Hyman

    After undergoing five spinal surgeries in the past twelve years, I’ve come to accept chronic pain as my new normal. I understand this is the hand I’ve been dealt and must manage it daily. My faith in God and my perspective on life are the only things I truly control. I lean into stoicism, focusing on what I can control: my emotions, my reactions to situations, and my demeanor. I accept what is beyond my control—the actions and behaviors of others, external events, and fate.

    I strive to prevent my countenance from revealing my pain and discomfort, choosing not to complain about my situation. Instead, I try to be a concerned, interested, and active listener, showing compassion for others’ challenges. This path is not easy, but through prayer—asking for strength, wisdom, and compassion, and giving thanks for all of God’s blessings—I feel I am making progress toward becoming the best version of myself.