Why are you here?

Three months ago a friend called me with a job offer. He worked in a school, and suddenly in the middle of the semester this little middle school was in the need of a Chemistry teacher. He knew I had zero experience but still he said he had a feeling I would be good at it, so I went to the interview.

During the interview the headmistress was not only surprised by my age but by the fact that I looked so young (common joke in the teacher's lounge is that I could pass as a student) It was the month of October and her first question was:

- When did you gradaute?

- May

- May? Like in last May? Like 5 months ago May?

- Yes

- And your teaching experience is..?

- Zero

- So why are you here?

Why was I there? That was a fair question, I was recently graduated, with zero experience and I was doing a master in organic chemistry that relied heavily on research. My background was way off. I only knew a few things. I knew I hated chemophobia, I hated the way news talk about science and I hate when someone says "ugh chemistry it's horrible" or "it's only for super smart people. 

So why was I there? Because science specially chemistry is beautiful, because we need scientific literacy among non scientific people and because I felt I could do something about it. So my answer was: Because my lack of experience is my best asset, I'll bring fresh ideas to the table for everytime I step into that classroom. My age is an advantage because I'll get my students, and my masters only shows I love chemistry and I'm prepared to show them they can love it too.

Yes I know what you are thinking what amount of change could I do in a little middle school? I know it's only a small start but if this 50 girls I'm teaching become literate in science they'll be 50 more scientifically literate persons in the world. It's a start isn't it?

So that's why I'm here writing this blog, to tell my adventures in teacherland as I show them the world of chemistry. It's a brave new world for me where I'll rant, or question or ask, and I hope someone reads this to know their opinion. My goal is to achieve a balance between the hard scientist I've been and the humanist inside me that decides to focus on education.

Wish me luck,

PVR