Science
I’ve been thinking a lot about time lately. This week marks 10 years since Den and I officially started dating, the first time I flew out to MA to see him. (We had met in person once prior, then developed a relationship online.) It’s also the year that I turn 30, and the year that I am having my third kid. Suddenly it is very noticeable that time has moved forward.
It’s kind of funny going back to college. In a lot of ways I still feel like that person I was before, that college kid – but I’m not. I look at the young kids sitting in my class around me and realize how little they know of life. And I would have hated someone saying that to me when I was in college. But they just have a look about them, sassy dress and attitude covering up their wide eyes and confusion. My belly gets a lot of glances when I look down the hall (either that or I keep getting toilet paper stuck to my shoe or something). I am the oddity. I don’t feel old, but at the same time I’m clearly different. I am a good student – a very good student, actually – but I also expect my instructors to understand that life is a lot bigger than school, than this one class. I do my best, and I am getting very good grades, but there are days when the babysitter is late or my kid is sick and I just might not make it to class that day. I remember the attitude some of the instructors had with us back during my first degree, and that would so not fly with me now. I am lucky so far that my instructors seem to get it.
Going back to school has also brought up a lot of questions in my mind about where I want to go in life. I am of course a mother and I love this job more than anything in the world, but being a mother was never the only goal I had in life. While they are little I fully intend to be here for them, being a stay at home mom was always my plan. But after they get older, then what? Go back to work… what work? I’ve always had this vague concept that I will have a career some day – not a job, but a real career – I just have never been too clear on what exactly that’s going to be. I’m still not. And it feels weird to be taking the first steps down this path not knowing where the heck it’s leading.
I seem to be sure about one thing, though: I want to do something important, and it will be in science. Maybe research. I’ve always been the girl who was fascinated by astronomy and physics and theories and discoveries. Combine that with my love of organizing minutiae and I think there are any number of areas that I would excel in. But not just that. I think I’m the kind of person who would excel in a lot of things. But doing research and being on the leading edge of science, that is something I would feel good doing.
I hope somehow I can make that happen.
It is so nice to have plans, evem if they are still vague.
I don’t talk about it much, but I am a teacher and I try very hard to remember that mine is not the only class. I don’t give busy work, so when I gie assignments, I actually expect them to be done. Just last week, I had a student absent for four days with a nasty virus. When she returned, I said, “Here’s your work. I imagine you have a lot to make-up. I am patient, so do this last.” She was so relieved that someone understood and I’ll et higher quality work because she will do her best instead of just rushing to finish.
Have you considered embryology? I think you’d be excellent!
That’s really great. :) I definitely give my all to assignments and projects – and I get very good grades. But definitely now things like being late to class are happening more often than I would like!
I am actually considering embryology! It’s definitely a field I have a big interest in, for obvious reasons. and how cool would it be to be on the leading edge of new IVF technology, after all that I have gone through?
I would love for you to be my embryologist when we do IVF again! :)
Nat,through experience,I can tell you that all you need in order to reach your life goals (after you are a mother) is the support of your family (your husband)…if you have that,then you can do anything.
I had my son at the age of 18 and I hadent done much of anything before then.I was your tipical know it all teenager who just wanted to get away from my parents (long story)..Then I met my husband at the age of 19,I married at 20 and by the age of 21,I had 2 kids.
I look back on my life and all I´ve ever done is stay at home and be a mom..why? Because that´s all I´ve ever been allowed to do.Yes,I love being a mother,and I love my kids more than anything in the world,but this has been my only option..which makes me feel very sorry for myself ALOT of the time.
I evny any woman who is with someone that lets her be who she is and do what makes her happy,you are very blessed and I wish you lots of luck with your career ;) You´ll do great no matter what you chose :)
OMG or if the babysitter doesn’t show up – LOL! I am like 1/3 for being there AND on time. ;)
Since I’ve been in college for like 40 years lol I can relate to that first half in that, I suddenly realize I am not 21 anymore. And it is a really weird feeling. You don’t feel old, but there is this entire generation gap between you and the youngest kids in college. I always feel like I’m in a weird place at school because I don’t fit in with the younger crowd and then the “older” crowd is much older… 40-50 somethings that have decided to go back to school. Thank goodness I’ll be done soon…finally lol I am hoping that getting a masters (if I get accepted into my basically only school of choice) will feel a little more normal since it seems that people in that program come from all walks of life.
I think that the environment of college has changed a lot over the past few years. All kinds of people are going back to school, it’s not just 19 year old kids with nothing better to do who have no excuse not to be in class every day… thankfully a lot of professors are getting better at remembering people have lives outside of school.