Okay, so yesterday around lunchtime my classes were over for the day and I was at home fixing something to eat for lunch when the phone rang. The caller ID read out something that sounded like 'University of Alabama' and since 'Bama does indeed call all the time wanting money because dad is an alumnus, I ignored it. Mom must have noticed the 'North' part on the readout because she picked it up and answered the phone. After a moment, she handed it to me and said, "It's Dr. Gren."
My thoughts: "Oooookaaaay... as far as I know, we don't have class on Tuesday. Have I done something wrong?"
But I answered it. According to Dr. Gren, there was some sort of American Chemists' Society (or American Society of Chemists, I'm not very sure...) awards banquet that night and I had been inadvertently left off the list of invitees, so he was calling to tell me about it. After I got off the phone, mom, apparently convinced I had won something, insisted we go. I was desperately hoping I hadn't won something; Elaine was teasing me about having to make an acceptance speech. Additionally, I couldn't figure out HOW I could have won anything. After all, I hadn't done stellar on the last test, at least by my standards. (Anything below 90 is not stellar by my standards, by the way, which is why I was really surprised and EXTREMELY happy- Gott sei dank- that with His help I have managed to pull off an A in calculus and exempt the final.)
Dad was even willing to forego doing hay last night, so that told me he was also convinced I had won something. It wasn't looking good.
I was pretty much certain I was doomed when we got to the Guillot and the name tag they gave me listed me as 'Honored Student'.
Anyway, they gave out awards to a bunch of high school students who had apparently taken some test and won a chemistry book as their award. Yay. However, as the books are like nearly $200 and these were hardback editions, that wasn't as bad of an award as it sounds. Hey, they got nice blue certificates, too. One of my cousins won one of those awards a couple of years ago, my mom informs me.
Then they progressed to UNA awards. Cue me on tenterhooks. Dr. Olive, who was giving out the awards at that point (Dr. Gren did the high school awards, and if you know anything about him from reading my blog, you can imagine how that went) was talking about the award, how it is given to the best freshman chemistry student, etc. I was thinking reassuringly to myself, "That's not me, that's not me, that's not me..."
Well, it was.
HOW ON EARTH DID I WIN A BEST FRESHMAN CHEMISTRY STUDENT AWARD, AND I'M AN ENGLISH MAJOR??????
I got a certificate and a very nice book about all the different elements with very nice pictures, and another book about chemistry and physics (apparently).
I'm pretty sure they don't tell the invitees what they've won in order to surrepetitiously take pictures of their stunned faces. At any rate, I know I was stunned. I'm still in shock, actually. I know I was doing a fish-out-of-water impersonation as I walked up there. Dr. Olive explained about me to the audience, that I was homeschooled, that I was there with my parents, and added that, "She is an English major with a focus on professional writing. And we all hope she changes her major."
That got a laugh. Mom had said something earlier about them trying to convert me, so she may be right. I thought it was funny, too, but I was still pretty much in shock. I remained in shock for the rest of the evening. (Oh, and as for the professional writing bit? Something's messed up with that. I'm down as going for a bachelor of science degree for some reason and I haven't had it changed yet, figuring I'll just wait until I decide on if/what I want (for) a minor.)
After that, they had awards for best non-freshman Chemistry 112 students, one of which went to Carly (or Carline, I'm not sure), an honors student I met on the Chattanooga trip, and a guy whom I think is named Brian (or Bryan) Johnsson. I call him 'the big guy' when talking about class to mom, as he is literally huge. I know I'm a hobbit, but I come to like his elbow. He sits two seats right from me in chemistry (or he did, as today's the last day of class) and asks really in depth questions. One day here recently he brought a blender (no kidding) with his protein shake or whatever it was in it and drank it straight out of the blender, sitting it on the desk in front of us in the meanwhile.
After that were awards for the Organic Chemistry students and various awards for seniors in chemistry and industrial hygiene.
Anyway, mom and dad are enjoying their newfound bragging rights and have been telling everyone about it, apparently. Mom has called her brother (the dad of the cousin who won one of those awards two years ago). One of my uncles stopped by our house a little while ago and one of the first things he said was, "Congratulations." Me: "Mom and dad are enjoying their bragging rights. As for me, I'm still not sure how I won..."
Apparently, I have some sort of secret aptitude for chemistry!
My parents seem to think I should change my major. But to what? They also think it should be something practical. I mean, what can you do with a history major? Meh, not much, unless you want to teach. After all, they say, I can write stories without an English major. True, very true. But what do I pick???? A German minor would be fine, I think. But I think a math major is beyond me and as for chemistry... well, I never considered THAT before. (When I decide on a biology major, folks, check the floor because sure as anything hell has frozen over. Biology lab scarred me for life.) I've never really considered anything else. Me and modern art do not agree, so that would probably not be a wise option. Music...? I've played piano for just about 13 years now, but, again, what do you do with a music major? I'm not the home ec person like Elaine, who is currently thinking fashion design or whatever it's called, and cooking... no, just no.
Does anyone have any input on this? What does everyone think a certain clueless, confused little freshman should major in?
Man, life got a whole lot more confusing!
Though I am (apparently) good at math and science, I think I still like words more, so I'm really not sure what all to think... I thought I had an end destination. Now, not so sure. I just want to write my books and draw my characters. I can't see myself as a chemist, not really. Blow up some stuff in lab and create biohazards? Suuuuuure. Do some calculations? All right, those I can handle. But I've heard horror stories about Organic, I tell you...
*begins banging head on table*
Does this count as blogging about my feelings?
*horrified, resumes head-banging*
In Pace Christi,
Elyse
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