(no subject)
Sooooo I might have just decided to double-major in Biology as well as English writing. Since I'm a Junior this is a bit late maybe, but I think it reaches a good compromise with my earlier reluctance to change altogether; by now I only have four classes for my English major left and two for my art minor, so it's not really a hassle to keep going with them; or at least, not much more of a hassle, since I'll definitely be in school for longer. The extra time is something I regret a little, not just because of the extra money (thankfully UWW is not very expensive) but also because Adric will be graduating soon and may have to move. However, I've finally decided that I just don't want my aptitude for science to go to waste.
The decision came about when I was talking to my fellow bookstore-worker Kate (who is a bio major and went on the winter Yellowstone trip) the day before classes began, and she corrected me on the rumors I had heard that bio 141 (the major/minor class, as opposed to the general class bio 120, which by the way is really BORING) was a lot of work. Given how busy I was last semester and my two writing classes this semester I was understandably reluctant to add another labor-intensive class, but apparently it's not so much that it has a lot of homework than that it's a lot of mental work, which I think I can handle. However, when I checked the sections of 141 they were all closed, so that was out. Kate said I could probably work my way in anyway, especially given that I was on good terms with Clokey (the bio professor who orchestrates the Yellowstone trips).
When I got to 120, as I expected, Clokey was like "what are you doing here?" since I did after all get the highest score on the Yellowstone field study I went on, beating out most of the bio majors except for, presumably, the one(s) I tied with. He seemed to really have a high opinion of my capabilities in biology and during the class (which was really just a course introduction anyway) I didn't really pay attention and instead was thinking that y'know, I would make a good scientist and while I like writing, I don't necessarily think that I would use all of my skills there, especially if I don't manage to publish a novel (also, most science majors are not very good at writing so a writing major would still be useful). Also, I don't have to pay my loans until I'm out of school.
So I came up to Clokey after class and was like, "Sooooo... What kind of jobs can you get in biology?" and with a twinkle in his eye, he drew me aside, listed a bunch of jobs, and then finished with "For you, just about anything." He seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of having me in the biology department, which is a refreshing change of pace from the English and art departments (the English department is so vast that I'm just a blip, although my individual professors like me, and in the art department they like me but since I'm not actually a major they don't invest as much in me; for both of them I've never had any classes with my advisors and I never talk to them except for to say what classes I want to take next). So we took the elevator up to the bio office, I took the last section of 141 that was actually at a convenient time for me, and added the major.
My mom was pretty ecstatic; I suspect that part of that is because bio is more of a "money-making" field than English, but she's also always been a proponent of double-majoring and since I've always shown an interest in biology it makes sense (some of my initial reservations were that practically everyone shows an interest in biology). Kate was squeeling with joy; Clokey seemed happy. Adric seemed to be more reserved, or maybe that was just the sleep deprivation, but it's understandable since I'll be in school for quite a bit longer now. He did say he was happy for me, and he's always been telling me that I should be a scientist.
So there you have it. I'm a bio student now. Hopefully it all works out; I'm a little nervous, as if somehow I might not live up to expectations and have this backfire (I'm good, and I can make the sorts of abstract connections that are good for science, but I'd never say that I'm anywhere near being a genius and I am mediocre at many things), but Clokey seems to have confidence at least and Kate also for some reason, even though I've only known her for a few days.
The decision came about when I was talking to my fellow bookstore-worker Kate (who is a bio major and went on the winter Yellowstone trip) the day before classes began, and she corrected me on the rumors I had heard that bio 141 (the major/minor class, as opposed to the general class bio 120, which by the way is really BORING) was a lot of work. Given how busy I was last semester and my two writing classes this semester I was understandably reluctant to add another labor-intensive class, but apparently it's not so much that it has a lot of homework than that it's a lot of mental work, which I think I can handle. However, when I checked the sections of 141 they were all closed, so that was out. Kate said I could probably work my way in anyway, especially given that I was on good terms with Clokey (the bio professor who orchestrates the Yellowstone trips).
When I got to 120, as I expected, Clokey was like "what are you doing here?" since I did after all get the highest score on the Yellowstone field study I went on, beating out most of the bio majors except for, presumably, the one(s) I tied with. He seemed to really have a high opinion of my capabilities in biology and during the class (which was really just a course introduction anyway) I didn't really pay attention and instead was thinking that y'know, I would make a good scientist and while I like writing, I don't necessarily think that I would use all of my skills there, especially if I don't manage to publish a novel (also, most science majors are not very good at writing so a writing major would still be useful). Also, I don't have to pay my loans until I'm out of school.
So I came up to Clokey after class and was like, "Sooooo... What kind of jobs can you get in biology?" and with a twinkle in his eye, he drew me aside, listed a bunch of jobs, and then finished with "For you, just about anything." He seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of having me in the biology department, which is a refreshing change of pace from the English and art departments (the English department is so vast that I'm just a blip, although my individual professors like me, and in the art department they like me but since I'm not actually a major they don't invest as much in me; for both of them I've never had any classes with my advisors and I never talk to them except for to say what classes I want to take next). So we took the elevator up to the bio office, I took the last section of 141 that was actually at a convenient time for me, and added the major.
My mom was pretty ecstatic; I suspect that part of that is because bio is more of a "money-making" field than English, but she's also always been a proponent of double-majoring and since I've always shown an interest in biology it makes sense (some of my initial reservations were that practically everyone shows an interest in biology). Kate was squeeling with joy; Clokey seemed happy. Adric seemed to be more reserved, or maybe that was just the sleep deprivation, but it's understandable since I'll be in school for quite a bit longer now. He did say he was happy for me, and he's always been telling me that I should be a scientist.
So there you have it. I'm a bio student now. Hopefully it all works out; I'm a little nervous, as if somehow I might not live up to expectations and have this backfire (I'm good, and I can make the sorts of abstract connections that are good for science, but I'd never say that I'm anywhere near being a genius and I am mediocre at many things), but Clokey seems to have confidence at least and Kate also for some reason, even though I've only known her for a few days.