Dr. Crystal K. Waters

For those of you that have been reading my blogs regularly know that there are specific requirements, or milestones, that a student must reach in able to graduate with their degree.  In the chemistry department here at my university, we have a milestone that must be overcome pretty much every single year.  This is where some fail (or choose) to no longer matriculate with the cohort.  The first year there is a literature review you must write.  It is exactly what it sounds like – a review of all the literature out there relating to the topic to which you hope to add knowledge.  The second year is the preliminary exam that qualifies you to be a doctoral candidate.  In the remaining years there is an Original Research Proposal  that must be defended (mine is next week!), an internal and external seminar, and of course the dissertation.  I had every plan to fulfill my external seminar requirement by presenting my research at the National Meeting for the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia this week.  Yep, it was originially scheduled for March 22-26, 2020.

As most of you know we are living in uncertain times.  The Coronavirus has uprooted a lot of the routines we have set in place to get things accomplished.  The National Meeting was cancelled and now I am not able to give my external seminar and get it out of the way.  (It also means I’m not going to Philly but….)  My original goal was to complete all of my required milestones (except the dissertation of course) by May 2020.  It seems like I am having to make a few adjustments to my plan.  It has proven to be overwhelming at times, challenging all the time, and never enough time in the day to complete everything you are hoping to get around to wrapping up.

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While I sit and orchestrate a new plan for success and being productive during this time of social distancing, I am grateful for having the opportunities to educate myself and others.  So many people take educational opportunities for granted, but it is truly something by which to be humbled.  I have never been one to use my degrees or educational status to make others feel inferior.  During a time like this, be reminded of your humanity – not the job you hide behind or the friend circle you try to fit into.  Stay positive and healthy – and wash your hands to protect the human race!

Until next time…