Dr. Crystal K. Waters

And just like that 2016 is coming to a close.  Last year, I blogged 2015: Only Hours Remain and found that it was a good method for me to sum up a year in less than 1,000 words.  This year I’m choosing to continue what I hope to be a tradition for me.

At the beginning of 2016, I was beginning my final semester at UNC Charlotte and was living in the ‘Queen City’.  I was pulling all of my research together so that I could get ready to prepare for applying to present my findings at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego, CA.  Thankfully, my hard work paid off and I was able to present my work in California in March.  I presented my presentation of Bis(bipyridyl)silicon (IV) Diols as Potential Dual Hydrogen Bond Donors for Catalysis.  Yep, I know it’s a mouthful but to my chemist friends reading my blog, I’m sure you get the lingo.

In April, I was trying to round off my studies at UNC Charlotte.  I participated in the Graduate Research Symposium there and was awarded as the third place winner for oral presentations for Natural Sciences (check out the article here).  Academically, I am very blessed and grateful for the amount of success I had this year.  In June, I defended my Master of Science in Chemistry and by July I had already accepted enrollment at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for my Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (to God be ALL the glory).

By August I moved to Blacksburg, VA to start a new chapter in my “Book of Life”.  I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said the transition was easy.  Thankfully, I found some friends and a church family with Surge at Scattergood. Not only did I find friends at church but I joined the American Pool Association and play on 3 teams every week.  For a while I was ranked number 1 but recently lost my spot due to a loss.

In October I officially received a copy of my degree and found out that my copyright to my thesis had been accepted.  My Master’s thesis is published in the Library of Congress.  If by chance you are interested in purchasing a copy, I do get royalties from my work so I’ll leave that link here. (I’m the first one on the list. Hopefully it works.) 🙂

In November 2016, I chose a PhD advisor and got a general idea of the projects on which I would be focusing my time.  I am a part of Feng Lin’s lab working on nanosized inorganic materials for heterogeneous catalysis.  This isn’t an extension of the work I completed at UNC Charlotte, but rather a broadening of catalysis which I did study for my Master’s.

On December 23 I turned 25 years old!  I know, some of you reading my blog can’t believe it because you’ve know me since my piano recitals where I couldn’t even touch the pedals. Haha!  Christmas with my family was good, yet different.  All of my cousins are grown with boyfriends so they were in and out.  Thankfully I have some friends that have remained constant over the years.  To my dear friends that met up with me over the holidays, thanks for spending such great quality time with me between Wilson and Charlotte.

Now, its the last day of the year. I’ve learned so much about myself and have enjoyed every moment.  New Year’s Resolutions haven’t been something I tend to make.  I just strive to be better than I’ve been before.  Growth is key!  I would be remissed if I didn’t mention that none of this success would be possible without most importantly a loving, merciful God.  I’m not perfect but I try to walk on my predestined path set out for me long before time began.

As we enter the new year, keep reading my blogs and encouraging me. If you aren’t following me, take the time to do that now.  I will try to blog more often, I promise.  Until next time…