Kiwi at heart, New Zealand always on my mind.

Still thinking of Ross Herman and his family and friends. It's amazing how much the Centre community really gets around and is everywhere. I'm so glad I am a part of it and hope that we, as a community, continue to support those in it and close to it.

Speaking of the Centre community, I've been so lucky to have the friends I do, whether they are in Cincinnati, Louisville, the tri-state area of Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio, somewhere in the US or even abroad. I've been visiting friends close to Cincinnati, and have found some other alumni that are living in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. It's nice to get a break from the "stress" of chemistry and grad school by getting together with some good ol' Centre kids. We all understand each other, regardless of year or major or what we choose to do with our lives, and we all support each other in our endeavors. I couldn't ask to be a part of a better group of individuals.

With Centre on my brain, another place/memory that always pops up is my trip to New Zealand. It's that time of the year again where CentreTerm is coming up, and luckily the New Zealand trip is going again this year. I had a person going on this years trip ask for suggestions on where to travel to in the South Island, and I was just transported back to the most beautiful place on Earth. I know it sounds very subjective, but I don't care. I found myself again there. I figured out what I wanted out of life, and that is the place and the beginning of me and positive thinking. There is NOTHING better than hiking a huge mountain/volcano and getting to the peak and just looking out for miles at wilderness. It's so peaceful, and a great to really think, meditate, etc. I know that it sounds corny, but sometimes the best place to find yourself is in a place that you have no idea about. To find yourself, you have to first lose yourself. And what better place to lose yourself than in one of such beauty?

 Don't believe me? Here are some photos to try to get you to believe me:

View of Auckland from Devonport.

Rangitoto (a shield type volcano)

Muriwai Beach. Known for being one of the only homes to gannet colonies.

Murawai

Can't remember... somewhere on the North Island?

On top of Rainbow Mountain (yes, that's its real name)

On the climb up to the Mount

On top of the Mount.

White Island, a still active volcanic island.

Huka Falls.

Looking across Lake Taupo at Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.

At the Tongariro National Park.

Ngauruhoe and Tonagriro

Mt. Doom, if you will.

Part of the Tongariro Crossing.

Emerald Lakes.

Franz Josef glacier.

Lake Hawea in the South Island on the way to Queenstown.

Lake in Queenstown.

Milford sound and the Fiordland

Nature cruise through Milford Sound.

If that doesn't make you want to go visit, I don't know what will. It's been almost 2 years since I've been to New Zealand, and while I have forgotten some of the smaller names of places we went, I remember the important places, and I remember the feelings I had there, and what I learned from the islands across the Pacific.

Does this mean that I'm condoning a trip across the world to "find yourself"? If you can, go (doesn't even have to be New Zealand). If it's not possible, just lose yourself in nature. It may be a little cold to do that now, but once it warms up, go on a hike. Look at the trees, the paths, the animals around you. Disconnect your mind from the world of work and stress, and just connect to the beauty around you. Each step you take gives you a different view of the path you are on.

Yes, I know I sound like a nature-loving hippie getting all transcendental, which is completely the opposite of what I do in my normal day-to-day life. But it's good for everyone to take a break from who you are. Reload, refresh, get re-energized. Then get back to what it is that you do. But there is nothing wrong with taking a break and looking at how beautiful this world is, one that we tend to take too much for granted.

New Zealand, I promised you when I left that I'd be back. I'm going to keep that promise. It might be 10, 20, 30 years down the road, but I will get back to you. There is so much nostalgia to just up and forget you. I hope that you continue to awe and inspire all the people that visit you. You definitely stole my heart, and I am a Kiwi for life.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas season. Let's just remember what it's all about :) Happy Holidays!

Gone too soon, but never forgotten. R.I.P. Ross.

I'm sure mostly everyone in the Centre community has heard about Ross Herman by now. It is a tragedy that someone with so much potential was taken from this Earth at such a young age. My heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to Ross's family and close friends.

Treasure those people in your life that you hold dearest. Tell people you love them. Hug them. Call them. Keep in touch with them. Show them that you care about them. 

I can't help but think that Ross is in a good place right now in heaven. There's no other place a great young man could be.

Finals Time Positive Message

Good luck to everyone taking finals this week (or in the upcoming weeks). As a motivational tool, at least you have this guy on your side...

And then after finals comes freedom!!!!!!

Study hard, eat well, get some sleep. Everything is going to be alright. :) Just don't do what little kitten is doing LOL.

I be on that chem grind, all day, every day.

How in the world did it get to be December? I know everyone is thinking it... 2011 is almost over, and 2012 is almost here? Where has the time gone? Don't get me wrong, 2011 has been a good year, but it's just crazy to think about how quickly time passes when you don't realize it. It just seems like yesterday that I graduated from Centre, got a job, quit my job and started grad school. But those events were a year and a half, a year and 3 months, 4 months, and 3 months ago, respectively. Nuts, right? But even though it's hard to think about time passing, I think it's good to reflect on what has happened in the past, and be appreciative of the future time we will have.

While time keeps flying by, it seems like FOREVER until I'm finished with my first quarter of grad school. Why? Because we're coming up on the dreaded finals week... dun dun dun. Actually, I don't think finals will be TOO bad this year. After taking 9 semesters worth of finals (post grad class last spring is #9), by the 10th try, I should know how to prepare for these, right? (At least that's what I keep telling myself) But it's been a good time getting back to the chemistry grind, and releasing my inner nerd.

Besides just studying chemistry, I've also been tutoring some undergrads this quarter in general chemistry. It's amazing how everything that is learned in general chemistry seems so random, and doesn't make sense when you take it the first time, but having ALL the other chemistry classes, you begin to see how the things that were so random make sense. I've enjoyed tutoring again this quarter, and it's always great to see the lightbulb go off in these kids' heads. It's an even bigger honor whenever someone asks you if you can tutor them the next quarter. It makes me feel like I'm doing a good job, and that this is where I'm supposed to be, and I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to.

So while I want finals to be over, and to get a MUCH NEEDED break from chemistry, there's no doubt in my mind that chemistry is for me. Sure it may be challenging (more often than not), but I get the most satisfaction in completing something that I find extremely difficult. (Maybe I'm weird, but I already knew that)

Time is a funny thing. Sometimes we want it to speed up, sometimes we want it to slow down, or stop completely. But it tends to go at the exact pace we need; it just takes us some time to realize it. We need to remember to look around and experience life as it happens, otherwise it'll pass us by. I know I need to remember to do that, because it's such a great place we live it.

Some countdowns (to keep me sane):

• 9 days until finals are over
• 10 days until some of my girls come visit
• 11 days until I'm home (for a bit, back to Cincy on the 13th, and then back home again the 18th)
• 12 days until sushi date with my partner in crime
• 14 days until Columbus trip
• 16 days until bestie night out in Cincy (pt. 2)
• 21 days until I see my best friend (that I haven't seen in about a year and 4 months)
• 22 days until ugly sweater/karaoke night
• 24 days until Christmas
• 29 days until my bestie's birthday
• 30 days until New Years

While I'm counting down (especially to the end of finals), I'm excited to live everyday to the fullest. What are some things you are looking forward to this month (and for 2012)?

I'll leave you with a nice chemistry picture. After all, everyone enjoys chemistry just as much as I do, right?

Separations at its finest!