CHM1051: Advanced Chemistry - the subject reviews indicate better labs in this stream
In regards to my timetable I have 3 8am starts - but I chose those slots intentionally so no complaining from me.
Today is my first uni exam (advanced chem) and I'm keen. No, you didn't read that wrong, I'm keen for the exam. I've reached a point in my life where I'm completing an exam for university science and that is just such a wonderful thing. I get to enter a room with my peers and provide proof that yeah, I've been learning with other people who care just as much and want to delve deeper. I get to be assessed on my own merits and really genuinely be able to be shared luck and wish luck to others without reservation.
In a week I will have determined my marks for the first semester of uni, and you can expect a long post shortly after that.
I really love the sentiment of this post. Hope it went well for you!
Good luck for your results! Enjoy the rest of your break and good luck for next semester too! :)
mass^3 bbq and downball competition
More information required.
Finally, while writing this I opted out from the montrack program. It's nice that first year students have older students call them and check up on them, but I don't need it and I'd rather avoid the random phone calls.You know, I didn't even realise you could opt out. This knowledge would have been useful last year! I just added the phone number to my contacts and ignored the calls every time they came haha
WOW!!! I'm full of energy after reading your posts. Looking forward to future updates.
Hey,
I was wondering how you find Monash as university? What was your experience like in the first year?
Thanks
Hear, hear! Living proof here - didn't do VCE Bio. Went on to do an extended major in biology (genetics) and now in Honours (genetics). Anything is possible.I didn't study VCE / what if they assume I'm as smart as the other year 12s but I'm notThere are people who take bio/chem/physics without having studied these subjects at a senior highschool level. Do they find it more diffiicult than people with the prior experience? Yes, they generally do. Is there anything preventing them from obtaining high marks? No, there is not. They'll probably need to work harder due to not having already done this (subject specific) work, but if they are dedicated they'll be fine and basically on par with the others after first semester anyway.
In chem we've recently been working on an IDEA (student-led) lab activity. In the first week of it we were given a white powder and instructed to figure out what it was. This was by spending "chemistry dollars" on our choice of IR, spectroscopy etc. Then we confirmed the presence of functional groups using wet tests (mixing w/ chemicals, heating, pH testing etc.). This week we then synthesised that compound. I've been working with a good group of people and enjoyed this activity the most out of our labs; hopefully we do ok in the write-up.
On Monday I attended a math revision session & I didn't ask any questions because my practice exam attempt was on my laptop (so I didn't know what questions I had strugggled with) but it was good to go anyway. I studied with a friend afterwards & I'm definitely feeling more comfortable with the exam now.I'm sure these Honours students would be more than happy to discuss their presentations; I know I would.
In the end I didn't attend any of the honours presentations :( but if I really want to find out more I could always contact some of them and ask about it - the higher year levels of GC have always been very supportive of us first years.
I'm sure these Honours students would be more than happy to discuss their presentations; I know I would.
Also, with regards to MTH1030 (I assume by the tense you're finishing with it soon), it might be comforting to know that I've been down that rabbit hole before and struggled in that unit too. You're not alone in that mentality, but, as you said, it's definitely a humbling experience to really learn more than anything.
Good luck with the rest of your exams. :)
As for the rest of this entry, this is going to be less course-focused and more personal so feel free to skip :)Thanks for posting this mt <3
I wasn't quite sure what to focus this section on, but in the end I picked my maths journey since it's somewhat relevant to VCE students nowprobably more backstory than really warranted in thisLike many kids I suppose, I liked being around my mum. So when she was studying (accounting) at home, I would often be sitting next to her & in my boredom I would play with the scientific calculator on the table - trying to make sentences from "sin" "cos" "tan" "log" etc. Sometimes I'd ask what particular things meant, and depending on the difficulty mum might explain it to me.
I guess this is why when I was doing maths in primary school it never seemed threatening or scary. I associated only positive memories with it with it (except for that time I only got 39/40 on a maths test and broke down crying in front of my classmates (I was that student) ) and it wasn't very difficult. Overtime I got used to making more mistakes, and English was my strongest subject, but rarely if ever did I have difficulty understanding maths concepts. Teachers said they'd deliver extended work but well, teachers have multiple classes and a range of students in each class. They never got around to it. I was frequently frustrated by the slow pace of school mathematics & felt that many years had been wasted not learning anything. So when the advanced maths class for year 10 maths clashed with units 1&2 of biology, I talked the school into letting me take biology and attend a standard math class, but I'd learn and be assessed on the advanced content through teaching myself & getting the other class' tests.
That worked out ok, but then when I started units 1&2 of methods next year I didn't know how to ask for help. Afterall, wouldn't it be hypocritical of me to not easily understand all of the concepts when I'd been complaining about school maths being easy? I'd been learning without a teacher in the previous year, so why couldn't I just do that this year? In the final exam we had, I didn't use a summary book and I borrowed someone else's CAS 10 minutes before the exam started yet scored 100%. That settled it then, I didn't actually need help or ask questions when it came to maths - I could do it all on my own.
