Sunday | March 9

4 March 2025

The first chemical technology lab was super fun! I'm surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did, given it's kind of... ochem-heavy and I absolutely detested ochem labs. But I had a good time! Fingers crossed that won't change.

Lab partner and I made biofuel via esterification and transesterification reactions. The former was a reaction between oleic acid and methanol in acidic solution. The resulting ester - methyl oleate - has a greater density than methanol which is why it falls to the bottom of the cylinder, as you can see in the gif. It was so cool to see these "bubbles" in the entire volume just floating downwards as the reaction progressed. I love chemistry! 💖

Intro

Hi! You can call me lettuce (he/ they), i’m 22 and currently a physio therapy student :)

Life didn’t quite go as planned and i didn’t do abitur (german entrance requirement for university) so i was unable to go to med school. While PT isn’t the worst, i quite like the job, im not willing to give up on my goal. So i guess the plan is to:

1. finnish physio school with the best grades possible (1.5-2 years)

2. redo abitur (2-3 years depending on which courses i have to do)

3. during abitur: get 3 months of nursing experience (really helps with getting into med school here), do the TMS (test for medical studies) and potentially do some more social volunteering if i find the time for it

4. convince a university that im a good pick lmao

09.03.25 || come my way

Had some minor health problems during the week and work is stacking up again. In moments like these, it's very easy for me to forget to take care of myself. However, I did some spring cleaning yesterday and feel much much lighter now! Listening to Saba's Few Good Things, because it just fits the mood.

All the best

AJ

11.03.2025// survived a semi-interesting workshop, another busy day at work and a long, long phd brainstorm/writing/reading session. can't wait to unwind in the afternoon!

listening to: cradle of filth, absinthe with faust

22-23/100 days of productivity

Did two old chemistry exams. I think if i go on with this same pace for the next weeks, i’ll get done everything i need to get done for this exam. Can’t wait!

I particularly focused on a few reactions i have to learn by heart, and how to balance symproportionations and disproportionations without getting confused (:

28 February 2025

The new semester started by chewing me up and spitting me out. I told my thesis supervisor today that crystallochemistry turned out to be even more difficult than I'd thought it would, to which he happily said it only means I'll learn many new things. I told him I'm afraid it'll be the first exam I'll have ever failed and he just gave me a big smile and said, "you?". Unwavering faith 🥹

But what else is there to do but to keep going? I'm taking a class on inorganic synthesis this semester and after the first lecture I'm already super excited. Can't wait to have the first lab next week! I have so many great course mates that make getting through hard times at uni a little easier. Spring is coming. I got this.

Day 97/100 [2/20/25]

Immunology -> got a 90! surprised I did this well since I studied the wrong chapters

Genetics -> she talked about intersex which was really interesting

Met with my mentor!! Need to make a few more questions + get them approved :)

Coming close to finals and the end of the quarter >.< Spent yesterday fighting the procrastination, but I got a good amount of studying done in the end.

Today's plan:

Go to the lab

Finish studying for physics quiz

Review ochem notes

Call mom

🎼: Bored - Deftones

2025, week 8 (feb 17th - feb 23rd)

my partner was out of town this week, so I had the apartment to myself, which was very strange haha. I spent a lot of time reading and learning, but I had to remember to take breaks & take care of myself. it's a marathon, not a sprint, and all that.

accomplishments this week:

I finished going through the electronics chapter from my ham radio study guide. it mostly made sense but I'm desparately wishing that I kept my notes from when I took e&m physics lmao

I had my mid-year review at work and it went really well, yay

I finished reading All About Love by bell hooks and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

highlights this week:

we got a tiny bit of snow early in the week! pretty rare for where I live

I got coffee (well, matcha for me) with a friend and then we went to browse a used bookstore! I brought home a few old favorites that I didn't have copies of and some reference books that seemed useful.

I had a cozy Sunday morning of journaling & re-watching episodes of Adventure Time

12|03|2025

I am so close to being done with the materials for my exam at the end of the month. Next week might be my last week of lectures before the spring break, and to be honest it feels unreal. It feels like this course just started. Anyway I am making good progress with everything, I am trying to mainly focus on the exam which is getting nearer and nearer. And after that I'll figure out the rest.

27/50 days of productivity:

read first thing in the morning

finished working on the second to last recorded lecture of my spaces of knowledge class

started working on the last recorded lecture which I am definitely going to be finishing tomorrow since it's just half of the lecture

made a well written list of all the materials i had to study for the exam, so that on the day of the exam I can give it to the professor to remind her what I worked on

attended an in person lecture

Irish on duolingo

finished listening to the audiobook of A Psalm For The Wild Built and cried about it

📖: The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, A Psalm For The Wild Built by Becky Chambers