Last night I went to the University with the S.O. We were there for a Science Café, separating this Tuesday from pretty much any other Tuesday I’ve ever experienced; I had not really experienced any of the the Science Café circuit previously . The event was centred around Charles Darwin’s 200th Birthday and was comprised of students (from junior high to undergrad) and mentors (from both the working field to graduate and post graduate students). The format was: lecture, questions, introduce, mingle.
Did I enjoy myself? Yes.
Did a large portion of the information go well beyond my ability (or interest) to understand? Yes.
Towards the end of the evening, I get my money’s worth (I paid nothing… so really, I guess I get my time’s worth). Everyone on the mentorship side of the spectrum stands up and introduces themselves and mentions one ‘cool thing’ about their lives. Each mentor in their own words tries their best to describe why they love throwing themselves into work they believe in while trying their best to navigate the direction that “throwing” of themselves will take.
Do I have the right type or amount of intelligence to take on a graduate science degree? No, I don’t even have all three high school sciences.
Do I feel nearly ready to take on a graduate education degree, if not (for whatever reason) this summer… a summer very soon? Yes, for sure I do! …and after last night, for all the right reasons.
I’m ready for learning I want to do all day. I’m ready to take on something I barely think I can. I’m ready for, as one mentor describes, the licence to investigate anything I want to. I won’t be looking too closely at ATP Formation at a Cellular Level nor Organic History. I love teaching and now, after some time here in Calgary, I’m well-aware that I love learning. I have unique abilities that I’m ready to crack open and explore more fully, and am actively looking for opportunities to do just that.
So.
Whether French, or Drama, or Chemical Biology: lately, my learning experiences have created a strong desire for more.
(Nothing new realized, just a realization made stronger). (All, at a very unlikely place).