Retrospect: chemistry: the last lab course

Self-tutoring about past events: the tutor reflects on the last lab course he took.

Chemistry was my favorite subject in grade 12. I had planned to take a chemistry/biochemistry degree at university, so in first and second year I took numerous chemistry and physics courses. However, the labs were uninspiring.

I finally decided to leave chemistry and physics for math, which had no labs. Yet, for some reason I don’t fully understand, I decided to take “one more” chemistry course – let’s call it Chem 2ab, even knowing I would switch my major to math.

I’d heard much talk about Chem 2ab, and somehow decided it contained important knowledge I couldn’t afford to miss. In lecture, Chem 2ab turned out to be very interesting indeed, and completely unlike any chemistry or physics course I’d taken up till then.

Chem 2ab was famous for its lab, which introduced many new procedures and devices for determining chemical bonds present in a sample. With trepidation I attended its first lab session.

Unlike my previous courses, this instructor wasn’t “just someone who had to be there” – rather, she really cared about it, and loved being in the lab. She loved all its equipment. She insisted we call her by her first name. She saw the lab as “her space,” with herself as its host.

I believe the lab was four hours, once per week, starting in late afternoon. I’d go there each time expecting it to be horrible – it never was. Rather, each lab session I did indeed learn things, the equipment worked as intended, and the lab activities “came together” just as they always should have, but until this course, rarely had.

The course ran Sept to Dec: at first, we arrived and departed in daylight, but of course, by this time of year, night came during the session. I recall, during the lab, noticing out the window the darkness gathering – this was Victoria, so the weather was almost always beautiful, no matter what time of year. We would leave in the dark, telling each other “see you next time,” after a very successful, constructive lab session.

Chem 2ab – and its lab – turned out great: it was, for me, the best chemistry course I took. However, in the bigger picture, I was done with chemistry, never to take another course in it. From then on, it was all math – no more labs.

I remain grateful to the Chem 2ab lab instructor for such a great experience she provided for her students. I left chemistry with a good feeling because of her.