At the start of next year I talked to a friend who also had aptitude for maths. We agreed that it didn't matter which one of us got dux (since we assumed it'd most likely be one of us) because we'd both do well on the exam anyway. Throughout the year I encouraged them to study and prepare for SACs, we worked through problems together, worked out short cuts and coded programs to use on our CASs. They still didn't do nearly as much practice as me, but this was someone who had learnt some VCE math content in year 8 for fun.
When it came time for the first SAC I had already completed all of the relevant questions in Checkpoints and felt quite confident. That changed. My teacher, it turned out, had a knack for creating problems more difficult than even MAV. Some of the questions were very reasonable, but my confidence shattered like glass and I couldn't think. I needed the answer from part a) to complete the rest of the question - but the solve function and my mind just weren't cutting it. Towards the end I finally figured it out, and rushed the rest of the questions; but not before breaking down in class when the teacher noticed me staring at the front page and asked if I was ok. At that point I wasn't even seeing the question, I was seeing my future rushing away from me. If I couldn't even do remotely well on this first SAC, then why should I do well in methods at all? I wouldn't. And I was confident so my other subjects I was confident in? Nope. I must be destined to perform poorly in those as well. My future seemed written in stone - I would be the great disapointment who showed a spark of potential and self-immolated in it. I got 53% on that SAC - my first SAC of year 12 (not the kind of thing you usually hear from people who got 98 ATARs but it's the type of thing you should probably hear more often).
After that SAC, I struggled to believe in my mathematical ability but was still too stubborn and self-concious to ask for help. I would answer questions well in class and when it came to the SACs I would be consumed by doubt and forgetfulness - which resulted in making a lot of "stupid errors". Over the course of the year it became clear that my aforementioned friend would get rank 1, despite me explaining concepts or questions to them more commonly than the reverse.
In the revision lectures I went to I was the one answering questions, and a lecturer (not AN this was a school organised one) told me I'd probably get 45+. (That would've been nice.) Finally it was exam 1 day. I'd completed lots of practice exams and learnt from them, so I was getting around 100% on exam one and a bit lower on exam 2. I walked into the year 12 study room to wish people good luck and my friend/rank 1 told me I was going to be annoyed at them. I learnt that they had not done any preperation. That they had only written a sentence in their english exam, and were "screwed already so why bother trying".
They were wrong - "annoyed" wasn't the most accurate description of my emotions at that point in time.
I worked my way through the exam, and attempted the last question early so I knew how to pace myself for the rest of the exam. My answer didn't work with VCAAs graph (it was actually the right answer, VCAAs graph was just weird) so I crossed it out and tried again. And again. And again. And in that moment, the graph was almost like the graph at the start of my first maths SAC.
This is not a story where I get a 45+ study score for methods. Because I didn't. I only got a B+ on that exam - and that alone would have been enough to make 45+ impossible.
This is a story about how I went home and cried, realising that my study score wouldn't amount to what maybe it could have been. Realising that my SAC scores would be low and probably my exam 1 score as well. It's a story about after hours of failing to do anything remotely productive I practiced math problems through my tears until they went away. I did better on exam 2 than exam 1.
When I got my ATAR my main reaction was disapointment at my methods score - I scored a C+ for my SACs.
It meant I would never tutor methods. It meant I wasn't a maths person. It meant I was less than I thought I was.
I'm not usually a vindicative person, but I was glad that rank 1 didn't dux methods
In my sem 1 maths subject, MTH1020, I cruised at the start and stopped putting in any reasonable effort in towards the end (I got bored because the content felt too easy and familiar). I still got a decent score, but it was certainly less than my potential. In my sem 2 maths subject MTH1030 I have not been cruising. I've been reminding myself that I'm here to learn - not to already know everything.
Now when I look at my maths scores, it means I'm learning. I'm trying. And so what if I don't full-mark the exam? That's just a reminder that I can keep learning and making progress.
It has taken a while, but my methods score doesn't mean all that much to me now. Maybe it was even a good thing - maybe without wanting to "prove myself" after methods I wouldn't have taken MTH1030 and wouldn't have the opportunity to do more maths next year.
The takeaways for year 12s reading this:
- it's ok if your exam 1 desn't go as well as planned, there's always exam 2
- it's ok if your study score isn't what you wanted it to be
- it's ok if you feel a whole bunch of emotions about it anyway
- those emotions change overtime
- it's healthy to let go a bit of wanting to look smart / not wanting to look unintelligent
Best of luck to all of you :)
(questions are allowed if you ever have them)
Before then, though, I'll be helping out with a highschool visit to Peninsula campus (through the Access Monash Mentors program). I'm not familiar with Peninsula but I'm confident I'll be able to learn what I need to on the day. I'll also be helping out with a few other highschool events at Monash campuses throughout November so it's also likely I'll get used to the campuses as I go.Oooh you'll like Peninsula, Bri!
Oooh you'll like Peninsula, Bri!
It's also a very easy campus to navigate around, took me less than one day to learn where everything is. The buildings are all labelled by letters, which is infinitely easier to understand than all the weird addresses at Clayton haha.
Just an fyi that there are some swooping birds on campus, but the only ones I've heard of have been at the popup cafe down the bottom of the campus (past A and C buildings, near the bus bay). I've personally never been swooped, though.
