It's not what you get from drugs (it's much better).
You use your mind, not your eyes, to develop one.
It's what keeps you going even when you're worn out and you really, really just want to go to bed.
It's what defines your entire life and makes you become what you must become to be who you are.
What does this mean for you?
You should answer the following as truthfully as you can: we will not collect these forms. This activity is for your benefit. We only benefit because this excercise will make you realize that you are doing exactly what it is you want to do in life: Do science! The neat thing about our program here in the glorious "School of Polymers and High Performance Materials" is that you can start being a scientist right now. In fact, if you haven't already started your research project (required to graduate, by the way), you're already missing opportunities to learn more and learn how to use what you learn in the practice of your career. Wow! Is that fun or what?
Your understanding of what the profession of science is about and what it means for you personally will evolve enormously: you should now be in the throes of deciding whether this is really the right career for you, of deciding what other options you have at this late date in your education, and reaffirming for
the last time that you are doing exactly what you want to be doing in life.
If you're not doing this, you may be in trouble. Life is about to get very hard
for you as you discover what discipline and dedication are really
about. School up to now should have been fairly easy for you: no more! This lab
will force you to work harder than you ever have before, or force
you to change majors. It's ok if you decide to do that! Just know that you are the one who must decide and follow through now.
Your abilities and skills and creativity will change enormously. By the time you finish this lab course, you will be able to do science: you will actually be able to concieve of some kind of original project in polymers, ask the key questions you need to answer, plan how to get those answers, get them, interpret the results, understand the results and change the plan to get the real right answer. Excellent! This is
what science is all about and this is what should really turn you on.
What are we talking about here? Change again: your vision of who you are and what you can do. So what is this "vision" thing that politicians and other so-called leaders are always getting in trouble over? It's lots of things, such as:
How you see yourself and your profession
How you work and achieve your goals
What you can do and how you do it
What skills and knowledge you have and how you can use them for good.
Well, that is the question, isn't it? Let's ask some more questions,
that you have to answer, that will help you begin the process of building or refining your personal vision. Answer the following on a printed version of this questionnaire (just hit [ctrl]"p" or go to [File] and select [Print]). Bring this form to class: we will spend some time discussing this form and why you might want to do this little excercise. See you all Monday, cheerful and happy and ready to get to work!
As far as you understand it, just what does a scientist do anyway?
Sounds almost like a course in philosophy, huh? Strange how the other subjects in a liberal arts education do matter and do have an impact on your life. Of course we're talking philosophy, just as we will also talk ethics and professionalism and deal with your ability to write and talk: your profession encompasses everything that you are, everything you think and dream, and everything you do, right or wrong.