Description
When I heard the word “enthalpy” for the first time in high school chemistry class, I got fascinated by what I thought was its mysterious nature. I indeterminately recall a first encounter with enthalpy and the laws of thermodynamics. It was more than 4 years ago. I remember the laboratory, the teacher and even my sitting position; in the first row, directly facing where the chemistry teacher stood.
Mr. Markus was explaining a number of formulations that manifest in the laws of thermodynamics, that we had come across in physics class and finally introducing this galvanizing and mystifying quantity named “enthalpy.” I was bewildered. Until that moment, Mr. Markus had been discussing concepts that were pretty familiar to us; energy, heat, temperature, volume and time. Unexpectedly an entirely new word, we never heard before, that completely carried a new concept, was introduced. What is enthalpy and why is it always positive? Can we touch it or feel it with any of our senses? When Mr. Markus was finally through with his lesson, he quickly said, “If by any chance you didn’t understand enthalpy and the laws of thermodynamics, you don’t have to panic. You are still in good company. The laws are not meant to be understood at this stage, but you will understand some of it in two years’ time, in case you’ll be lucky to pursue Chemistry related careers.” With these closing remarks, he obviously escaped any further illustrations of enthalpy and the laws of thermodynamics. We were all left tongue-tied, our quests for understanding these concepts were left unsatisfied, but it just triggered off my curiosity. Curiosity that played a critical role in my life, curiosity that would influence my career prospect.
I gained interest in chemistry and all I wanted was a career that would give me the opportunity to understand deeply what enthalpy and the laws of thermodynamics are really about. It is pretty obvious that I gained interest in Chemistry and wanted to be a theoretical chemist, but my parents wouldn’t let me after form four. My interest to further my studies in the subject grew even more when I got invited by Mr. Markus, the deputy principal in my former high school to teach high school chemistry after a did my final exam. I taught the subject for 6 months under his supervision, before joining campus. During that period, Mr. Markus mentored me; he explained to me how diverse the Chemistry career is and how I would make a good chemist.
After six months as a chemistry teacher, it was time to join campus, as the (VET), the body in charge of placement had already sent us results of our applications.
If I have to make a sentence summary for the decision I made during my period of application and that of switching my course from Geospatial Engineering to Applied Chemistry, I would definitely say; it was a period making a decision full of regrets and that without regrets respectively. Thus after high school, I learned to evaluate each decision I make. A few years have elapsed and I have learned numerous things that I would like to review before the memories fade away.
Decision I: Wrong Decision!
I entered the University of South Australia with an offer to study Geospatial Engineering. In this programme, a typical freshman’s year entailed taking all fundamental classes for Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering Graphics et cetera. At the time of application, I didn’t even understand precisely what Geospatial Engineering really was. But why would I apply for a career I didn’t know about at first? Well, my parents influenced my decision; they discouraged me from pursuing a Chemistry career. The only reason they did this was because they were afraid that someday I would be the poor Chemist; that the Chemist job wouldn’t pay me enough money, but Engineering would. And so my dad encouraged me to apply for different Engineering programs; Geospatial, Aeronautical and Aerospace engineering. When I thought I would graduate with this degree, a lecture rendered me a completely different option.
One afternoon during the first week of my semester 1, academic year 2, I randomly decided to attend a lecture in the physics department. It’s so interesting that the lecture was about Statistical Thermodynamics and the lecturer discussed “Entropy” and the Second law of Thermodynamics. Wait a minute! It’s now entropy and the second law; another completely new term that sounded to be in the same context as the “enthalpy” I learnt back in high school chemistry. These two words appeared in Thermodynamics. The professor reminded me of a concept I once promised myself that I would investigate in details someday. That afternoon after the beautiful lecture by Prof. Odote, I came out of the lecture theater with an informed decision to change my career, even though I had wasted time pursuing a career I had no interest in whatsoever.
Decision 2: Right Decision!
This time round I failed to involve my parents in my decision to do a late inter-faculty transfer, but I consulted Prof. J.O Lalah, director school of Physical Sciences and Technology; who’s still my mentor to date, if it was a good idea to do a late inter-faculty transfer. “It’s not too late son, so long as you trust your decision this time. Just make sure it’s the right call for you this time.” He said. He explained the entire process to me and without wasting time I prepared every required document and switched my career from Geospatial Engineering to Applied Chemistry. The following week, I was ready to start a new programme with freshmen, my dream career.
I’ve had passion for being a scientist and discovering frontiers that extend to infinity since I was a kid. This time round I didn’t involve my parents and found it right.
Conclusion
This made me believe that taking much time making a decision does not necessarily mean it’s an informed decision, but it has to be carefully made.
There are often times when you aren’t perfectly prepared. Times when unexpected events manifest; it’s normally important to grab the most efficient way to approach your problems and to do your best when you are unprepared.
Learn to say no for every decision that doesn’t seem right for you.
For two years now have proved that my decision was right. My current faculty pushed me to take over a number of responsibilities by speaking up in public during project presentations in conferences. A number of opportunities have manifested and I use the opportunities to practice my public speaking and leadership skills.
I appreciated the golden opportunity to designing own educational path without being bothered by anyone else.
