Show Me the Way

In my young life, it was always the teachers who gave me meaning. In Sunday school, the regular classroom- it was they who would pull me aside, encourage me, and tell me I could do it. I heard it often enough to believe them. After all, if someone so together, successful (anyone who had a full-time job and decent clothes was successful in my mind) would pull me aside, I took careful note of their advise to me. It was always teachers. I, myself **NEVER** EVER thought I would teach. It was never a goal. When I started grad school, I was asked to teach a section of intro bio. That was terrifying, considering that I was barely older than my students. I had a knack for it though. I was asked to teach at UVA over and over and over again. Still though, I thought I would be a research scientist. Now I do both, but a great amount of my meaning in my life comes from my students. I think they learn a lot from me- science, for sure, but also how to treat people, and that investing a bit of one's self is ok. There are some students who i have invested a lot in, and I daresay, I have been a mom figure away from home for them. Not all my students, but definitely many. This has given me meaning when I have felt beaten down. It has allowed me to love and be loved when I felt so unloved, time and again.

Since I have stumbled onto this path of teaching, I have tried to be the best that I can be.  It is a lot of work.  A lot of reading, a lot of conferences, a lot of writing, a lot of WORK, but I am willing to make that investment.  The students that I have had come back to me years later (am I really that old already??) have told me how much they learned and remember from my classes.  That is just the most awesome thing to hear.   It keeps me inspired and feeling like, "yes, this is worth it."

My way of teaching is to teach by showing them how to solve hard problems, where to find information, and how to do experiments.  It is very valuable.

 

This week, I spend another several days working on PCR and it is working, people!  The water was off (pH) and messing up everything.  We have it working now though.  That is so good.  It is very frustrating when an experiment suddenly stops working.

That was 5 weeks of time though, not much fun, but oh, that victory was sweet.

I have a friend come visit with her kiddos this week.  They are on Spring break and her daughter is the most amazingly smart 7 year old I have met in a while.  She REALLY wanted to see a centrifuge, so... yeah.  I made that happen.

I also showed them how to extract DNA from cheek cells, and perform a PCR (that is finally working again) and then look at their DNA using gel electrophoresis.  It was really an awesome day in the lab.  I am so grateful that I can do this.  It is essential for me to help others, and when people are curious... I am ALL about that.

Those kiddos have such an awesome mom too.  That was the best part.  Connecting with another mom so committed and in love with her children.

Janessa is also doing well- which is... it is truly a miracle, really.  How could anyone say any different?  Her doctors had very little hope... To think back to February and March... it was the longest scary time.  That she is doing ok- going to the Y every morning, texting me... it is just incredible.  The tears of fear, hope, joy, love, relief I have shed for her... It is just remarkable.  We both feel like this was  a wake-up call for us, and that we are so lucky to have a sister.  It is just... miraculous.

This week, I also finished up Alexis's photos.  She is just such a precious soul to me as well.  It was just awesome to wander around nature with her, and see her and talk to her, and photograph her. 

While she changed clothes, I got to photograph new flowers.  It was just a perfect evening.

 Then, I went to my first Master's Thesis defense as a committee member.  She rocked it, and the tenderness of her adviser when he introduced her was just... so, so sweet.

Asher had his first school program, and talk about proud momma...

A little cha-cha-cha

He bowed every time people clapped ;-)

They came down to sing to us at the end, and he was SHOCKED I happened to be right in front of where he stood.  SO SO GLAD I got his reaction.  Even when he sees me every day, he still is happy to see me.  That is perfect.

A little post-singing photo op.

I also got some of my very close friend's little ones.

Yesterday, I took most of my Bioinformatics class to present at Phage Phest at William and Mary.  They were SO SO good.

They even closed with a song because I was in charge.  Like I said, I teach in a way that they will not forget ;-)

I had a wonderful day with them and am way more cool having been included in their 20 year old conversations and antics ;-)


This is also holy week.  My first ever without a church.  It is a little strange, for certain.  I am seeking though, and I am ok with where I am.  I have never been more sure I am in a good place with myself.

This sight stirred my soul.