Chemiholics
Curiosity has always driven me to question the very essence of existence, leading me to uncover the secrets rooted in chemistry. Atoms, particles composed of nuclei and electrons, unite to create the myriad molecules and matter surrounding us. The deeper I delve into these fundamentals of life, the stronger my passion grew for this fascinating realm of science. And that's how the journey of Chemiholics began.
Chemistry entered my life in 9th grade, I still remember that amidst the diverse branches of science I encountered that year, chemistry stood out as my clear passion. Completing an AP Chemistry course in 10th grade only fueled my thirst to further dive indepth of chemistry. This motivated me to establish a chemistry club at my school, aiming to unite individuals who shared my fervor for the subject.
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Unlike other subjects, chemistry specifically requires and includes various experiments, ranging form simple to difficult. Recognizing this, our Chemiholics club met weekly, offering a platform where I imparted diverse chemistry concepts through engaging experiments. My goal was to ensure Chemiholics isn't just another boring class, but a genuine opportunity for people to discover the joy of chemistry.
1. passionate
Even before the official beginning of Chemiholics, I was filled with excitement and experiment idea was overflowing!
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In the lead-up to each session, I'd often stay up late or arrive early at school to prepare for the experiments. Sometimes, the procedure I outlined was perfect that desired reaction resulted at once! However, this wasn't always the case. I still clearly recall the challenge for the Chemiluminescence of Luminol experiment- it took more than four attempts before witnessing the luminol's glow! On another occasion, during preparation for titration, it took my teacher and me an hour to troubleshoot why 'mava = mbvb' wasn't working, only to realize I'd forgotten to add the Phenolphthalein Indicator!
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Despite the challenges, I really enjoyed spending time after time at the chemistry lab preparing for the Chemiholics. Each moment felt like a glimpse into the life of a practicing chemist!
2. self-directed
Everything for Chemiholics includes my personal touch - from in-class presentations, lab procedures, worksheets, to post-lab questions and reflections.
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Teaching teenagers my own age, and even older, was a new experience. There was a lot of aspects to consider. It demanded careful consideration of various aspects. Teaching compelled me to revisit and reinforce my existing knowledge while also acquiring new insights. Chemiholics became a platform not only for expanding my chemistry expertise continuously but also for witnessing my personal development in leadership, problem-solving, communication, and time management skills.
3. reflective
Despite being an experiment-focused chemistry club, I prioritized ensuring that club members not only engaged in experiments but also gained knowledge. To achieve this, I placed significant emphasis on the reflective process, which is evident in the thoughtfully crafted and detailed post-experiment questions aimed at provoking deeper thinking and learning among the members.
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Moreover, club members and I are right now in preparation of an article regarding the safety in high school library.