Not going to spoil anything but if anyone reading this is applying for the Global Challenges or Research degree get keen! (you can also join mass^3 even if you aren't in those courses but you wouldn't get voting rights)I think (mainly from hearing about your experience at Monash, chatting to others and rummaging around the internet) that I am starting to lean towards going to monash next year for the research degree. As such, I shall take your advice and get excited for mass^3. Of all the things i have heard, I think I am most looking forward to the chance to meet and network with professionals (I think you mentioned something about this previously) - I here thats a very crucial aspect of having any success in science research (networking and knowing people).
The thing I really wanted this year was to move out of home & I've done it.Thats reallly cool!
AN has become a bigger part of my life this year and I'm very grateful that that could be the case. I can't wait to see what the forums look like this time next year and the users who have joined or stepped up their involvement. A few years ago I hadn't made a single post on atarnotes and now I've made 3000. It's strange to think that back then I didn't know if I'd be able to meaningful contribute or if anyone would want to hear my perspective and that that kept me from posting. It makes me think of this image I don't have on hand where someone looks at a beautifully decorated cake and goes 'my cake isn't as beautiful and great as their cake :( ' meanwhile, the audience's reaction is basically 'yay! Two cakes! :D'. Respect and upvotes is nice and all but ultimately you're giving the reader/question-asker/community something from you & the value of that isn't diminished by what other people bring.Well done on 3000 posts! Its such an amazing feat that speaks to your inspiring dedication to the community.
I think (mainly from hearing about your experience at Monash, chatting to others and rummaging around the internet) that I am starting to lean towards going to monash next year for the research degree. As such, I shall take your advice and get excited for mass^3. Of all the things i have heard, I think I am most looking forward to the chance to meet and network with professionals (I think you mentioned something about this previously) - I here thats a very crucial aspect of having any success in science research (networking and knowing people).Thats reallly cool!Thanks! We definitely do run networking events with academics and professionals (usually later in the year), there's also faculty specific networking ran outside of mass^3 which you can participate in as well :) One thing I would also add here is don't underestimate the power of talking to your teaching staff and asking them questions about their work after lectures, in labs etc.
I am planning on moving out of home next year (ideally in January, but if not definitely in the first half of the year) so I would love to hear what stuggles you faced through the process and how you overcame them. Are there any tips/wisdom that you have gained through the process that you wish someone told to you earlier?Hmm.. I was fairly well prepared & already had lived in a rental place w/o my parent for some months by the time I did it but here's my thoughts/advice:
Well done on 3000 posts! Its such an amazing feat that speaks to your inspiring dedication to the community.Thank you!
That last sentiment is a very good one to keep in mind - although it does bring up the health concern that you have put 3000 cakes out into AN.
Re: letters for building names at Peninsula - yep, should have said it's easy once you know which building is which haha. Which doesn't take long because there's not many buildings. Before you learn of each building it is definitely confusing lol
Congrats on all the things you've achieved this year, Bri. It sounds like its been a massive year for you and I'm excited to hear about your adventures next year. Your ability to multitask a lot of responsibilities has made me reconsider my abilities and wonder about challenging myself a bit more!
The difference of course being that psych is a science and economics (as far as I can tell) is not (evidence based decision making doesn't have to be scientific in nature??? why fight so hard for something that doesn't truly fit??I will not hesitate to fight you.
I will not hesitate to fight you.
How did you find Tidyverse, by the way? Would you say it's necessary for learning and using R properly? We didn't learn Tidyverse for my R subject but we had to use ggplot2, which I think is included in Tidyverse.
I'm doing macro in sem 2 as well, interested to hear how you find it. :)
If you present a stronger argument than using data & evidence -> science, then I'm happy to listen.
Tidyverse looks really neat! Yeah ggplot2 is great, way superior to excel. We used Stargazer which also gives some nice looking tables when doing regression analysis, but tidyverse looks more versatile.my very scientific reasoningmaths + assignments with right/wrong answers = science. fight me.
All the best with sem 2! :)
Hey Bri!🐢🐢I second this.
I just want to say, thank you for the honest journal entry. A big round of applause to you for making it through 2020 and all the progress that you have made has definitely been noticed by many on the forums. As whys has mentioned, we always feel your constant support no matter what situation we all seem to be in and the advice/encouragement you give is something we all treasure. It is perfectly fine to feel like you haven't accomplished anything you wanted previously, it's 100% alright.
Just like you and whys, to me, 2021 doesn't feel like a new year at all, in fact, it feels more like 2020.5, especially with all the impact 2020 had on us. However, we can always try new things and hopefully improve our quality of life for this year. Seriously though, thank you for everything you have done. Also, I do remember that time you messaged me in Year 11 before results came out and let me just say, I never forgot what you did. Take some time to relax and rest up💕
Good luck for this year and we are always here for you!
Hi BriMT! I've always read your journal but have always been very intimidated to reply! Your final year sounds very insightful and fun! Do you know what you want to do after uni or are you going to live in the moment and think about that later?
Looking forward to the net update :D
Good luck Bri :)
I'm excited to see where the year takes you!!