“It’s nice to be surrounded by people who not only care about the same thing you do but are also willing to help”- Rachel Richardson, Marine Biology, UWF c/o 2016
Yes, being a science major is tough, but at least, there are other people who know what the struggle is really like. If you relate to these twelve things, then you might be a science major.
1. There are not enough hours in the day
You are not the typical “just go to class” type of student. You live, eat and breathe science. If you are not in class then you are probably knee deep in your Organic Chemistry textbook. You probably are involved in three clubs, have a job, shadow a physician, do research and volunteer. There are twenty-four hours in the day but you literally have forty-eight hours worth of things to do.
2. You only talk about school.
Jill is dating who? You could care less. Let's talk about the fact that there are two different types of immune response..... Or the fact that the lysosome causes apoptosis in the cell?!! This is why it is called the “suicide sac.” Who knew?! I told everyone that when I found out. It is like word vomit, you just want to tell everyone the cool things you know. Oh and by the way “vitamin sea” is not a clever caption, you get vitamin D from the sun. VITAMIN D!!
3. If they are not in your major, then you probably can't date them.
No offense but who has time for significant others or friends outside of the science realm? I know I don’t. I mean I miss my friends that I grew up with, but I am way too busy with school. I can not afford to waste my time doing anything else. The library is my home away from home.
4. You know how to secretly ruin somebody's day.
Do not mess with me, I will mess you up (with knowledge). I have been taught that Poison Ivy in a fire can spread ashes and get in your lungs. I know that Zylotol is a laxative substitute and Is usually in sugar-free gummies, like gummy bears. Oh and chlorosulfonic acid….. you know what I will let you look that one up.
5. You do not sleep.
SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK. I am trying to get into Med School. Who has time for eight hours of sleep?? I am super happy if I even get six hours of sleep. I take cat naps a lot. The best time to sleep is during that one lecture class where the professor just reads off the slides. (We all have that one professor).
6. You can tell science jokes.
"What did one cell say to his sister cell that stepped on his toes?"
Mitosis.
7. You own too many science shirts.
Science t-shirts are out of this world. I have several NASA t-shirts and chemistry related t-shirts. My favorite t-shirt I have right now says: “Lose an electron, gotta keep an eye on it.” Honestly though no one, I mean NO ONE, can beat Dr. Lepo’s t-shirts.
8. No that’s not a hexagon…
It’s a benzene ring.
9. You can read and understand the ingredients on product labels.
Yes, most people are capable of reading a shampoo bottle, but do they understand what that stuff is? Thanks to chemistry courses and my chemistry peers, I do. Among the superfluous things I know, I also know why we use soap to get rid of dirt. Look up “micelle” if you are wondering.
10. At some point science will break your heart.
In some way or another, you will come to the end of your science college career and realize most of what you have been learning is a lie or a waste. Senior science classes have taught me so much. I have taken so many biology, genetics, and chemistry related classes. This semester I finally am taking classes that are towards medicine. Immunology is a hard class, but I love it. I have never loved a class so much. It just sucks that it has taken 21 years to reach this point of realization that everything eventually comes together.
11. Studying is your hobby.
I love that question “What is your hobby?” I always give the same answer: “studying.” I mean what else am I going to do with my “free time.” There is no such thing. If you arent studying then you are probably taking a test. After that test you are probably contemplating if you should have studied more.
12. You would not trade it for the world.
There is nothing else I would rather do than do what I am doing now. Every day I am challenged and rewarded in some way. Even when I fail I still see the light at the end of the tunnel. Science is the tool to help our environment and our health. There is nothing better to do than to dedicate my life to helping others through my knowledge of science. I want to provide a cure to a diagnosis, I want to teach people things they don’t know, and I want people to live and lead a better life because of what I do.
By the time you are a senior you will realize that there were so many people who strayed the path you fought so hard to stay on. The people that you now see are those who are meant to do wonderful things. Whether its Marine Biology, Pre-Med, Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry we all share the same passion. We all share the same struggles.
