Sometime around the end of this past semester, Dr. Craig, my physics advisor, and I were talking about scientific maturity - a sort of being comfortable with what you are doing in lab. I felt as though, by the end of the year, I had a certain level of "know how" in Organic Lab that prevented me from some of the worrying I used to do. For example, a little extra solvent wasn't a big deal. Lab started making a bit more inherent sense. I don't really know when it happened, or when I noticed it, but it's great when it finally happens. It gave me a new measure of confidence. Not a lot, but more than I had, which is always a good start.
And then I came here. All of that confidence went out the window. I was certain I would fumble and, not exactly fail, but, perhaps not do as well as I could or should. After all, I break things. I spill things. And I'm afraid to fail, because that's not what I usually do. I don't let failure become an option. But here, it has to be.
I've broken something. I've spilled something. I've failed (that was today, when I added the reagents the wrong way). Failure is okay. My partner in crime and birthday buddy Thomas Edison knew that better than anyone. It's okay to fail, as long as it does not stop you from continued attempts at success.
And, as Greg informed me on the retreat in April, "you will break more beakers." All too true. It's a good thing glass is recyclable. :)
- Rachel
Beakers are indeed recyclable! None of us is perfect all the time!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are seeing the glass "half full," rather than "half empty."
Best,
Andrew
Aww Ray Cay, these were both inspiring and laugh provoking words. I love keeping up to date both via chat and via your research blogs. If at first you don't succeed: Try, Try, Try, Again!
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