Purification Process Through Chemistry

You can read my previous posts and see there that I refer to difficulty in school. I was ashamed, embarrassed that I was having a tough time in this one class very related to my major. Well, the major that I was wanting to pick up.

The last few days, I've had some difficult decisions to make, so went to talk to some professors and GTA's (graduate teaching assistants). I was considering a change of major, since it's difficult to pursue a career in research (and minor in computer science) when you have three homeschooled children.

I'm on the A/B cusp in microbiology, though I've been a little disappointed with my performance in that class. But chemistry...that's been the real kicker.

While there are always some difficulties in chemistry, I've been performing under my potential. Maybe I'm overloaded, stretched for time, or maybe it's the professor, or some combination of all of these things. (I know for sure that I was 3 chapters behind, going into this semester.)

Well, yes on the first, yes on the second. Speaking to my micro professor and GTA, my chem prof is "like primo." You can take this prof for chem 1 and then anyone else for chem 2, but you can't take anyone else for chem 1 and him for chem 2, which is exactly where I am. It really discourages me because I want to KNOW chemistry, not just think I know chemistry. You know?

But, I do want to get my degree, too. So, I may get a D or F in chemistry this semester and have to retake it. Add to that that I'm coming from a community college to university and having to adjust...

I've come to the conclusion that I will still aim to do my best (no shot at an A, right now), and whatever comes, comes. If I have to retake chemistry, so be it. That is, unless I become a computer science major.

I really don't know where I ought to be. I'd prefer a major in the natural sciences, but if that's not possible...

Let me let you know why I wanted to go into biology in the first place. My grandmother has diabetes and I wanted to understand the current treatments and find better ones, not limiting my scope to medications but extending into cure (research).

I'm still fascinated by research. And now, my dad has diabetes, and so that means I've got 2 marks against me for the future.

I just learned, however, that University of Florida may be on the verge of a cure for diabetes. This doesn't dampen my interest, at all, just redirects it.

I want to be where God wants me to be, but I can't continue on at this pace. I feel like I'm losing touch with my family, at times, and that just kills me. I had to recommit to our family fun day (Sunday) and inject time for prayer, which is still shaky for me. I pray, but not in a structured way, which doesn't help me feel like I've spent a good amount of time with God.

Anyway, computer science and programming have been easy for me, thus far. While I was not attending school, I taught myself HTML and did a number of installs to learn other coding/languages. I was already embarking on javascript. Now, I've learned C and it puts what I was learning in js in a new light.

I have an opportunity to go to Thailand this summer and minister to missionaries whose lives are endangered, daily. They could use those trained in the medical sciences and in computers (encryption, upgrade, etc). Which do I do? Either can be used for God. I just ask that He lead me, so that His work can be done and my family provided for.

I plan to post a separate post on the Thailand trip, but ask that you will pray with and for me, and if you don't think you could do that, but want to do something, offer your thoughts on the choices before me. May God bless whatever you are able to contribute, whether to me or to someone else.

Regi G