Musings of an Old Chemist

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

Tag: dealing with adversity

  • Our Journey of Self-Discovery

    Our Journey of Self-Discovery

    Our lives, for each of us, are individualized journeys of discovery. 

    It is about discovering who we are as individuals – not based on someone else’s expectations of who we should be or how we should act, but grounded in our own convictions and beliefs. 

    It is about discovering what our passions truly are, whether in the STEM environment, the liberal arts, or a vocation that does not require a college degree. Again, this must not be driven by the desires of others, even well-meaning parents or mentors, but found through our own active process of self-discovery.

    It means discovering our strengths and weaknesses through a continuous process of self-assessment, recognizing just how strong we can be in the face of adversity.

    It requires discovering what we need to be truly successful: communication skills, study habits, a growth mindset, perseverance, and resilience.

    For this path of discovery to be effective, we must remain open to constructive criticism, instruction from our parents, teachers, and mentors, and an honest appraisal of ourselves and the skills, personality traits, and tendencies essential for personal growth. The accumulation of knowledge for its own sake is important, but it does not entirely define who we are.

    Ultimately, we must acknowledge that there is always more to learn and more to reflect upon. Regardless of our age, there is always room to improve—not just as engineers, scientists, or teachers, but as caring, compassionate human beings.

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

    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.